Though we’ll likely know who our next president is before we get a chance to see Daniel Craig’s third turn as James Bond in the Sam Mendes-directed “threequel” Skyfall , the film releases in late October across the pond, and critics have already gotten a look at Bond’s return. The gist of early reviews? Critics love it and are calling Skyfall Craig’s best Bond yet.
After the incredible success of 2006’s Casino Royale and the unmitigated disappointment that was 2008’s Quantum of Solace , we’ve waited four years for a third Bond film to redeem Craig’s interpretation of the character, and producers pulled out all of the stops by hiring director Sam Mendes and Javier Bardem as the film’s villain. Early reviews have lauded the fruits of their labors, calling Skyfall a sure hit and future favorite for longtime Bond fans and the uninitiated (or barely-initiated) alike.
The Hollywood Reporter says that Skyfall “Dramatically gripping while still brandishing a droll undercurrent of humor, this beautifully made film will certainly be embraced as one of the best Bonds by loyal fans worldwide and leaves you wanting the next one to turn up sooner than four years from now,” and says of Daniel Craig that “He owns Bond now, and the role is undoubtedly his for as long as he might want it.”
The Independent acknowledged that Skyfall is not without its flaws, but opined that “Craig again impresses as Bond. He switches without fuss from Roger Moore-style self-deprecating comedy (adjusting his cuff links in action sequences) to the darker, more intense scenes which focus on Bond’s childhood traumas,” and confirmed “the film ends with an emotional kick that you don’t often find in Bond. It also shows the way forward. At the age of 50, there is no sign at all that Bond is finished yet.”
Skyfall release dates: October 26 in the UK and internationally, and on November 9 in the US. Are you excited?