Film review: Spectre (12A)

I’ve been a massive fan of the James Bond films centred on Daniel Craig’s version of the iconic British super spy.

If I had to rate them out of ten (like I must this one), I’d give Skyfall a perfect 10, Casino Royale 9.5 and The Quantum Of Solace an 8.5.

Craig has very much become the Bond in my mind, even though I grew up firmly believing that Sean Connery was a comfortable number one.

Bond’s 24th outing, Spectre, carries the same burden as 2008’s Quantum – it comes hot on the heels of a critically acclaimed predecessor. I’d consider Skyfall my favourite Bond ever (and I’ve seen them all) .

It had that special something that made people who don’t usually buy into the franchise watch it… and enjoy it to boot. Spectre may not quite reach those heights, but it links the Craig collection together superbly and offers everything you’d want from a current Bond film.

Helmed again by Skyfall director Sam Mendes, it kicks off with a truly awesome opening sequence set in Mexico City on The Day of The Dead. 007 is still reeling from M’s (the Judi Dench version) death at the end of his last outing and is searching for answers after receiving a cryptic message from his past.

That places him at odds with the new M (Ralph Fiennes – the Harry Potter films) and the newly-introduced Head of the Joint Security Service Max Denbigh (Sherlock’s Andrew Scott).

With Denbigh, who Bond christens C (make your own mind up why), wanting to shut down the 00 programme, he asks Q (Ben Whishaw – Skyfall) to make him disappear as he bids to go dark.

As has become trademark Bond, his investigation takes him to a host of glamorous locations and involves gorgeous women, bad guys galore and fast cars.

Locations this time include Rome, Austria and Tangiers, as well as (of course) London.

Rome proves the most fruitful, with Bond meeting the beautiful Lucia Sciarra (Monica Bellucci – The Matrix Reloaded) and discovering a covert criminal organisation dubbed Spectre.

They are headed up by Franz Oberhauser (double-Oscar winner Christoph Waltz – Django Unchained), who knows all about Bond and his history. Also among Spectre’s ranks is the hulking (but very quiet) Mr Hinx, played by former WWE champion Dave Bautista (Guardians Of The Galaxy).

There’s also a return for past villain Mr White (Jesper Christensen), while Lea Seydoux (Inglourious Basterds) is on chief Bond girl duty. Although to dub her a ‘Bond girl’ is massively under-selling a great character.

All play a sizeable role in the main storyline, which essentially sees Bond bid to shut down an organisation that have caused him a lot of professional and personal pain. Running alongside that plot is a very current London storyline, with Denbigh essentially bidding to replace M, Q, Moneypenny (Naomie Harris – Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End) and the 00 team with drones.

Spectre has all of the hallmarks of a great Bond film – and deserves recognition for that. Craig is once again exemplary in the lead role, while all of the other returning characters deliver too.

I did feel that the amazingly talented Waltz could have been given more screentime as the chief villain, but the scenes he does have – especially those with Bond – are superb. He’s a great character (and there’s more to him than meets the eye), but perhaps isn’t as menacing as Skyfall’s Silva.

Bautista’s character could also have been fleshed out better (he barely talks), but his physical presence made for some great action scenes.

As for the women, Bellucci’s role is more of a cameo, with Seydoux the true star. She’s both attractive and independent, making her the best kind of foil for Bond.

While not quite as fresh as Casino Royale or as flawless as Skyfall, Spectre serves as another great addition to the Craig collection.

It is very long at 148 minutes, which will probably turn off casual fans.

But if, like me, you’ve loved the last three Bonds, this is another action-packed outing that links the past trio of films together perfectly.

Voice Verdict:  9/10 (reviewed at Boston’s West End Cinema)
+ Great opening sequence
+ Links all Craig films well
+ Trademark action
– A little long

SHOWTIMES
Boston’s West End Cinema (Fri, Oct 30 to Thurs, Nov 5)

**SPECTRE (12A)
10.15am (Fri/Sat/Sun), 12.10pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 1.30pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 3.30pm (daily), 5pm (daily), 7.30pm (daily), 8.30pm (daily)

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 6 3D (15)
6.35pm (daily), 8.45pm (daily)

**SCOUTS GUIDE TO THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE (15)
8.45pm (Sat only)

**MACBETH (15)
2.30pm (Wed), 8.30pm (Tue/Thu)

PAN (PG)
1pm (Fri/Sat/Sun), 3.30pm (daily), 6pm (daily)

SUFFRAGETTE (12A)
2pm (Wed), 6pm (daily), 8.30pm (not Sat/Tue/Thu)

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 2D (U)
2.15pm (Fri/Sat/Sun), 4.30pm (daily)

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 3D (U)
10am (Fri/Sat/Sun), 12.10pm (Fri/Sat/Sun)

THE MARTIAN (12A)
11.30am (Fri/Sat), 2.45pm (Fri/Sat/Mon), 8.25pm (daily)

KIDS’ CLUB
Fri-Sun 10.30am – Inside Out 2D (U)

SILVER SCREEN
Wed 11.30am – Macbeth (15)

** FREE LIST SUSPENDED