The time has come: the 25thJames Bondfilm is now out in theaters everywhere, meaningSpectreis finally available for mass consumption. The anticipation around this one was maybe more pronounced than the last few given how wellSkyfallwas received. With that film, directorSam Mendessuccessfully tackled the issue of how someone like James Bond fits into the 21st century while also imbuing the film with plenty of nods to the franchise’s long, rich history. It was, for many, one of the best James Bond films of all time, so for Mendes to come back and helm the follow-up was a big deal.
Unfortunately,Spectreis something of a mixed bag and doesn’t come close to reaching the highs ofSkyfall. It has one of the best opening sequences in recent memory, and while much of the first two thirds of the film is engaging, there’s this prevailing feeling that you’re being set up for disappointment. And then the other shoe drops in the final act and, well, to put it bluntly: theyStar Trek Into Darkness’d it. WhereSkyfallwas this wonderful acknowledgment of the films that have come before,Spectrepushes things too far into “homage” territory, giving us an obvious twist, a nonsensical/boring villain, and a massively frustrating retcon of theDaniel CraigBond films thus far.
The ending/villain isn’t the only major problem withSpectre: many of the action sequences feel lethargic and dull, story beats drop in and out with little thought given to how they affect the film as a whole, and there’s a half-hearted attempt at a love story that falls flat despite some characteristically swell work fromLea Seydoux. The film isn’t entirely without merit, and as I said, it’s somewhat compelling for most of its runtime, but it absolutely pales in comparison toSkyfall, whose greatest asset was its clear thematic throughline.
But enough of my rambling.Matt’s full review is on the site, but now we want to hear from you, readers. What did you think ofSpectre? Was it a satisfying follow-up toSkyfall? Did you find that Mendes and Craig found ways to improve onSkyfall, or were you similarly disappointed? Sound off in the comments below.
