Following the awkward growing pains encountered by 2008's Quantum of Solace, Sam Mendes brought Bond back to its near-best with Skyfall, a movie which expertly combined the new, gritty approach demonstrated in 2006's Casino Royale with some of the classic series tropes that fans love. Gorgeously shot by legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins and very much evoking the style of Christopher Nolan's Batman movies, Skyfall was a bold step forward for the franchise, all the more so because it saw audiences say farewell to Bond's stalwart boss, M (Judi Dench). Javier Bardem also gave one of the more memorable villain performances in years as eccentric evil genius Raoul Silva, leading to an expertly-staged, Home Alone-inspired finale at Bond's childhood home. If the plot occasionally stretched credibility, it was tough to care when everything from the action to the character development was so exceptionally handled. Above all else, it's certainly left Mendes with a quite a tough job on his hands for the currently-filming 24th Bond flick, Spectre. Can he really top this marvelous job?
Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes).
General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.
