2. Skyfall (2012)
After Casino Royale blew us all away - but we'll get to that in a minute - Marc Forster's Quantum of Solace, with its breathless pace and forgettable plot, felt like something of a disappointment, even if this was somewhat to be expected given its more personal story and smaller scope. Skyfall, however, manages to tell a story that is incredibly personal - and features the strongest characterisation in the series to date - while still employing the classic Bond elements that audiences love; the frantic action, the gorgeous women (Berenice Marlohe is simply luminous), and of course, the finely-pressed Tom Ford suits. Daniel Craig has, in his third outing, cemented himself as a Bond not to be sniffed at, and excellent as his performance is, the film's success largely lies with Sam Mendes, who directs Skyfall with the import of a gritty Christopher Nolan film, serious but also humourous and visually stunning. Also notable is Javier Bardem's demented, scenery-chewing performance as villain Raoul Silva, which top-to-bottom feels like an homage to the classic Bond villains of decades past, and wonderfully so.