James Bond: The Real Story Of Skyfall's Cinematic Success

1. The Response

Skyfall was a critical and commercial success upon release and has only been held in further high regard by audiences and viewers. For many, it was a terrifically crafted piece of cinema in the form of an action flick. But for others, it was viewed as one of the best Bond movies and a great entry commemorating fifty years of the 007 film franchise.

In terms of performance, Judi Dench and Javier Bardem were lauded with applause. Dench’s portrayal as M was viewed as complex and emotional, challenging the blank slate characterization that many previous actors had portrayed Bond’s superior as. Additionally, Craig’s rendition of Bond’s relationship with M rightfully and suitably gave prominence to the agent’s depth as a character, something that had remained relatively absent from Quantum of Solace. Bardem delivered on his promise to present his character as ‘complex’, bringing elements of a classic Bond villain combined with reasonable and understandable motivations for his schemes.

And truly, nothing could compare to Roger Deakin’s impressive visuals and camera work as the cinematographer.

Skyfall remains as one of the most impressive films in the Bond series. Additionally, it still is one of the best action movies in the past twenty years. The film excels in many main areas of what constitutes a great piece of cinema, evidenced through the four Oscar nominations it received at the Academy Awards in 2013. It ticks all the boxes, making it a cinematic success as it is a celebration marking fifty years of James Bond.