5. It Takes Its Time
Given that it ran in at a brisk 106 minutes, it's of little surprise that Quantum of Solace was criticised for feeling rushed; should a Bond film ever really run in at under two hours? These films should take the viewer on a grand, sweeping journey, and it's a sizable challenge to do that with such a brief run-time. Skyfall, running in at 143 minutes, is the second-longest Bond film to date - running a minute shy of Casino Royale - and in the half-hour-plus that it has on Quantum, packs in a whole lot more character development and action, giving it the feel of a classic, epic Bond albeit with a majestic new style. As said before, Mendes establishes a mood first and foremost, and the film is half-done before we even first meet Javier Bardem's villainous Raoul Silva, a ballsy, confident move that thankfully pays off; investing us in Bond and M's relationship is particularly important before introducing us to Bardem's savage villain, given the emotional import of the story and Silva's connection to the pair.