Skyfall

Why do we return time after time to James Bond and the 007 series? It is a phenomenon that has been around for 50 years, and by the end of the latest film in the saga, it promises to come back yet again. Back to the question. I think it has something to do with the fact that James Bond is the ultimate male hero. He is  well dressed, good looking, physically fit, gets the girl, has the perfect  car, and even orders his drink precisely the way he wants it: shaken NOT stirred. James Bond is in command of every single aspect of his life. He is the guy every guy wants to be. Skyfall, I believe, is what happens when you take that character we all know so well and turn him inside out.

 This James Bond has a multitude of weaknesses which can be exploited. There is a scene in which Bond sneaks into M's apartment. It is dark when she comes in and finds him; all we can see is the perfect silhouette of a man in a suit. M turns on the light and Bond is revealed. Had he been bleeding, or with a gun to his head, or anything really would be more predictable than what we see: James Bond unshaven. Some closeups focus specifically on the detail that is Bond's white beard. 

The film starts off conventionally for a Bond picture, with a bang. A man has just stolen a list containing the names of all British secret agents. Bond's objective is to track him down and retrieve the list. On his way, he encounters a wounded British agent, who was shot trying to protect the list. Bond tries to take a minute to heal him, a rather humane act. The second he does this, M, who is listening in on the chase, cold-bloodedly tells Bond to abandon the agent and continue with his mission. Reluctantly, he agrees, but does not fail to remind M that the man will die. A shot of M shows that she is strangely unmoved. The chase continues and elaborately builds up into a car, then motorcycle, and finally a train chase (the best I have seen since Unstoppable.)From afar, another agent has been trailing Bond. She gets into a position where she can shoot down both the man with the list and Bond, but not just the target. M encourages her to "take the bloody shot." Miraculously, she hits only Bond. He falls into a river and is presumed dead. 

What an opening! High praise must be given to director Sam Mendes for the sequence but especially to the editor, Stuart Baird, for holding on to shots worth seeing, and for not chopping  up the scene into little pieces, something which made the action of Quantum of Solace unbearable. I was reminded of the chase in Casino Royale (which he also edited) and how I never felt lost or confused.  In his review of Casino Royale, Roger Ebert wrote:

the chases in Casino Royale take place in something vaguely approximating real space and time. Of course I know they used deceptive camera angles and edits to cover impossibilities, but the point is: They try to make it look real. Recently, with the advent of portable cameras and computerized editing action movies have substituted visual chaos for visual elegance." 

Visual chaos took over Quantum of Solace. Visual elegance returns triumphantly in Skyfall. 

 After spending some time off-radar, 007 comes back, with a beard. The fall affected him deeply. He runs out of breath during his physical evaluation, and falls down to the floor the second he is left alone. He also carries psychological wounds. During his shooting evaluation, he is unable to get a single shot on target. James Bond is always supposed to be cool. However, the instant he misses that target, he is enraged. Daniel Craig beautifully shows the pain it causes 007 to lose control, to be unable to protect his country. There is another similar moment in which Bond has to run across London to rescue M. He runs and runs, straight at the camera. It costs him dearly. Craig presents a Bond literally on the verge of collapse. What is so wonderful about him is his vulnerability. That perfect man that all men wish they could be is just a mortal man. I make the film sound morbid, when indeed it is a lot of fun. The movie has plenty of dark comedy, and Craig shows us plenty of Bond's dry wit. The funniest, most disturbing situation he's placed in prominently features a Chinese thug and a Komodo dragon. 

Still, the idea that James Bond could break frightens. A mirror image of a broken Bond is the villain Skyfall gives us. Raoul Silva was, or so he tells us, an agent just like 007. One day, he was betrayed by the MI6 and taken prisoner. He somehow survived and escaped, but not unchanged or unharmed. Javier Bardem (with a haircut almost as memorable as that of Anton Chigur in No Country for Old Men) is almost unrecognizable especially when he takes off his… never mind, I won't spoil it, it makes for a terrifying sight. What I can say is that Bardem makes Silva into the most dangerous villain our hero has ever encountered. Because he was like Bond, Silva knows how he works, what makes him tick. He threatens Bond in ways unimaginable. Thankfully, his main objective is not Bond, but M. 

Judi Dench deserves to be called the star of Skyfall. This is now her seventh time in the role, but it is the first time she is used properly. An actress of her caliber is not to be wasted. Dench fills M with dignity and humanity right when she is at her lowest point as a character, ready to be discarded by the nation she has worked so hard to protect. There is a public hearing in which M gets one last chance to prove that she is worth keeping. She quotes Alfred Tennyson's "Ulysses" 

Though much is taken, much abides; and though 

 We are not now that strength which in old days 

Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are-- 

One equal temper of heroic hearts, 

Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will 

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.  

Such immortal lines, spoken so eloquently by one of the greatest actresses of our times. Judi Dench gave a performance that I will not soon forget. 

Finally, I must say that this is the best looking of all Bond films. It was shot by Roger Deakins, who is, in this reviewer's humble opinion, the greatest cinematographer that ever lived. There is a magnificent sequence in the film that takes place inside a dark Shanghai skyscraper. The way the light from giant screens outside bounce around the glass walls of the building is absolutely breathtaking. Also worth mentioning is the gorgeous, peaceful Scottish countryside that serves as background to the film's extended climax. 

Verdict- 4/4

Skyfall (2012) PG-13 2h 24min. 

Random Thoughts

- The return of Q is amazing, as well as that of Miss Moneypenny.

- Every time I see Ralph Fiennes I expect him to play a bad guy. Skyfall seemed to anticipate it. It uses his image to its advantage. 

- I don't recall the name of the bond girl, which is a shame. They're usually more memorable

- All hail the return of the Aston Martin DB5!!!

- For more Roger Deakins see No Country for Old Men, Fargo, or The Shawshank Redemtion. 

- Link to the whole poem "Ulysses" which, not unlike Skyfall, is all about a legendary character's encounter with mortality http://www.eecs.harvard.edu/~keith/poems/Ulysses.html 

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

My first Miyazaki was Howl's Moving Castle. Instantly, I was hooked and went out to find the rest. They all sounded wonderful. Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away. However, one title stuck out, and that was Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. Simply wonderful. A good title makes the viewer focus his attention, hinting at something important, before seeing a single frame. Sin City is about the nasty world it's characters inhabit. The Dark Knight is about the seemingly hopeless dilemmas Bruce Wayne/Batman is thrown into. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is about... well I don't know what it's about, really. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (no abbreviations, I love to write that title) is first of all a character study, then an environmental morality tale.

Nausicaa is a fascinating character. She's a young woman (slightly older than the usual Miyazaki heroine) and beloved princes of the valley of the wind. When the film starts, we see her out in her glider, searching for supplies for her little kingdom. From this scene onward, Nausicaa is always seen helping others, putting herself second. She brings back valuable goods to her town, where she immediately starts work on a broken windmill. At one point, she takes off her mask in a toxic forest so that her people can see her reassuring face and be calm. An old knight half heartedly jokes that he would like to see Nausicaa take a break from such dangerous activities so that he could have a good night without worrying about his princess. Her whole kingdom adores her, and would do anything for her. Something that surprises and delights me every time I watch any Miyazaki film is the goodness of the people that inhabit his worlds. I tire of thiefs, lawyers, killers, tyrants, and "morally complex" protagonists that populate most films. Not even superheroes are saved from this dark trend. It's refreshing to see how the community of the valley, under the direction of Nausicaa operates in unison for the good of all. Idealistic? Perhaps, but, if I may borrow from a great artist, "you may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one." Audiences, I suspect, love Miyazaki because he shows that humanity is inherently good natured. For that alone I hold dear all of his films.

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is the portrait of a young revolutionary pacifist who opposes the forces of war and destruction. Nausicaa loses her temper once, near the beginning of the film when her father is assassinated. She kills three people. Instantly, she notices the atrocity she herself committed. Nausicaa knows the value of life.In contrast to her is Lord Yupa. He's a veteran soldier, and the best swordsman of that magical world. He's a good man who will use violence only as a last resort, but he is desensitize and shows little regret at killing. Nausicaa spends some time quietly pondering her act. Then, she cries. This, alongside a moment of desperation, when Nausicaa cries again for the violence to stop, are two of the most touching scenes I've ever seen in any movie animated or otherwise. Recently,  I saw that the number of people killed in 2012surpassed that of 2011. Lately, I've grown tired of wars both civil and foreign, of murders, drone strikes, and paranoid fears of nuclear apocalypse. I sympathize with Nausicaa and wish to cry out too for the violence to stop. 

The violence in this film is that of humans who want to wipe away a toxic forest, and all creatures living within it. The people of the valley would listen to Nausicaa when she warns that these creatures are beneficial to humans. However, she doesn't get the chance. The valley is besieged by warring nations who carry with them one giant warrior who will bring destruction to the forest, and world domination to whomever controls it. Through Nausicaa, Miyazaki pushes the idea of peaceful cohabitation with our natural environment. Too overt? Let me explain why it doesn't bother me. Miyazaki first stresses the importance of human life, later, that of the environment. Even Nausicaa gets supplies from the forest and defends herself when its creatures attack her. I was reminded of Princes Mononoke, when the main character is forced to kill a wild boar to protect his people. Again, human life is of the utmost importance according to Miyazaki. 

Nausicaa is best suited to carry Miyazakis's message because  is blessed with a special ability to relate to animals deeply. She understands them, and can live with them peacefully. One of my favorite moments has Nausicaa taming a small cat/squirrel-like little animal. It will bring a smile to your face. This little monster is just one of many lovely animals that spring from the imagination of the master. Most in this film are giant insects, but they are stunning to behold. Every frame of this film contains a magnificent sight. Nausicaa with bright red hair and blue dress gliding over the deep green valley, all draped  in golden sunlight is but one of the sights I wanted to keep forever, to hang up as a painting. Not even the words of the best poets (let alone those of a mediocre writer such as myself) would do justice in describing the wonderful visuals of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. Reader, I urge you to go watch this film, to be reminded that people are good and that the world is a beautiful place. 

Verdict- 4/4

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984) PG 1h 58min. 

Random Thoughts

-Shia LaBoeuf does some surprisingly good voice acting in the English version.

-Normally, I try to watch films exactly the way they were made to be seen. However, Disney normally does a fine job with translations. I like to leave the whole image unblemished when I watch a Miyazaki. Subtitles get in the way.

- Director's trademark- flying. Every great Miyazaki contains at least one breathtaking flight.

- I love how the big, supposedly indestructible giant warrior melts. He looks like he's made out of mud.

-Miyazaki tells the story he wants to tell and that's it. No half hour farewell, no wasted shots. Still, his films take their time when it's important such as when Nausicaa lies down to watch the gorgeous snowflake-like spores that, as she remarks, could easily kill her.

-quote of the film "why does everything that's good for you taste so bad?" a widespread sentiment, not voiced often enough in films.
- images from bluray.com

Casino Royale (2006)

Originally, James Bond was meant to be camp. The situations 007 was placed in were often ridiculous. The series was perfect mass entertainment anyone could enjoy. The creative names of the Bond girls (Pussy Galore, Xenia Onatopp) serve  usually as a great pleasure and indicator of the light tone  of the series. However, after almost twenty films, the series became repetitive. Watching the films in chronological order, I have to admit by the time they get to Timothy Dalton, I just about had it with the mediocrity. Pierce Brosnan is enjoyable, but never had my full attention. Then, in 2006, James Bond was rebooted, and the results are spectacular.

Casino Royale stands alone as the best of all Bond films. It took them to a whole other level. Daniel Craig is a big part of it. Rarely, if ever, has James Bond been as raw, violent, and vulnerable as he is here. When he needs to, Craig kicks ass (plenty of it) and delivers the usual one liners with a twist, but his Bond is a real character, not a mere caricature. By taking us to his origins, the director is able to explore how James Bond became the detached killer who sees all women as disposable objects. Not that Casino Royale lacks disposable women, but this femme fatale seems different than all the rest. Vesper Lynn (still a wonderful name, though in a different vein) has to be the only woman James Bond really falls in love with. I won't give too many spoilers, but results are devastating. I also especially enjoyed Bond's first kill shown to us in messy, grainy black and white. He struggles. Killing does not come naturally. Still, after this, his "considerably" easier second kill comes in as a dark comic relief. 

M returns, again played by Dame Judi Dench. Oddly, she's colder and nastier than Bond without ever holding a weapon. Skyfall, the upcoming Bond film, looks into M's past. I really can't wait. My only real complaint with this film is that I would have liked to see more of her, and Q would have been nice too. Apart from that, Dench is just wonderful, specially when she shares the screen with Craig. The tension and the sarcasm are almost unbearable.

After the credits, which is a wonderful sequence of animated playing cards, the films takes us to Madagascar, where Bond is trailing a lead. The foot chase that follows must be of the best I've ever seen. The target takes Bond across an animal fighting ring, into a construction site, through a half finished building, and finally an embassy where the chase concludes with a shoot out. I was never lost in time or space, and often amazed at what the director made me believe actually happened. All movies are fabrications, the best are the ones that make you believe in them anyway. I have seen this film five or more times, and every time I watch it, I forget what I am now telling you. It captivates me.

Bond was chasing a man associated with the main villain, Le Chiffre, a financial genius and professional poker player who serves as the investor of a group of global terrorists. Le Chifre has a tick of sorts. That, as well as his, peculiar,  method of torture, make him a truly unforgettable villain. The torture scene of Casino Royale shows its mastery of both horror and comedy simultaneously. High praise to the art designers and cinematographer for creating such dreadful scenery. 

The main event of the film  is a high stakes poker game in which Bond and Le Chiffre face off. Vesper serves as James' accountant, chaperone, and escort, courtesy of the British government. Bond, a notorious poker player, holds his own amongst the masters, but the directors draws the game out, making Bond bleed and the audience sweat in the process. The epilogue is unexpected and utterly devastating.

Verdict- 4/4

Casino Royale (2006) PG-13 2h. 24min.

Random Thoughts

- not to be confused with Casino Royale (1964) a spoof of the Bond series.

- For films most resembling other Bond films watch "Dr. No", the first,  or "The Spy Who Loved Me" which was the first I recall watching and also happens to be one of the best.

- 2 Aston Martins! what a shame for the second one.

- the train scene serves as a wonderful introduction to Vesper. It's extremely funny and shows that Vesper (as well as Eva Green) can hold her own. However, after seeing "North by Northwest" nothing set on a train will ever be the same. It is the standard by which all train scenes are judged, but I'm sure the film makers knew that. I would like to watch them side by side to see if I find any deliberate references.

- Idris Elba might be the next Bond. Black Bond? At first it might seem odd, but there is absolutely no reason against it. Race is insignificant to James Bond. Plus, it's Stinger Bell!!! Watch "The Wire" if you haven't.

- It struck me how little screen time Jeffrey Wright gets as a CIA agent who's also after Le Chiffre. He's quite memorable.

- Le Chiffre "the number" in French? appropriate name for an evil mathematical genius, no?