Spectre - Review

Spectre

1962 was the first time film fans had the chance to see novelist Ian Flemings featured character Secret Agent 007 James Bond in the adaptation of his first book titled “Dr. No.” And with the perfect casting of a relatively unknown British actor named Sean Connery their collaboration transformed Ian’s Agent 007 from the pages of a series of successful books into an international phenomenon that subsequently resulted in the Bond films becoming one of Hollywood’s longest and most lucrative franchises with 24 films and counting. The mere mentioning of the name Bond connotes debonair, sex, intrigue, thrills, action, action, witty humor, great international locals and lots of girls, ah yes the Bond girls. So whenever I and probably you hear a new Bond film is coming out there are some basic expectations that you will be highly entertained (see sentence listing connotes).

PLOT: In the latest Bond installment called “Spectre” we find actor Daniel Craig as Agent 007 in Mexico City on an unauthorized mission during the festival of “The Day of The Dead”. He’s there because his former boss, mentor and friend “Q” (Judy Dench) who died in the film “Skyfall” had left Bond a cryptic message to uncover a sinister organization that Bond is determine to complete as her dying wish. The only thing is as Bond peels back the layers of this sinister organization he discovers it has a connection to his own youthful past filled with deceit.

BOTTOM LINE: Overall Spectre stays within the legacy of all of the Bond films enduring past. It’s visually stunning to look at and is filled with some really well coordinated moments of action sequences involving a helicopter, a car chase, a plane chase, a train fight in the desert and a helicopter chase again. What is missing is having any meaningful relevance within the plot. Specifically, rather than keeping me glued to my seat, the plot felt like it was just business as usual, even if it was directed with precision, great choreography action and photogenic sexy style. Essentially, this film felt like pieces of previous great Bond moments that were spliced into Spectre, that while was very lavish to look at never felt like a story that was taking me any place new with any dangerous intrigue or ominous adventure.

Make no mistake about it, while Spectre is slick it is also a bit scattershot and a bit disorganized offering nothing new. It’s my guess is that the Broccoli family and the creative minds behind this successful franchise may be finally running out of ideas for the venerable James Bond to save the world from. I hope not, as a world without Bond films would be very empty.

Ultimately, Spectre is decent enough entertainment for you to see in the theater especially for the great action and polished execution. It’s just overall this Bond effort Spectre plot is not quite “shaken” and certainly not “stirring”.

3 – 1/4 Stars