The Old-Fashioned Way - Review: Skyfall

This wasn't a Lethal Weapon movie. And Danny Glover was nowhere to be found. But that didn't stop anyone from hinting to 007 that he just might be getting too old for this shit.

Yes indeed, it’s time for the latest in a long line of adventures for the world’s most famous spy, James Bond, just in time for the 50th anniversary. And having that in mind, it just might make sense in a full circle kind of way as to why this particular film turned out the way it did.

This movie starts as many would. With a mission-in-progress. James Bond and his partner are on the trail of a mercenary with invaluable information. He has stolen a storage device on which are the names and identities of every MI6 agent currently undercover in multi-national terrorist organizations. His job, of course, is to retrieve it and eliminate the target. As the chase reaches its apex, Bond is downed by friendly fire and the man escapes with his priceless cargo. Bond goes M.I.A., believed by most to be dead, until news of the attack on MI6 in London prompts him to return. His objective to now recover the list more critical as top secret information is revealed to the world.

One thing this film had plenty of was questions. There were questions of authority. Questions of trust. As my opening line suggests, there were many questions of the endurance of Bond and even the practicality of secret agents working as he does. This, along with the massive leak of classified information, leads to the question of the efficiency of MI6’s brand of espionage. “Validation” seemed to be key.

I must say that I've really only had a passing interest in the Bond franchise overall. There are certain films I like more than others; certain portrayals I like more than others. But this iteration of the James Bond character (taken up again by Daniel Craig) has perhaps had me the most intrigued. Even as one whose knowledge of the books and universe overall is limited to say the least. Expectations weren't exactly lofty but they weren't non-existent, either. So as the name of this review alludes to, Bond went back to basics.

007 was ruthless when he needed to be, heroic when he wanted to be, and wasn't afraid to get sentimental, either. On this, the third installment of this era of films, it does seem like they've gotten closer to the mixed bag of tricks we were initially looking for. Giving hints and nods to the many quirks and ticks that make Bond, well, Bond but were also quick to point out that crazy gadgets like “exploding pens” aren't really their style. But that doesn't stop the Bond-villain archetype from making an appearance. Javier Bardem turns in an infectious performance as Silva, a former MI6 agent with revenge on his mind who is as charismatic as he is dangerous.

It’s the 50th Anniversary of the James Bond movie franchise and the folks who made this film are all too aware of this fact. Clever callbacks and references are abound including a cameo by one very famous car. Fans of Bond will have no reason not to like Skyfall; casual observers may just be surprised by how things turn out. Even I must say that this is the best Bond we've seen in some time. It succeeds not only because it’s a solid piece of film, but also because it’s not afraid to revisit the roots of 007. The new direction is clear and the team moves bravely forward but they do afford themselves a fond look back. It’ll be interesting to see where things go, but it should work out as long as they remember that sometimes it’s just better to do it the old-fashioned way.

~KDG

Quiet Time

Some musical accompaniment for your faces. Technically, I was listening to the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack when writing this but I feel this song does just as good a job capturing my somber yet emotionally charged mood that night. Often times my haste gets the best of me and all of the ideas in my head try to get out at once. But Bebop holds a special place for me. So I feel it will serve me best to save those ideas for a more appropriate time. When the time comes we'll get down to the uncanny parallels between myself and the World of Bebop. But I'm getting ahead of myself...

Spelunking into the dark, long dormant corners of the hard drive. Looking back over everything, everything I've written. Re-reading my own stuff is hard enough to do by itself but it's different this time. Anyone who's known me long enough knows that the last two years of my life have been...interesting. I can't say they've changed me because, as I've said, life doesn't build character, it reveals it. And this time and these words have revealed this to me.

I was mistaken. About many things. Really, the one thing I am sure about is that I'm Kyle and I messed up. Mostly because I was thinking thoughts not of my own meddle. Now there's nothing wrong with having your ideas and philosophies influenced by others; that's where most ideas come from. But it gets to a point where life happens and you realize just how sterile and petty it all really was. That all of your supposed beliefs had been so steered -- if even unconsciously so -- that there was no room for growth. That when it came time to be truly tested, it was much harder bough and not break against the winds of change. Harder than even you remember. That when it comes to making the big choices that actually matter, you aren't much of anything. A tough pill to swallow, but no less true.

It was never really my choice. Never a chance to sink or swim. Late one night, in what should have been a defining moment to see how I dealt with adversity, I was sent away for the night. "It's time to be an adult and deal with this issue. No, it's time to be a child and go to bed." Not all of this could be helped, I know. But that didn't make it any less of a problem.

Here I stand now. 20 years of age more or less on my own and it never ceases to amaze what a difference a year can make. The fact that my views on life, love, spirituality and otherwise wonders of the Universe have shifted so completely simply because I stand on my own two is something to marvel at. Only when it was truly Sink or Swim was I able to fully realize this.

But I'm off track. What matters is my writing. And that most of it centers on how I view the world at large. Hindsight being what it is, I find them to be flawed. The unnecessary schmaltz, Kumbaya mumbo jumbo, nostalgia over unimportant bullshit. I once had a plan to collect all of my writings together for a super compilation of all things KD. That's not gonna happen now without some major modifications. This may even include editing and updating my numerous FB Notes accordingly. Time will tell.

The overall messages would more or less stay the same since I can't really change the way I felt at that time. But the delivery - the tone - that needs an upgrade. Now that I can actually write. For reals this time.

Call it brash. Call it cynical. Perhaps unfamiliar. But it really does seem like this is the KD that was always meant to be. Again time will tell. But for the first time in what might be forever, it all feels about right. So we'll just roll with this for awhile.


Thank you for your time,
~KDG