Spectre
Starring Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz
Directed by Sam Mendes
If James Bond had a greatest hits collection, Spectre would be it. Marking the 24th installment in the long running franchise and the fourth time Daniel Craig has portrayed 007, this new adventure is a loving homage to iconic characters and moments from previous films in the series; this is both a blessing and a curse.
Bond aficionados will squeal with delight trying to spot the numerous references and nods but much of Spectre’s derivative story is sacrificed for sheer spectacle. The film begins with some blistering action set in Mexico City, during the Day of the Dead, which rivals the parkour insanity that kicked off Casino Royale. In fact, it’s so effective that Spectre has a hard time topping such an elaborate sequence throughout the rest of the movie. Once things settle down following Sam Smith’s insufferable opening credits song, the overly elaborate plot does strike some familiar chords. Once again, Bond uncovers a sinister organization, led by a rather under-utilized Christoph Waltz, beds a couple ladies, and makes a few amusing quips along the way.
Thankfully, the film drops the grim tone of Skyfall in favour of some campy moments and does have its share of jaw-dropping action. Former MMA star Dave Bautista provides plenty of scene-stealing as the hulking villain Hinx and his pursuit of Bond culminates in a riveting fight set aboard a speeding train. After over half a century of films, the Bond series still chugs along, but don’t expect them to reinvent the wheel.
