Sky Fall - Bond is back

After a long long time, a James Bond movie with a decent script. Decent compared to the standards of those from the past 2 decades. Unlike the Harry Potter series, arguably the highest grossing franchise movie series ever, or any comic superhero series, which had solid backing of blockbuster story lines, James Bond series, are never really well known for their stories. Its neither on the adrenaline pumping category of a Jason Bourne series or the mind blowing situations of the Mission Impossible series. Every one knows that the character is a spy and come what may, he will kill the villain in the end, flirting and seducing every single female in the process. Yet, the franchise has survived 50 years and is still going strong. The titular role, is one of the most prestigious roles ever created in the movie industry and instant fame is assured in case of Box office success and so is instant doom of failure in case of a flop. I really wonder if anyone had actually read Ian Fleming's novels, but over the period of the past 5 decades and with instant trivia sites dime a dozen, the character of James Bond is so detailed to the minutest that it is bored to perfection. In fact, even a slight deviation, like the way he takes his drinks - always shaken and never stirred, is considered sacrilege and raises hue and cry from the die hard fan following.

With only so much left for leeway and with hardly any degree of suspense possible, MGM has rolled out movie after movie and most of them being blockbusters, the real credit goes to the actors who have played the role. My all time favourite is Sean Connery. With a slightly large forehead (some might say bald) and a dimple, dueling with SRK's, he was the quintessential spy. Especially with cold war at its peak, every punch he threw were cheered to knock out commies and all his victories were hailed as their own by the West. He was so very well set in the role that, for long no one believed anyone else could fit in that role. Then came Roger Moore, who with his wit and suave body language got a series named after his own. If Sean brought in the the grey side of espionage in his act Roger added the flavor of Bond being the ultimate ladies man. Pierce Brosnan had both the charm and the looks, but unfortunately was let down by horrible story lines and people were beginning to loose interest in the franchise. Along came Daniel Craig. With beefed up body line and almost Putin look a like in appearance, he was under immense pressure right from his first tryst in being Bond, to resurrect a losing empire of fan following. Casino Royale, supposedly based on thee first Bond novel(?), didnt do his reputation no harm. The unbelievable stunts set the tone for the action movie genre. But the character of Bond took a huge step away from the usual stereotype. The major attraction of Bond movies, being the punch lines or the one liners, which glittered with wit and sarcasm, were lost on Craig. He could be all macho and strong but can never hold a candle to a Roger Moore or Sean Connery when it comes to pulling those atrociously witty lines with a deadpan face.

After watching Quantum of Solace, I had lost all hope in the series and Sky fall's trailer also didnt inspire much confidence. But after watching the movie, i feel the franchise is alive and kicking as it completes half a century in the movie world. The movie begins with the famed Bond chase sequence. He runs and drives and flies everywhere and the stunt sequence on train top is AMAZING in one word. Bond is shot by his own people, by mistake and falls off the train. There is a pattern in which the names of the crew are displayed for any Bond movie. There would be a song with graphical representation of the story in bits and pieces with usually chart buster songs accompanying in background. Ditto for this one too. After that there is the usual illlogical sequences the indestructible, but beaten badly and ageing fast Bond, makes an appearance at MI6 HQ after its bombed. Though he fails to clear the fitness tests, his boss madame M, assigns him the task of finding the villain, who doesnt make appearance till almost the halfway mark into the movie. An ex agent himself, bent on taking revenge on M, the villain does a Joker act, from Batman 2- Dark knight. He gets himself arrested by Bond only to be taken to the new HQ of MI6, breaks into their firewall security and uses their own system to let loose hell on the subway system of London. All for the purpose of revenge. Bond manages to save M and takes her to his estate, Sky Fall - oru vazhia titlea justify panitaangappa!!. The villain group traces the duo to the Bond estate and whether the villain killed M and what happens to Bond in the end makes the climax. Unlike the previous Bond installments, there is hardly any humour and worse, there is no fancy gadgets. To make matters worse for the fans, even the famed Bond car, which is one of the added attractions in any Bond movie, goes missing in this. But this one happens to be one of the best of the lot, for the simple fact that, it gives a human face to Bond.

Gils verdict - Kandippa worthy to be called a Bond movie.