'Skyfall'
(Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, et al / NR / 143 mins)
Overview: 007 (Daniel Craig) becomes M's only ally as MI6 comes under attack, and a mysterious new villain emerges with a diabolical plan. James Bond's latest mission has gone horribly awry, resulting in the exposure of several undercover agents, and an all-out attack on M16.
Verdict: The pro reviews of Skyfall set my expectations on 'High', though, in my view, it did not live up. I thought it was better than Quantum of Solace, but not nearly as good as Casino Royale, which still remains the gold standard of Daniel Craig (and perhaps all) James Bond Movies.
The movie seemed disjointed and almost incoherent at times -- particularly on the boat ride to Silva's island lair. As a result, I was not really able to engage in the movie and care much about the people the movie wants me to care about.
I think this is the essential difference between Casino Royale and the other Daniel Craig Bond films. The people in Casino were real. In the other films, they're pretty much just plastic action figures.
Having said that, I thought Javier Bardem's performance was quite remarkable and worth the price of admission. Bérénice Marlohe's also did a lot with a small part.