SPECTRE (2015)

MGM Pictures

With Spectre being the 24th film in the James Bond movie series, it's probably quite challenging to keep dreaming up new ways in which a super villain can take over the world. I believe that's why the recent films starring Daniel Craig did not do such a thing, instead focusing on poker games and terrorists. The previous three films (Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, and Skyfall) have all been building to that moment, a film certainly fit for a mad man, with the return of Blofeld in his first appearance since 1981's For Your Eyes Only.

That plot, involving worldwide surveillance, is timely and was even featured in another recent film series, the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Captain America: Winter Soldier. The 00 agents are to become extinct and replaced by a global intelligence agency, which the bad guys want to control and also leaves Bond on a rogue mission throughout the movie. This ranks among one of my favorite villain plots in all of the series as it is a successful mix of real world politics with the campy side the series is known for, reminding me of a previous film, Tomorrow Never Dies. There are a multitude of references spread throughout Spectre for the avid fans, while being heavy on action and espionage that even the casual movie goer will love.

The part of the film that I love the most though is the return of the nearly impossible to beat henchman. I've always felt that casting a pro-wrestler would be the perfect role for one of these characters, yet the recent Craig films haven't focused on that aspect of the series as much. Enter Dave Bautista as "Mr. Hinx", fresh off a near show-stealing performance in last summer's Guardians of the Galaxy. While being given a great introduction in the film when asked for his credentials, the real highlight is his battle with Bond aboard a train; possibly another reference for long-time Bond enthusiasts. Let's hope this is not the last we'll see of his Mr. Hinx character.

Another returning staple of the Bond films is placing the bad guy's headquarters in some faraway exotic location, this time it's inside of a crater in the desert, reminding me of a previous Blofeld location within a volcano. Obviously, it will go "boom." No Bond movie would be complete without several "chase" sequences, and one such chase takes place in a snowy location, which is my favorite place to have them, recalling movies like The Living Daylights and On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Maybe the best location of all was seeing that James Bond lives in apartment. That's only because I've never considered where Bond would live when he's not romancing women and battling villains, but I honestly can't see him being a home owner and having a yard to mow and weeds to pull. Maybe that's what they can do for the next opening gun barrel sequence- James Bond pushing a lawn mower; I'm sure people are glad I only write these lame reviews and not actual movie scripts.

Beyond the many references, this film looks forward to the future with expanded roles for secondary characters like Moneypenny and Q. Ralph Fiennes' M gets out of the office too, in a surprisingly non-villainous role, since he's well known for playing evil characters like "The Tooth Fairy" and Lord Voldemort.

It's been rumored this is the final appearance of Daniel Craig as James Bond, and if so, he'll be riding off into the sunset on a high note. I was initially very reluctant to accept his version of James Bond but after 4 films I am now a true believer. Typically a person's favorite Bond will be whomever they're first introduced to, with many of my friends preferring Pierce Brosnan's 007 of the 1990's. I entered the series between 2008's Quantum of Solace and 2012's Skyfall, so Craig would technically be "mine" as Skyfall was my first chance to see Bond on the big screen. I feel as though you could make an argument for any of the 6 men to play Bond to be the "best", because each brought something different to the role. However Craig has the advantage because the producers clearly set out to create a story arc for this Bond and define him as more than just a suave spy. We've seen this 007 mature, and also become greyer, so whomever becomes the next 007 has big shoes to fill following Craig. I sure hope this won't be the last we'll see of Christoph Waltz's Blofeld, though that's also a role with high turnover rate. Spectre, while slow in the usual places for a Bond movie, is one I'd rank in the upper half of the series. This isn't Skyfall, but it doesn't have to be.