This past Tuesday, in London’s renowned Royal Albert Hall, No Time to Die made its world premiere. Daniel Craig takes the silver screen for the 5th and final time in the legendary James Bond series. Though it hits theatres back home in the United States next week, the thrice-delayed film actually opened last night here in Bogotá. I’ll be checking out the film in 6 days’ time on October 7th in my Cine Colombia debut. If the trailer is any indication, I’m sure to be in for a treat. With the new Bond film on deck for me, I’m reminded of my favorite film in the series. That brings me to this week’s moment in the Flashback Friday series: the Skyfall film.
How I first came across this moment? After seeing previews for the film throughout the Summer of 2012, I found myself in the Megabox at COEX Mall in Gangnam, Seoul on November 2, 2012. It was my intention to catch it on release day a week earlier but I was enjoying my 28th birthday in Singapore. Despite waiting a week, the crowd was still deep to watch that film.
What it meant to me then? It was a very heavily anticipated viewing for me. After seeing my 1st Bond film in the Fall of 2001—that being The World Is Not Enough—I wasn’t exactly enamored by the story. But during the Long Hot Summer of 2011, I came across Casino Royale and I liked the rebooted film…as well as the follow-up in Quantum of Solace. It was only natural that I be all in on seeing Skyfall. Of course, I was in it to see the expansion of the storyline but I also wanted to see Naomie Harris and Javier Bardem in supporting roles. The film did not disappoint at all. Bond was his usual self but the addition of Harris as Moneypenny and Bardem’s brutal representation of Raoul Silva was fantastic. The film really crystalized the relationship between Bond and M, as he went hard for the MI6 leader. I was saddened when she perished at the end of the film.
What it means to me now? Skyfall is one of my all-time favorite films. It’s easily my favorite film in the James Bond series…for the moment anyway. I watch it maybe 3-4 times a year and always with Spectre to follow. I think the film was well put together and the only thing that vexed me was the theme song. Nothing against Adele as she absolutely did her thing on the track but I’ve always felt that the late great Amy Winehouse should’ve been singing those lyrics. Anyway, I’m excited for No Time to Die but I’m definitely going to be watching Skyfall a time or two over the next few days.
