'SKYFALL'

'SKYFALL' (PG-13) (4 STARS) (highest rating)

Written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan
Directed by Sam Mendes
Actors: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Albert Finney

About a month ago I did a special radio show on my favorite and least favorite James Bond movies. I picked my favorite theme songs, best Bond villians and which actor was the best Bond. I also ranked the movies in order of greatness. Now with the latest Bond movie "Skyfall" I am going to have to change my rankings in a big way. "Skyfall" is the best Bond movie since "Goldfinger" and I might even like it more than that classic. Am I saying "Skyfall" is the best Bond movie ever? Well let me just say it is the best action movie of this or any other year, the best spy movie in ages and great enough to get a Best Picture Oscar nomination!

"Skyfall" is not only prime Bond but one of the most beautifully shot and exciting movies this year. The producers have finally picked an esteemed director, the best director of any Bond movie in Sam Mendes. Mendes has directed two of the most beautifully shot movies in recent memory "Revolutionary Road" and "American Beauty". Bond fans were worried that Mendes would not be able to handle all the intricate action scenes. Let me say that Mendes gets the best Bond performance ever given by any of the actors who played Bond by Daniel Craig. He also has captured fascinating shots of the best and most beautiful locations I have ever seen in a Bond movie. I also think Mendes has directed the best action scenes of any Bond movie. The movie is beautifully lit and breathtaking!

I also love that the plot is so simple but also so thrilling. Someone has hacked into M's computer and discovered the real identities of secret agents who are now compromised. M is played by Judi Dench who is the best addition a Bond movie has ever gotten. She brings so much depth to what should be a thin role and her and Daniel Craig are so good together! They create a deep and touching relationship between M and Bond that peaks in "Skyfall" and makes the movie special. Bond then meets what will become in my opinion one of the three best Bond villians ever. He is a disgraced ex spy consumed with revenge who thinks he was betrayed by M. His name is Silva and he is beautifully played by Javier Bardem. Barden plays Silva with a lot of menace and evil but Bardem plays it just right. He doesn't go over the top, creating one of the most sinister Bond villains ever.

The action scenes in "Skyfall" are the best ever in a Bond movie. There are wonderful action set pieces including a brilliantly lit and choreographed fist, knife fight. Then you have a thrilling chase scene on a subway, the perfectly directed pre credit chase scene and a masterful closing set piece set in Scotland but actually filmed in Turkey. That brings me to the location work which is the most sumptous and beautiful location work ever in a Bond movie. Shanghai looks breathtaking in this movie, London has never looked better in a movie and the closing sequences in Turkey look cold and dank but also extremely beautiful.

The other treats in this movie are a beautiful, tough and engaging spy and Bond girl played wonderfully by Naomie Harris. You also have Ralph Fiennes as M's boss, a new and funny Q and the legendary Albert Finney who has some killer, funny one liners and brings another level of depth to this Bond movie. Finney figures into the last half hour that is flawlessly shot and directed and he makes it even more special. The only thing that was missing was a real substantial and beautiful second Bond girl but by the end of the movie you see why there wasn't one so even that comes out perfect here. In fact the ending of this Bond movie springs great surprises making this the most perfect ending a Bond movie has ever had. You will see why it is perfect setting up a new and exciting direction in the Bond franchise that I can't wait to see!

I loved every frame and every second of this exciting, well directed, suspenseful and extremely fun Bond movie. I loved the opening theme song sung by Adele which may be the lushest, most beautiful sounding Bond song ever. I loved Javier Bardem who brings such an energy and powerful but subtle menace to Silva. I loved the performances and screen presence of Dench, Harris, Fiennes and Finney. In fact this is the best acting I have seen in a Bond movie. The direction, cinematography and location work also has never been better and I can't wait to see every action scene and chase over and over again. It usually takes an actor playing Bond three movies to get comfortable playing Bond. Daniel Craig in film three has nailed it and is now equal and maybe even better than Connery! "Skyfall" is not only the best Bond movie in ages it also the best action movie in a decade and one of the best movies period of 2012!

P.S. I don't know why but after "Skyfall" I kept thinking of Gene Siskel and how much he appreciated the Bond movies. He would argue with Roger Ebert on who was the best Bond and Bond actor and villain. Since this is probably my favorite Bond movie I kept thinking that Gene would have loved this movie and would have thought the same way I did. I miss you Gene!