Specter of the "Spectre"

The new James Bond movie “Spectre” was a disappointment.  I watched it over the Thanksgiving Weekend.  After all of the hype that surrounded the movie, and the trailer was superb: mysterious and captivating, I went into the movie theater with a great expectation to be blown away. After all, “Skyfall” blew me away with its superb storytelling, actors’ performances, action scenes, unique baddy played by Javier Bardem, and unpredictable ending; I am still reeling from that movie. In contrast, “Spectre” was none of those qualities.

In fact, “Spectre” was a composite-movie of most of all old James Bond movies. Firstly, the beginning of the movie in Mexico City had only one great action of blasting of the building that refused to collapse and a baddy coming out of it with limited injuries. The parade of the ‘dead’ on the Day of All Saints reminded me of a scene (I believe it was with Sean Connery) in New Orleans and its lively parade. In addition, the chase scene was interesting by so over-used in many other movies. I liked the battle in helicopter. It looked familiar yet it had its own novelty.

Second, the credit scene with Sam Smith’s opening song and sexual dancing affair reminded me of Pierce Brosnan’s James Bonds. Sam Smith’s song was subpar and boring. Thirdly, Christoph Waltz’s baddy was reminiscent of bad guys of Sean Connery’s James Bonds: sophisticated and edgy but not as interesting or juicy as Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) in “Skyfall”. And the whole Spectre organization with its secluded and secret headquarters and with its egomaniacal boss reminded me more of “Skyfall” again. Mr. Waltz’s character was not as juicy, not unique, and not interesting. In fact, I lost interest in Oberhauser from the moment the character showed up in the movie for the first time in Rome. By the way, the car chase in Rome was badass, especially when James Bond decided to catapult away and sink the stolen car in Tiber. Last, but not least, the chase scene in the Alps (James Bond on a plane and bad guys in cars) was interesting but reminded me of another cooler chase scene down the mountain slope on skis in one of earlier James Bond movies (I believe it was with Roger Moore).

Overall, “Spectre” could’ve been better. However, with so many James Bond movies over the years, repetition is inevitable especially when creators want to connect the newer and re-imagined James Bond movies with its predecessors. I would give credit to Daniel Craig. He sold to us that he is James Bond. Surely, he has been less charming and sophisticated. However, he made it his own James Bond. He made it fresh. I remember when many of the James Bond fans were not convinced by Mr. Craig’s James Bond and maybe many still believe he is the worst James Bond. However, I wholeheartedly disagree. This new James Bond was raw, real, motivated, and focused. Yes, at times, he looked more like Jason Bourne (Bourne series) or Ethan Hunt (Mission Impossible series), but that what made him unique to create these fabulous origin tales.  And as James Bond in “Spectre” drove away from Q’s headquarters in classical Aston Martin DB5, it could be surmised that the origin stories are over, and now, James Bond will be that classical Bond that we have been used to before Daniel Craig. We don’t know if we’ll have another James Bond and whether Daniel Craig will reprise his role, but we know he made four movies that have been a joy to watch and see Bonds’ development as a guy you never want to cross in any generation, except of course if you are a lady.