Enter “Spectre” – Bond Heaven or Bond Hell? You Decide…
The “Day of the Dead” themed event at the British Museum was held yesterday with Daniel Craig and his close friends making up a large number of the guests. The Royal Albert Hall had previously screened “Spectre” where The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry had been to the film. The BM after party involved fancy dress using masks imitating the Day of the Dead in Mexico and the place decorated aka a macabre carnival. 20 ft skeletons danced about as waiters served Bollinger champagne – 007’s favourite. Craig, Sam Mendes and many co-stars from “Spectre” stayed ’til up to 2.30 to celebrate the new film in true double-agent British style. Singer of the theme tune Sam Smith was also there with his family. Naomie Harris (Miss MoneyPenny) arrived in a stunning navy diamond studded mini complete with teetering party shoes. The talk is now of whether this was Craig’s swansong or is he to re-appear in a fifth Bond movie starring him? We will have to wait and see. And now onto the film…… Excited viewers everywhere around London and the UK had got hold of their tickets weeks before to ensure they were part of the multitude of fans who got to see “Spectre” on its opening night. The film is one of the longer Bond movies and opens in Mexico during the Day of the Dead celebrations. the story having been scripted by four writers. It soon moves to major action as Bond blows up a building containing adversaries only seconds after a clinch with one of the “girls” and the story then gallops along in its well-loved fashion to cover other locations including Rome and London. There is no problem at all with Lucia Sciarra (Monica Bellucci) being the oldest Bond Girl to grace the screen. She is pristine, dark, alluring and resplendent and is a great contrast to the competition – the cool blonde femme fatale (Lea Seydoux) who plays headshrinker Madeline Swann and who helps Bond do away with one of their pursuers and the tension is palpable. At the time he is also protecting her. Car chases abound and you will be kept on the edge of your seats as the story unfolds with Q (Ben Whishaw) and M (Ralph Fiennes) trying to keep calm and hold onto a stiff upper lip as their agent is just a little too hot to handle and tries their patience whilst getting the job done. Drama between HQ and a challenger to take over is also part of the sub plot. The cool ice blue eyes of Bond permeate the tension and social interaction whether it be with the good guys, the bad guys or the girls and his toned physique, confident stride and balanced honed shoulders dominate the screen at times whilst others vie for attention in this intensely fast paced and at times humorous saga with all the expected and well loved challenges interwoven into the plot. I am not going to mention every single star and character in the film right now, but when you go to the cinema, you can see the elaborate and highly tuned performances by all the cast without fail. Christopher Waltz (INglourious Basterds) who plays Oberhauser challenges Bond and Swann as he interrogates and tortures James whilst he struggles with a Q gadget which Swann helps him to set off to elicit their escape. The question arises – what were they doing there on Oberhauser’s territory? Oberhauser is a formidable enemy who seems to take a lot of time being written out of the story – maybe he will return? The MI6 HQ at Vauxhall is brought into play with seriously dramatic effect. Be prepared to have the tension try you to the limit as the fabulous saga unwinds and new challenges await as you watch Bond deal with his mission in an unmeasurably admirable way. Viva 007.
Penny Nair Price