Film Review: Skyfall (Through the eyes of a Bond fanatic)

 

 The very first Bond film I ever saw was GoldenEye and I enjoyed it even before I knew it was part of an over 30 year franchise at the time. Having seen every single Bond film numerous times since then, I fell in love with every aspect of it: The cars, the girls, the action, the gadgets. It was all just pure escapist entertainment at its finest and I still love every ludicrous minute of them. Then I heard that Pierce Brosnan was stepping down/being booted from the role of Bond, and my heart was crushed. I didn't think anyone could replace him, because he embodied everything that I had viewed Bond as: suave, sophisticated, lethal, even funny when the time came. I'll openly admit that I thought Daniel Craig was completely wrong for the part. I was hating on the blonde hair too and I was afraid that the franchise would fade into obscurity because of it. Then I saw Casino Royale, and I, along with many others, were absolutely wrong. I was blown away by everything in it. Almost immediately I thought Daniel Craig succeeded more in portraying Bond in one movie than many others had in 4-7. I won't go so far as to say he's better than Connery, but he's definitely up there with him.

Review: VICKY CHRISTINA BARCELONA

Vicky Christina Barcelona is a movie that could only be set in Barcelona. And although it does not capture the physicality of the city, by giving us deep focus placement shots of Paseo de La Gracia, La Sagrada Familia or Parque Guell, it does capture the psyche behind the city. Do not let this misguide you the famous places are there, but Woody Allen weaves them into his story in such a way that they all happen naturally rather than being forced as must-see locations. It is not uncommon for Woody Allen to set his films in European cities, and here he demonstrates knowledge and insight about the culture that has allowed him to survive in the market. Mind that two of the main characters, Vicky and Christina, are actually Americans visiting Barcelona and we see most of the events through their eyes. It is not the true Barcelona but the fantasy Barcelona in which we fantasize about having an adventure in.