This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
"Spectre," the 24th movie in the James Bond franchise, comes perilously close to becoming a satire of itself — until Daniel Craig gets drop-dead serious and reminds us what it's like to be shaken and stirred by 007's particular brand of action.
Mind you, it takes a while for "Spectre" to get into gear. Director Sam Mendes (who helmed this movie's superior predecessor, "Skyfall") stages some early high-action set pieces — starting with a building-shaking bit in Mexico City, much of it done in a single spectacular tracking shot. However, the movie also takes its time setting into motion a plot involving the new M (Ralph Fiennes) fighting a bureaucratic battle with a tech-hungry new intelligence chief, nicknamed C (Andrew Scott, from "Sherlock").
Bond has gone rogue, as usual, this time in pursuit of a master criminal named Franz Oberholzer (Christoph Waltz). He soon learns that Oberholzer was behind the villains of the previous three Bond movies and the deaths of the previous M (Judi Dench, last seen in "Skyfall") and his love Vesper Lynd (Eva Green, who bit the big one in "Casino Royale"). Bond and the audience learn much more about Oberholzer before the closing credits, including — SPOILER ALERT — a major reference to the 007 pantheon.
The road to Oberholzer takes Bond through some sweeping scenery in Rome, Austria and Morocco. It also brings him into contact with one bruiser of a villain (ex-wrestler Dave Bautista), as well as a sultry Italian widow (Monica Bellucci) and the beautiful Dr. Madeleine Swann (French actress Léa Seydoux), the daughter of one of Oberholzer's former lieutenants (Jesper Christensen).
"Spectre" manages to feel overstuffed and underwhelming at the same time. The action pieces, the exotic locations, the sexy encounters are all in place — as is Bond's pit crew, the reliable Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) and the clever Q (Ben Whishaw). But the script (by Bond veterans John Logan, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, joined by "Black Mass" co-writer Jez Butterworth) is all stops and starts, and the pace seldom generates the tension a Bond movie should have.
Some elements border on the absurd. The Nehru-jacketed Oberholzer is almost a cartoon villain, and Waltz's snarky delivery doesn't raise it above a lampoon. But the silliest part of "Spectre" is the over-the-top opening credits sequence, which combines Sam Smith's terrible ballad "Writing's on the Wall" with nonsensical computer-animated octopuses.
Holding it all together, though, is Craig, who on his fourth time as Bond brings a quiet intensity and a mournful seen-it-all attitude to the suave secret agent. He gives this "Spectre" some flesh and blood, and some necessary grit to the familiar formula of gals, guns and gadgets.
Twitter: @moviecricket HHH
'Spectre'
Daniel Craig's fourth outing as James Bond is an action-packed, but unevenly paced affair.
Where • Theaters everywhere.
When • Opens Friday, Nov. 6.
Rating • PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, some disturbing images, sensuality and language.
Running time • 148 minutes.