Skyfall is the latest entry in the James Bond franchise, directed by Sam Mendes. The film is unique in the respect that it is not a direct continuation of the story from Craig’s previous two Bond films, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace.
The film's poster
The film notably brings back many “classic” elements to the franchise, with the inclusion of iconic Bond characters such as Moneypenny (played by Naomie Harris) and Q (played by Ben Whishaw). Being a departure from the previous films, Whishaw is the youngest actor to portray Q. Additionally, the end of the film shows MI6’s relocation to the classic Universal Exports building from previous films, with Ralph Fiennes succeeding Judi Dench as M.
Whishaw (left) as Q and Craig (right) as Bond
Ralph Fiennes as Gareth Mallory, the new M
Skyfall also includes the return of Bond’s spy gadgets. However, in keeping with the more realistic feel of Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, Q’s gadgets are simpler and more practical; upon meeting Bond, Q presents him with a miniature radio to signal for backup as well as a Walther PPK/S with palm print activation designed specifically for Bond.
Bond's Walther PPK/S
The rear of the gun; the circles turn red when someone other than Bond attempts to fire it
The film was shot in a diverse set of locations, including London, Glencoe, Istanbul, Adana and Macau. The scenes in Macau were based on Hashima Island in Japan, while sets were designed to recreate skyscrapers for the scenes taking place in Shanghai. Two of the most memorable shots take place in Adana and Glencoe: the former, where Bond is shot off a train crossing the Varda railway bridge in Adana, and the latter, where Silva’s helicopter assaults the Skyfall Manor in Scotland.
The Varda railway bridge
Skyfall is an excellent addition to the Bond franchise, with Bardem’s Silva being a memorable villain that brings true depth to the story and its characters. I believe that Skyfall will appeal not only to classic Bond fans, but to new fans as well. I enjoyed the film, and I’m already looking forward to the next Bond movie!
As I previously mentioned in the first day of class, I am a big admirer of the British television show 'Sherlock.' I was reminded of this love while working on my London Center application essay earlier this week. Through the multiple 'Sherlock' and British blogs that I follow, I have obtained knowledge that the third season of 'Sherlock' will begin filming early in 2013 around January through April. This is the exact time that I hope to be studying abroad. Although it is a long shot, my dream would be to intern with Hartswood Films' 'Sherlock'. Even if I am unable to secure an internship, however, I have discovered that they will be filming mostly on North Gower Street in Central London and that they section off a part of the road for fans to look on. Being deeply inspired as a filmmaker by this show, just the opportunity of seeing 'Sherlock', what I think is a flawless production, in action would be incredibly inspirational.
Besides working on sets, I have found that visiting sets can be a fun experience too, to be able to see and appreciate how each set operates differently. Oddly enough, over the summer, I found myself on the set of the US version of 'Sherlock' called 'Elementary.' A friend that I had worked with on set over the summer told me that a friend of his was on 'Elementary' and that they were filming in the upper west side of NYC while I was visiting. Knowing that, I decided to check out the set and learned a lot about how differently a television set is run from a movie set. By chance I also happened to see the stars Jonny Lee Miller (Trainspotting) and Lucy Liu. Seeing the stars did not faze me, instead I could not help but think, 'How are they going to adapt the show with John Watson as a female?'
New episodes of 'Elementary' will air this fall on CBS. Unforunately, 'Sherlock' is known for 18-month hiatus' and I most likely will not be able to see a new episode for at least a year, but I know that it will be well worth the wait.
