Skyfall

James Bond celebrates his 50th cinematic birthday in grand style, with Daniel Craig embarking on his third exotic action-adventure, delivering a compelling performance as Ian Fleming's iconic secret agent. In the spectacular prologue, Bond chases a thief across rooftops in Istanbul's Grand Bazaar on a motorcycle, pursuing the man onto the top of a speeding train, and almost being killed in the process by fellow field agent Eve (Naomie Harris). What's been stolen is a device containing the real names of every British Secret Service agent embedded within terrorist organizations around the world. One-by-one, the agents are being assassinated, plus the new London headquarters of MI6 is blown up in a cyber-terrorist attack. This breach infuriates Intelligence and Security Chairman Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes), who wants to retire M (Judi Dench). M remains, although MI6 is quite different after headquarters is moved underground to Churchill's old war bunker. Here, geeky, new weapons-and-technology guru Q (Ben Whishaw) arms 007 with only a Walther PPK and a tiny tracking device (no more exploding pens and other outlandish devices). Bond is off to Shanghai and Macau, where he's enticed by sexy Severine (Bérénice Marlohe), who leads him to flamboyantly ruthless Silva (Javier Bardem), one of the most deviously shrewd and dangerous of all Bond villains. Bond will ultimately rev up the Aston Martin DB5 and take off for Skyfall, his old Scottish manor house, which is presided over by its grizzled caretaker (Albert Finney). Under Sam Mendes' direction, Skyfall achieves a droll, deft balancing of the franchise's traditional espionage with a timely and thrilling sociopolitical twist. One of the best Bonds ever, this is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include production featurettes on “The Title Sequence,” “DB5,” “Women,” and “Locations” (14 min.) and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray are two audio commentaries (the first by director Sam Mendes; the second with producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, and production designer Dennis Gassner), a “Shooting Bond” behind-the-scenes section with 14 featurettes, including the four previously mentioned (59 min.), a segment on the premiere (4 min.), and bonus DVD, digital, and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for one of Bond's (and 2012's) best.] (S. Granger)