SPECTRE: Bond is back, and so am I

I went to see Spectre for one reason and one reason only – to give Mr. Bond a chance to redeem himself. When last we saw our dashing hero in Skyfall, he had just spent two hours and 23 minutes of screen time screwing up royally. (Warning: Skyfall spoilers ahead for those of you who, three years later, still haven’t seen it.)

In case you’ve forgotten what happened in that fateful film, Bond fell for every trap and trick, lost footraces and fistfights alike, couldn’t shoot a target five feet from his face, got MI6 headquarters blown up, let the bad guy get away (repeatedly), stood by as yet another Bond girl got killed, oversaw the conflagration that annihilated his childhood home, got the divine Miss M assassinated, and, worst of all, destroyed his 1965 Aston Martin DB5 beyond all recognition. Oh, and he botched his physical fitness test. Skyfall? More like SkyFAIL.

Never have I endured such bitter Bond disappointment – not even when Remington Steele was at the helm. It almost put me off the franchise entirely. I blamed Daniel Craig personally for that series of fiascos (clearly the Skyfall screenwriters didn’t feel he was up to the task), and I would have happily stripped him of his 007 status, were it within my purview.

Needless to say, I wasn’t in a big fat hurry to see Spectre. In fact, I didn’t make up my mind to see it until a co-worker and fellow movie fan told me that (1) he understood my pain, and (2) he had seen the film and was confident that my faith would be restored. No spoilers here, but suffice it to say he was right. Bond brought his A game, and he hit it clean out of the park. After the opening sequence, amid flames and blood, I turned to my movie buddy and proclaimed, “I’m so happy!” I said it again at the end of the movie, and I’ll say it again right now – I’m so happy! The world may be falling to pieces, but 007 has redeemed himself. Huzzah!

So what’s next? Rumor has it that Daniel Craig wants out of the 007 business, as does director Sam Mendes. I don’t blame them – I’m sure it’s exhausting, putting on a brilliant show like that. After Skyfall, I would have happily given pink slips to the both of them. But now . . . well, if they decide to go now, at least they’re going out as victors, for which I will be eternally grateful. Any guesses as to who the next Bond might be?

Sidebar: I have my fiddly friend D.S. to thank for bringing me back to the movie-review game after a one-year absence. I don’t see near as many movies as I used to, but that shouldn’t stop me from taking every opportunity to persuade you to go . . . Thanks, Dave!