Movie Review # 393: 007: Spectre (2015)

Ladies & gentlemen, family, and friends, boys and girls, tonight, I am very, very excited, as we have finally ended our adventures with the one and only James Bond. That is until hopefully, for sure, April 2021, when 007: No Time To Die is supposed to come out. Geez! I guess we can’t trust that future blockbusters will keep their release date for a long while, now that this stupid COVID has been lurking upon us for however much longer. Anyway, we are going to talk about the final 007 film of the franchise until, presumably, April 2021. This is said to likely be the second to last film in which Daniel Craig stars as the main character. Presenting to you all 2015’s Spectre.

Plot: Shortly after Agent M (Judi Dench) passes away, James Bond (Daniel Craig) comes across a video, in which M instructs him to take down a ring leader in Mexico City named Marco Sciarra (Alessandro Cremona). Sometime, while trying to track him down, Bond discovers that Sciarra is part of a bigger conspiracy that could lead him to some truths that he had been digging for for years. Can Bond discover these truths, and find peace in the end?

Okay, regardless of whether or not other good friends of mine wanted to see this film, or not, I regret not seeing this film when it came out back in November 2015. The reason being is because of how well done this film is. In fact, after both this film, and 2012’s 007: Skyfall being some of the better films in this franchise, and those two coming out in a row, it is safe to say that MGM may be on a winning streak in terms of coming out with great film after film. Now, will 007: Spectre continue that streak when that film is released? Let’s hope so, but we’ll see. Anyway, here are some reasons why this may yet be another gem in the James Bond franchise. First off, much like the previous installment, this film knows how to develop everything to the best of it’s ability, whether it be the characters, the world building, and the story overall. Also, for those of you who have watched all twenty-four James Bond films up to this present point, you, like me, may have made potential assumptions about Bond in regards to his past, be it his family, certain relationships that he had, and things like that, yes? If you did, then maybe some of those assumptions may be laid to rest once and for all. Impossible, you may say? Well, maybe not! As it turns out, there seem to be some secrets revealed that may be in connection to some of the events of the previous films. Wow, twenty-four films later, and we still have yet discover some secrets that we may have never known in how these stories seem to be all connected together? Should work for any of us, hopefully! With that, it may appear as if there may be some old cliches that have seemed to be in some of the other James Bond films. However, seeing how certain events turn out around the end, and the direction that it sounds like the next installment seems to be taking, it may seem as if some of the old cliches may not be there after all. One could be wrong, but we shall see. Additionally, there’s the musical score by Thomas Newman of all people. Okay, before I continue on in this review, could we please take a moment to acknowledge that Thomas Newman is apparently a relative of Randy Newman, who, as some of us know, wrote songs and score for songs like many of the Disney/Pixar films? Well, let’s just say that Thomas Newman knows how to make really good music too. He has made great music in a variety of films, that has ranged from movies like The Shawshank Redemption, Phenomenon, Pat It Forward, and even had rare times of composing scores for Disney/Pixar films like Finding Nemo. Now, as of five years ago, he adds his flare to 007: Spectre. One should admit that he doesn’t disappoint. Oh, and there’s the relationship between James Bond and Dr. Madeleine Swann (played by Lea Seydoux). Okay, I have not been one to touch upon a lot of the relationships that James Bond, seeing as either those relationships haven’t worked out, or he’s gotten married to one, or two, and that female dies. Or, has Bond gotten the Jack Bauer treatment in terms of most of his girlfriends getting killed offscreen, and us being left in the dark about that? Hmmmm! Oh, the mysteries that may surround this franchise! But back on track! This time around, we, the audience, may sense that Bond and Swann may have a more special connection that we may not have sensed with the majority of his relationships. Seeing as this relationship seems to be the most developed, minus maybe the one from 007: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, that may be saying a lot. Oh, and as far as the villains go, while it may be obvious from the start as to who some of they are, it may be a twist as to some of the other characters that turn out to be villains throughout this film. Finally, there are some really good messages in this film. First off, there’s the potential message about not giving up even when certain situations may seem impossible to accomplish. There’s also the possible message about not taking revenge on others, but letting justice be served on your enemies in the right way. Oh, and there’s also the possible message about learning to be satisfied with other good things in life.

Well folks, that’s my review for 007: Spectre. As this franchise has continued to grow, the films have had both high points, as well as low points. However, movies like 007: Skyfall, and 007: Spectre have seemed to show that with some of the best directing, better storytelling from good directors, and other great elements like it, these films can continue to be enjoyable as long as the writers know how to balance great action with also as great of a story as possible. If you haven’t seen this film yet, please make sure that you do! You will most definitely be blown away by it without a doubt. So everyone, it sure has been a long four months since I first began this marathon back in June of this year. I must say that I have enjoyed going through these films, figuratively going on these adventures with James Bond, and giving you all reviews for these films afterwards. It took a while, but we have finally arrived at the temporary end of this franchise until, again, we have the next installment. Honestly, there is a part of me that feels like maybe this franchise should have maybe concluded after this film, seeing as things have tied in, and wrapped up with this franchise. However, if it turns out that there are more stories of this franchise that still have yet to be told, then I’m open to seeing more of them, and seeing where this story continues to be taken. Well, looking forward to finally seeing 007: No Time To Die either a few months from now, or even a few years from now, if necessary. Until then, here’s to some other film reviews, as well as occasional TV show reviews in the meantime!

Final Grade: A+