Skyfall

Cut out of work early and battled the retirees for seats at the opening on Friday of Skyfall, the latest James Bond movie (the 23rd in 50 years, actually).  Great flick that I highly recommend.  I enjoyed the traditionalist theme, the idea that what's old still matters, and may even be more relevant and useful than what's new.  This is introduced fairly early on and is touched upon throughout, from the 'new' Q to the weapon used to dispatch the villain at the end.  About the villain:  didn't enjoy Javier Bardem's performance greatly.  He went for the creep factor and certainly hit it, but maybe too much so, to the point of caricature.  At one point the audience laughed loudly at one of his menacing moves.  There isn't really a typical Bond girl in this installment, although in the traditionalist mode, they brought back Moneypenny very nicely.  The opening action sequence is fairly riveting and believable (although nothing will probably top the parkour sequence in Casino Royale), and the song by Adele is well done.  Probably the film's best attribute is the cinematography.  It is beautifully and meticulously framed and shot.  There is one scene in particular, in a Shanghai high-rise, that is quite visually arresting.  The scenes in the last act in Scotland are also visually gripping, particuarly Bond's and M's arrival to "Skyfall."