'Skyfall': A Mature Take on Tradition and Duty

"Skyfall" reveals Bond's feelings about his childhood home: "I always hated this place." "Casino Royale" might have left out the gadgets of Bond lore, but "Skyfall" openly mocks them. At the beginning of "Skyfall," M decides to risk killing Bond rather than trusting him to save the day as always. From these examples and others, one would get the impression that "Skyfall" is ready to blaze a more revolutionary trail than even the stripped-down "Casino Royale."

But that's not quite right. Bond's car in "Skyfall" has appeared in other Bond movies. The film has the most traditional Bond music cues since "Tomorrow Never Dies" (some of these cues are so obvious that the fourth wall seems to be broken). "Skyfall" is also more concerned with one-liners than "Casino Royale" and "Quantum of Solace."

While I could have done without some of its more contrived nods to the past, "Skyfall" makes a powerful statement about responsibility. You can't just look to the past, or the world will leave you behind. At the same time, you can't completely ignore what made you successful. Both Bond and M must face this universal truth.

Going beyond the direction of Sam Mendes and the cinematography of Roger Deakins (both of which make "Skyfall" the most beautiful Bond movie ever), and placing aside the fact that Daniel Craig is the deepest cinematic expression of Bond, you ultimately take away one thing from "Skyfall": no matter what, Bond isn't going to quit. In fact, he's going to enjoy the job. It's a simple, refreshing thought for our fear-ridden culture.