SKYFALL

Took a break from Sandy and Athena and back-to-politics-as-usual to see the latest James Bond flick SKYFALL and was glad I did. It's as good, or seemed to me tonight to be, as the old Sean Connery ones.  Javier Bardem plays one of the greatest Bond movie villains ever. I didn't like his over the top grim performance in A COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN especially since that was pretending to represent some kind of realism, but the Bond flicks are pure fantasy and as such Bardem's nod to past Bond villains while adding his own unique take was a gas to watch.

And the Bond women in SKYFALL, Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe, are as good as any from any Bond film (and I knew a few who played those earlier roles). And Craig and Judi Dench do their usual excellent work. Throw in old hands like Albert Finney and Ralph Fiennes, along with the splendid relative newcomer, more or less, Ben Wishaw (who was brilliant as John Keats in BRIGHT STAR) playing Q, and it's worth it just to see these actors have fun with this fantasy.

A great escape movie. If you can find a movie theater with power and heat, check it out.