Spectre (2015)

☆ ☆ ☆

Spectre (2015) – S. Mendes

There is certainly a lot of money splashed up there on the screen in the latest James Bond outing (still with Daniel Craig) – per usual.  However, despite the amazing locations (starting with a Day of the Dead festival in Mexico City and then traversing Europe and Northern Africa), things are dreadfully dull.  In fact, I fell asleep (but watched the ending the next day).  Part of the problem can be chalked up to a rather inward gazing plot, all about the MI6 being taken over by another government agency that may actually be linked to the evil world-dominating group of the film title.  This sort of plot has worked astonishingly well for Le Carré and Alec Guinness (in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Smiley’s People) but it falls flat here when the nuances are over-ridden by blunt set-pieces and no time for actual acting.  Poor Ralph Fiennes is trapped here with little to do (taking over as M from Dame Judi Dench whose absence is felt).  Christoph Waltz makes an unsatisfying villain – somehow I can’t take him seriously.  I could go on but instead I will simply pronounce this a misfire.  Perhaps, however, it isn’t even worth watching the Bond franchise at all anymore?