Spectre - Frontier Partisans

I celebrated my 50th birthday by gathering a bunch of friends to see the new Bond film, “Spectre,” followed by dinner at a Mexican/Peruvian restaurant. My wife ordered a Mexican Martini — shaken, not stirred — cause that’s the kinda gal she is.

“Spectre” does not top “Skyfall” — still my favorite of all the Bond movies. But it gets the job done in fine fashion. Mi amigo Craig McDonald, a Bond aficionado (Ian Fleming figures heavily in his latest novel) wrote an outstanding review on his blog, which I cannot hope to match. I refer you there. I’ll just hit a few high points:

• I would have willingly paid my ticket for the opening sequence by itself. A loooong tracking shot through a Day of the Dead celebration in Mexico City, followed by an eye-popping action sequence with a helicopter.

• The references tying the other Daniel Craig Bond films into the plot were quite effective.

• The humor was welcome and well handled.

• This is very much a post-Snowden spy movie.

• Dr. Madeleine Swann in a stunning evening dress, competently handling a Walther — bestill my beating heart.

• My only real quibble is that Monica Bellucci was sorely shorted on screen time. Sigh. Oh, yeah, and the song sucks.

Read Craig’s review. He nails it.