Skyfall Rises to Break UK Box Office Record

Skyfall has become not only the highest grossing Bond film but also the biggest film in UK box office history. No 3D, no blue aliens but a healthy dose of realism have ensured that this James Bond film has made over £94 million in just 40 days stealing James Cameron’s Avatar’s crown which previously held the record for its accomplishment in 11 months.

What was hoped to be a year of jubilation for James Bond with the character celebrating 50 years, has exceeded even the producers expectations and the uncertainty that clouded the franchise given the mixed response to Quantum of Solace and stalled starts for Skyfall, is a distant memory of the past. Skyfall had a lot riding on it as the last Bond film was released four years ago and did not receive the enthusiastic roar of approval that Casino Royale secured. The Olympics helped officially remind everyone of a British institution flying the flag proud but never afraid to use his license to kill. Daniel Craig’s appearance as part of the Olympic opening ceremony – one that celebrated British culture and pride – saw him serving both the Queen and country very literally to a rapturous response that helped kickstart enthusiasm for a new Bond film. For those unaware of what the film’s title was, they only had to describe what Craig was doing in the ceremony to get the hint: Skyfall.

As teasers for the 23^rd film emerged and trade publications congratulated the longest running and most successful film series in history, DVD and bluray box sets were released containing every Bond film to date with a slot free for the new movie. Television tributes to the character and a book by Sir Roger Moore on his experience with James Bond all contributed to keeping the tradition and value of Bond in the public eye, but nobody knew what to expect of Skyfall.

When it was announced the title song would be performed by Adele and the media dissected the various brand endorsements that had become part and parcel of getting the film made, screenings confirmed that something very special had happened with Skyfall: Bond had got his swagger back.

Straying slightly from the formulaic Bond which has girls, gadgets, wisecracks and impossible threats, Skyfall forced the character to crash and burn becoming the underdog who was fighting to prove himself to MI6 as well as the world. Characterisation went a level further with themes exploring the human element of being an agent, Bond’s background and upbringing, M’s maternal role to the agents who work for her and how retiring from the field is usually not voluntary and doesn’t come without repercussions. Skyfall returned to Bond’s roots, paid homage to where the series started and reintroduced two throwbacks that were iconic in their initial incarnations (Moneypenny and the original Aston Martin). The film also perfected a maniacally-layered villain who sought to avenge his own death and abandonment by targeting the person he held responsible, M (Judi Dench). Ironically the killed and resurrected but-not-deemed-fit-for-duty Daniel Craig’s James Bond is the only one who can defeat agent-gone-bad Raoul Silva (chillingly portrayed by Javier Bardem). The Bond girl this time reflects a façade of glamour with Berenice Marlohe delivering a killer performance as Severina – a woman who Silva saved from the Macau sex trade only to be left with even less free will and required to be a slave to his master plan. We don't witness his treatment of her except in the scene where he discards her but her eyes shiver with fear when she begs Bond to free her from captivity and what is not said conjures up a fearful story.

The writing team of Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan have worked to ensure characterization, themes, subtext and narrative devices used to pull together the world of Skyfall are more complex than any previous Bond has been, and director Sam Mendes together with Roger Deakins weave the tapestry with pure visual delight. Couple this with extremely strong performances by Craig, Bardem, Marlohe, Dench, Ralph Fiennes and Naomie Harris and you have a very strong James Bond film coming together. The icing that has also helped make repeat viewings a joy is veteran editor Stuart Baird’s ways of keeping the film fast-paced and a pleasure to sit through and experience. Not an action film from start to finish, Stuart and Kate Baird’s meticulous editing ensures the suspenseful spy thriller heavy on action and drama in equal doses resonates with the magic that movies are made of.

Pre-orders for the bluray release of Skyfall have already shown strong figures despite the film still performing well at the UK box office. With the talent of the film now receiving financial rewards for the success of the film and more promised depending on how it fares during award season, the very big gamble that began on shaky ground has more than paid off allowing all associated with the film to breathe a huge sigh of relief. A statement from producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said they were “overwhelmed with gratitude to the cinema-going audiences in the UK who have made Skyfall the highest grossing film of all time”. Here’s to another 50 years and many more stories that break new ground and entertain from the world of 007.

Skyfall is released on DVD and Bluray in the UK in 2013.