Watched “Spectre” in the company of three frenetic 14 year old boys at the local cinema . Overall I quite enjoyed the film, but hey it’s Bond but it did have issues. It also did some things much better than most Bond films. The supporting characters in the 00 branch were allowed to become more fleshed out and to have considerably more character development. The first half of the film was well paced and had a solid level of intrigue.

Where the film flattened out was the writing in the second half. Christoph Waltz (as Ernst Stavro Blofeld) who in past has been known to shed the curtains in regards to his acting seemed subdued and undeveloped. It is almost like the producers were stuck with a three hour script and decided to produce a “Readers Digest “ version of the second half of the movie. I expected more from the villian and a greater development of his character. As a result the audience was not as involved in the film and it drifted. The character of “C” should have been far more developed. I needed to truly understand what motivated him if I was to understand a key plot point within the film.

If the producers had dictated a proper resolution to the Monica Belucci character, placed Blofeld and Bond at the scene of her demise, that possibly could have heightened the angst and the overall level of character tension which could have moved the film forward.

Frankly the opening titles sequence made you wish for the glory days of Maurice Binder and Shirley Bassey. The song and the sequence was at best tepid. Why the producers have not engaged the services of the British singer, Duffy is beyond me.The last twenty minutes of the film seemed rushed and somewhat hackneyed.

When the actors are still, and verbal interplay is required, well Same Mendes is your guy. I have never thought his greatest suit was in compelling camera movement or the pacing of action. Martin Campbell did a far better job, but of course my household is still mourning the loss of Pierce Brosnan as Bond.

There is tiredness in the franchise, a sense of everything has been done. That maybe that is the case, but even if it has been done before, it could be done better. I alwaus enjoy a Bond film, because attached to every single film is a unparalled body of cinematic precedent. We truly hope we love the latest installment but if not we always have Goldfinger.