Kernel Rating (out of 5):
MPAA Rating: PG-13 Length: 143 minutes
Age Appropriate for: 13+. It’s all very typical James Bond: Lots of shootouts but not so much blood; some implied sex scenes but no nudity; cursing; drinking and implied drug use; and a bad guy with a bit of a mangled face. Also some discussion of terrorism, loneliness, and other emotionally intense topics.
The James Bond franchise reaches invigorating, thrilling heights with ‘Skyfall,’ a huge improvement over 2008’s ‘Quantum of Solace’ that surpasses 2006’s ‘Casino Royale,’ too. Daniel Craig, director Sam Mendes, and costar Javier Bardem make the ultimate trio, injecting ‘Skyfall’ with the right amount of slickness, darkness, and depth.
By Roxana Hadadi
Let me be frank: “Skyfall” is a cut above. It’s better than the previous two James Bond movies with Daniel Craig; it’s better than most of the other installments in the 50-year-old franchise; and it’s probably one of the most thrilling films to come out this year. It’s not the spectacle of “The Dark Knight Rises” and it may not make as much money as “The Avengers,” but Bond is unbelievably appealing here—”Skyfall” is simultaneously glossy and gritty, a highly satisfying mix of danger and allure.