Spectre (4K Ultra UHD/Blu-ray) [4K UHD]

Reinvention. Most 50-year olds have a difficult time when it comes to adapting. Changing trends and tastes often leave those 50 and up on the other side of relevancy. Recognizing this fact and the formulaic approach the franchise had taken while being charged with protecting its legacy, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson rolled the dice and rebooted the beloved James Bond franchise nine years ago. Rather than amp up the spectacle, Daniel Craig’s adventures became character-driven with SPECTRE becoming the most personal Bond film yet in the franchise’s 24th film.Kudos should be lavished on director Sam Mendes, who almost did not direct this feature after being paralyzed by the rousing financial success of SKYFALL. How does on top the highest-grossing feature in the film’s franchise? Not by turning things on its head, but continuing the quest that Martin Campbell first began in CASINO ROYALE in 2006. Mendes even made the weakest of the Craig entry’s, QUANTUM OF SOLACE, relevant with a few well-placed plot points and lines of dialogue. All of which neatly wraps up Craig’s opening arc or final turn as Ian Fleming’s spy with a license to kill (depending on which media outlet one believes on the actor’s decision to continue in the role).Each actor’s run as Bond can usually be defined in one theme. Sean Connery’s was the first and set the tone for the five actors to follow. Roger Moore’s of course are recalled fondly and are a product of the time and the actor as the thespian took a more humorous approach. Craig’s run can be explained in two words, personal and grit, which takes its cues from the two of fans most beloved entries, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE and ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE.Starting in Casino Royale, which showed Bond falling in love again on screen, Craig showed a vulnerability that resulted in a hardened shell. Bond became all about business, however it still remained personal as Quantum of Solace immediately continued the Royale’s story. Skyfall seemed to veer off that path a bit, while still a personal and perhaps love story for Bond, but Mendes showed his skill by bringing it all back together for Spectre. Craig’s Bond is forced to finish the journey he began, with some truly personal ties that might either annoy or intrigue audience members. Whichever, no one will see this entry coming, and isn’t that what’s most important.Spectre is also a terrific opportunity for Mendes, Craig and the executive producers to show audiences why 007 is still relevant in this time of surveillance and drones. Mendes provides a terrific commentary on today’s governments and their requests for its citizens to surrender more personal freedoms in the guise of protection. Granted, while there is not some evil empire lurking in the background like Spectre pulling the strings and causing explosions and anarchy around the globe under the mask of terrorist attacks (or is there?), it is still an important idea to consider.Introducing three new actors in beloved roles in Skyfall was another reason that compelled Mendes to return, and he does not waste the trios skills, as Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris all shine in roles established in Bond lore as M, Q and Moneypenny, respectively. Fiennes especially, whose M is tasked with reining in a Bond who has appeared to have gone rogue in this film is spectacular and it was nice to see an actor of his quality not sidelined in a typical bureaucratic role. It is hard not to love what Fiennes has done with a former one-dimensional character in his two appearances.By the way, Spectre not only pays tribute to Craig’s run as 007, but gives a terrific nods to all the films before with David Bautista’s menacing turn, Christoph Waltz’s performance, plus a new DB Aston Martin, parachute stunt, a train ride and more. All of which honors the franchise while continuing to update and make it fresh.Double-O seven has been gambling ever since audience’s first saw him appear on the big screen, whether it has been rolling the dice, going all in, or leaping off buildings, cranes, helicopters and more. Broccoli and Wilson’s goal of new-found relevance in this age of CG extravaganza has been realized, in spades. Plus, audiences get a happy ending.

"You're a good man, James."-Madeline Swan(This review was done by my son, Matthew Corrigan)The headline says it all. James Bond is a good man, and this a good film. Or rather a great film, and a stellar Bond flick.Summary:After the events of Skyfall, M. (Judi Dench) sends James Bond (Daniel Craig) a video, asking him to find and kill a man who happens to be in league with the crinimal organization known as "Spectre". Together, with the help of Q. (Ben Wishaw), Eve Moneypenny (Naomi Harris), the new M. (Ralph Fiennes), and Madeline Swan (Lea Sedoux), Bond tracks down the organization and faces his greatest threat yet.Review (Some Spoilers):This film is an excellent follow-up to "Skyfall", which happens to be one of my favorite movies ever. The performances are great and believable all around, and the dialogue flows with the characters. The story crumbles at places, but it is easy to follow and does a good job at introducing Christopher Walz's character, the enticing and notorious Ernst Stavo Blofeld, head of Spectre, or the SPecial Executive for Counterintelligence, Terrorism, Revenge, and Extortion. The character and the organization were made famous in Ian Fleming's original Bond novels and in the subsequent film adaptations, starting with "Dr. No". Both return in this film and are just as frightening as ever.Best Scenes:There are several scenes in this film that are some of the best in the franchise. There is the opening in Mexico during El Dia de los Muertes, or the Day of the Dead. What was great about this scene for me was not only the scene itself but that I had just learned about El Dia de los Muertos in Spanish class hours before seeing the film.The fight on train was exciting, and I loved the homage to the previous Bond entry "From Russia with Love." It's funny how fighting on a train is more exciting than fighting, well, anywhere else. The conversation between Bond and Mr. White (Jesper Christensen) is suspenseful, witty, and starts an emotional height that drives the rest of the film.And then there's the ending. Without giving away too much, the ending was phenomenal in every way, and has one of the best lines in the franchise:"Out of bullets."-James BondFor people who have not seen the film, this line does not sound as amazing as it does to those who have. And trust me, it is an awesome line.Song:The opening song, "Writing's on the Wall", is a fantastic example of what a Bond song needs to be. Sam Smith's vocals add to the emotional power of this song, which can make people both cheer and cry. Not to mention that the title is, whether intentional or not, a reference to a line in "Goldeneye", where Bond (Pierce Brosnan), tells Q (Desmond Llewelyn) that "the writing's on the wall". From the announcement of the title back in mid-2015, I was immediately excited about the song, mainly because of the reference. I waited until the theatre to listen to it, and it did not disappoint.Best Part:The best part of the film, without a doubt, is Daniel Craig as Bond. He is engaging and plays the role with such conviction. No Bond actor before has been as believable or as satisfying in the role. He commands every scene and carries an already great film.Overall:Overall, this film is an excellent Bond adventure that lived up to the high standard set by "Skyfall".93%, or A.