“Skyfall” stands out as a unique James Bond film, and is one of the best out of the 23 that have come out since 1962.

Bond films are famous for their opening sequences that are meant to start the movie in fifth gear, and hook the viewer into the film.

“Skyfall” doesn’t disappoint, and has a chase sequence to rival any previous Bond film.

“Skyfall” departs from the series’ usual non-stop action sequences, and actually, for the first time, takes a stab at “Home Alone” gauntlet-style booby traps.

The departure is a new direction for Bond in this defensive-style film, instead constantly being on the offense.

Up until 2006’s “Casino Royale”, Bond enjoyed a continuous timeline, unbroken since the series’ inception.

The series took a new direction with an edgier, less-goofy product that was commonplace in Bond cinema.

Although this is no longer the same James Bond as seen from “Dr. No” (1962) through “Die Another Day” (2002), it is the first time anyone openly commented on his age.

“It’s a young man’s game now,” Gareth Mallory played by Ralph Fiennes, says to Bond.

In this film, Bond deals with alcohol problems and is physically aching from body trauma; he is seen as an older man looking in from the outside as a new generation is passing him by.

The story revolves around a villain having a vendetta for Bond’s boss, a woman called “M” played by Dame Judi Dench.

Throughout the film, the long-running adversarial relationship between Bond and M, that has been in place since Dench’s first appearance in Goldeneye (1995), becomes more of a mother/son relationship where M stands up for Bond in his weakened state, and Bond defends M from a murderous unknown assassin out to get her.

Silva, Bond’s adversary played by Javier Bardem is well written and fantastically performed.

The byplay between the two is clever, and well constructed in a way that leads fittingly to the film’s climax.

The only negative in the film is the villain doesn’t seem evil enough.  His vengeance seems to fall under only that, vengeance.

There are few innocents killed in the film.  Not that senseless murder is a plus in any film, simply that restricting his targets to that of people almost directly involved, makes him seem like less of a villain, and more of a conquering underdog with a plan.

Other than that, “Skyfall” is masterful.

Grade: A-