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SPECTRE Of A Blog Post

Looking back at old review posts, I at one time apparently considered Casino Royale "the best Bond movie ever" because it didn't focus on gadgets. I even commented it wasn't slow moving.  Interestingly, all I really said about the next film, Quantum of Solace, was that I loved how they let M, played at the time by Judy Dench, actually do something. I didn't actually do an official review of Skyfall but that surpassed Casino Royale  as the best Bond film ever.  Casino was a needed reset after Die Another Day (Has any "final" Bond film ever been the actor's best? Diamonds Are Forever isn't my favorite Connery, View to a Kill isn't in my top 2 my favorite Moore, etc...) but Skyfall  made me realize "Lactose Intolerant Bond" just doesn't work long term.  You need a mix. The Serious And The Cheese. It also made me realize that letting M, Q and Moneypenny actually leave the damn office is awesome! In SPECTRE, M, and to a certain extent Moneypenny and Q, got even more to do. Of course, M and Q are no longer played by octogenarians... (Seeing Ralph Fiennes here and Bond's distant relative Man From UNCLE makes me want another albeit slightly more serious Avengers movie...)  

Those who know me know how continuity obsessed I am. The new SPECTRE forced a conflict in me in this area.  Connecting every villain Bond encountered in "The Craig Years" was cool but felt forced. In the first two movies, there was a lawsuit going on that prevented the return of the organization known as SPECTRE to the films so Quantum was created to fill the void. The lawsuit was settled.  I loved the use of Mr. White to advance the plot, however...

I'm curious what they'll do for the 25th film.  The plot of this felt like an "milestone" movie. The reference to CIA agent Felix Leiter and the other Easter eggs were better than in Die Another Day.) It's like voting at 17 or having your first alcoholic drink at 20... (Not that I know anything about that...)          
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