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New 007 Movie Reveals Bond's Inner Demons¹

The Bond franchise² has always been identified with the spy's signature introduction.

"Who are you?" asks the beautiful blond woman.

"Bond. James Bond," replies actor Sean Connery as the legendary³ secret agent.

But the traditionally slick, unperturbed spy with the elegant tuxedos⁴ and stiff martinis has evolved into a more rugged⁵ Bond, still chiseled⁶, but more haunted-looking.

Skyfall starts with her Majesty's Secret Service botching an operation in Istanbul. Bond gets back in action. This time, terrorism hits home.

M, the head of the foreign intelligence wing, played by Judi Dench, finds out she is the target. The perpetrator is Silva, an ex-agent with an axe⁷ to grind.

Academy award winner Javier Bardem plays Silva, who is not the typical Bond opponent. Bardem spoke⁸ to VOA about Mendes's drama.

“It took the direction of really creating characters that are more approachable, in a sense of an emotional approach. That's why there are great scenes playing in the movie, because Sam likes scenes playing in his movies, and he put the characters together in order for them to have the time to go through a process,” said Bardem.

The film also is a visual extravaganza, especially on the 50th anniversary of the franchise.

“It's hopefully to please people, to make them remember what it is, that it's a Bond movie first and foremost,” said Craig.

Unlike its predecessors⁹, Skyfall uses gadgets¹¹ sparingly, but modern technology drives the film.

Terrorism and undercover war move into cyber space, and MI6's gadget¹⁰ expert and computer hacker¹² looks like a brainiac high schooler next door.

Like in all previous Bond films, sex appeal abounds¹³. French-Cambodian actress Berenice Merlohe plays Severine, the quintessential Bond girl.

“I always felt connected with the Bond universe, with the music, which is so powerful, and the sets were unbelievable," said Merlohe.

Naomi Harris plays MI6 agent Eve, a more dynamic female character. 

“A woman who is much more of an equal to Bond. She out there in the field with him,” said Harris.

Skyfall takes a more modern approach to Bond, but the film also pays homage¹⁴ to tradition. We see 007 driving his iconic Aston-Martin and still picking a good physical fight with traditional Bond bravado¹⁵.