In 2012, Skyfall lit audiences up. It’s easily in the top five James Bond movies ever made and set an incredibly high bar. Spectre has a lot to live up to and while I think it’s a great movie, it falls flat in a few areas.

Spectre is not only a direct sequel to Skyfall, but the threats from Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace are also a part of this story. Right out of the gate, Bond is the case to hunt down a man and the result is one crazy action set piece during The Day of the Dead in Mexico. A voice from James’ past put him on this mission which sends him down the road to uncover a massive sinister organisation. While Bond goes rogue to handle this issue, M is left to keep MI6 and the Double 0 program up and running as pressure from C and his high-tech surveillance program seeks to replace it.

There’s a lot to cover in this 140 minute adventure so I’ll break it down in my three major mindsets.

Things I liked: It’s a great looking movie with a fantastic soundtrack. I like the entire cast, especially Lea Seydoux as Madeleine Swann. Everyone is amazingly well dressed. Love Daniel Craig as Bond. He’s got some great lines, he looks like a well dressed bad ass and a stone cold assassin. I heard some early complaints about Spectre bringing back some of the goofier Bond qualities (like landing safely on a couch from a fall, looking surprised but pleased), but I didn’t mind it at all. If I go to a Bond movie I expect to see some series hallmarks to be checked off. Q and Money Penny are better used. Spectre is a globe-trotting mission, there’s a lot of amazing stuff to look at. Many great action scenes, the aforementioned opening scene, a neat snow chase with a plane and some Land Rovers and the train fight with Hinx is the best. Speaking of Mr. Hinx, he’s a long overdue henchman. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen a Jaws and Oddjob caliber character and Dave Bautista is perfect casting for him. Great introduction, awesome physical and dangerous presence. I’m a fan of Christoph Waltz and I enjoyed seeing him here. Really liked the end. It feels like a bookend to the four Craig Bond films while remaining open for him to continue for one more.

On The Fense: The pacing and tone is weird. There are many percalating scenes that feel long, but I also think are necessary. It felt much like the Bond movies of the 60’s where there is no rush to get to the next scene. Christoph Waltz introduction is very delibrate and methotical. He takes him time from the shadows and tips his hand when he’s good and ready (which leads into a chase scene). Waltz wasn’t given much to do as the main villain. He is (and has been) the puppet master and Mr. Hinx is the muscle, so I think it works in the end, but it does feel disappointing. He may not be the one threating you with a gun, but he does wield tremendous power. At two hours and 20 minutes, it feels a bit too long. While there are many action scenes, some of them fall flat. Mainly the car chase in Rome is surprisingly boring. Two beautiful exotic cars buzzing around an amazing city, but nothing really happens. His DB 10 isn’t as kitted out too well, so a lot doesn’t work and is played for laughs. Some power slides and a rear flamethrower are the only standouts. Few close calls and the streets are basically empty. The cars never touch each other so it’s more like watching two rich people driving home from a fund raiser at a modest speed. It never feels like any of the proaganists are in danger. There are few gadgets. Q only gives him a watch with a bomb in it. Standard fare that pales to what Mission: Impossible has been doing (the whole lone wolf angle has now been beaten to death by both franchises). They rely on Bond’s experience and never say die attitude to get him through everything (which I like, but I also like gadgets. Hense putting this “on the fense”). As good as the movie does look, Skyfall is way more striking. Spectre looks more muted in the color palette, right down to the clothing. Skyfall is a sumptious and vibrant in compairison. Adele’s title song (and the opening credits) for Skyfall is way better than what Sam Smith did for this.

Didn’t Like: So much just works out and the movie wants you to accept it with no questions asked. Know and be okay with all the important people walking away from brutal crashes and fights. No one reacts appropriately to intense experiences. There is this bizarre mentality in just about everyone to not sell the action on screen. No one yells in surprise about crazy dangerous stuff flying by their head. I understand Bond being able to keep it together, but Swann and the rest barely react to anything. Bond and Swann at one point stand right in front of a massive explosion and they treat it like they are watching someone walking across the street. And that complex destroying explosion was triggered by a few bullets hitting a valve. Who designed that Evil Doer HQ? It’s so weird. The torture scene is another head scratcher. Specific things are done to Bond to disable him and none of it worked. Sure, it was painful, but that wasn’t even the point. When he gets away from it, he’s blasting baddies like nothing happened for the rest of the movie when he should be drooling on himself. There was no consequence to that entire segment. A lot happens off screen (a kidnapping) and you just have to go along with things progressing in the spy genre mold (the kidnapped person is being held somewhere in the building for the finale!). As much as the movie wants to be new and cool, it relies on a ton of cliches that come off as lazy more than anything else.

Coming out of Skyfall, I was in love. From the first frame to the last I was all in. Spectre doesn’t hit all the right marks like Skyfall does. It feels like it’s not too sure what it wants to be and pulls punches because of it. While there’s a lot to like, my main concern is that Spectre won’t be nearly as good in repeat viewings. That said, with this whole story arc over and with an ending I truly love, I hope Daniel Craig comes back for another. End his James Bond legacy with one MI6 backed, stunning, stand-alone spy bonanza.