Skyfall

The latest installment in the Bond franchise is excellent and measures up to the standard set by the previous two Daniel Craig outings as 007. Skyfall is just what a James Bond movie should be -- fun, and exciting. What makes it a good Bond flick is that it is well plotted and paced, includes that trademark sense of humor, without going into cheesy territory, and it has a modern edge and style.

Skyfall received five Oscar nominations for Cinematography, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Score and Adelle's original song "Skyfall." The last Oscar nomination a Bond movie received was for Best Original Song in "For Your Eyes Only" in 1982. Bond has won two Oscars, Goldfinger for Best Sound Effects and Thunderball for Special Visual Effects. Both categories have since been reframed by the Academy. The Oscars will also honor 50 years of Bond in film during this year's telecast.

For the Bond traditionalists out there, you will truly enjoy the nods to the classic 007 references in the 23rd movie in the series. Skyfall is a perfect blend of the Daniel Craig, Bond for the 21st Century, with all the fun touches of old school Bond. I did a little research and the filmmakers even included character details about Bond that date back to Ian Flemings' novels. I won't spoil them for you here.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

I was very apprehensive about seeing this movie. In the end I am glad I saw it. I had read about the violence in the books and I know how squeamish I am. Katy was the perfect person to see the movie with because we had the same qualms but were motivated to see it. The insanity of the Bridgeport theater that led to us seeing a later showing and getting drinks, that helped too. Both of us also agreed before and after that we can not handle reading the books. The images as you read are far more detailed and elaborate in your mind than a movie. I love to read and reading a book before seeing a movie is better in that as a reader you picture the characters and scenes, not as the cast or sets in a film adaptation; reading is much more limitless. Books always have more and that's just not the kind of more I can handle, I need the limits with the type of subject matter that The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo deals with. I am happy to report neither of us had bad dreams last night. Whew. There is disturbing violence and sexual assault but thankfully in the two and a half hour plus movie those scenes are a small part.

The plotting and pace in director David Fincher's film are solid. The elaborate story and mystery are well executed. Trent Reznor is Fincher's go to musician these days and he and Atticus Ross create damn good scores. In a style similar to that of last year's Social Network, an excellent score overall. I do appreciate a quality score. The interpretation of In the Hall of the Mountain King during the scene of the Winklevoss' crew race in England, still a standout for me.

As far as the Oscar chances go for this movie, I think it will receive multiple nominations but will not win in major categories. Fincher is consistently recognized by the Academy and Reznor won Best Score last year for the Social Network (deservedly) and a repeat seems unlikely. The acting of Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara is solid but not Oscar worthy nor do I think they will receive nominations. Mara is on the short list for Best Actress but Craig is not on that list for Best Actor.

In case you missed it, the trailer for the Oscar show, is fantastic. Billy Crystal and other A-listers partnered with Funny or Die to make the promo.