Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/602004
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 2015 40 This Week IN CINEMAS TODAY St James Cavalier Valletta Tel. 21 223200 National Theatre Live – Hamlet 18:30 Embassy Cinemas Valletta Tel. 21 227436, 21 245818 Spectre (12) 10:30, 14:30, 18:00, 20:00, 21:00 Pan (PG) 10:15, 13:00, 15:15, 17:30 The Last Witch Hunter (12) 10:30, 13:45, 16:10, 18:30, 20:55 Macbeth (15) 10:20, 13:30, 16:00, 18:35, 21:05 Suffragette (12A) 16:05, 18:30, 20:50 Hotel Transylvania 2 (U) 10:00, 12:15, 14:30, 16:45, 19:00, 21:15 Eden Cinemas St Julian's Tel. 23 710400 Dressed as a Girl (18) 14:00 Boy on Film 13: Trick & Treat (18) 16:05 Spectre (12) 14:00, 14:10, 17:00, 18:10, 20:15, 21:15, 23:20 Hotel Transylvania 2 (U) 14:05, 16:25 (3D), 18:40, 21:00 (3D) The Last Witch Hunter (12) 14:10, 16:30, 18:50, 21:20, 23:45 The Visit (15) 14:15, 16:30, 18:45, 21:10 Ronaldo 14:20, 18:10, 20:55, 23:40 Macbeth (15) 14:00, 16:30, 18:55, 21:20, 23:20 Suffragette (12A) 18:40, 21:05, 23:30 The Intern (12) 14:25, 18:20, 20:55, 23:30 The Martian (12) 14:30, 18:00, 21:15, 23:15 Carmen (PG) 15:00 Futuro Beach (18) 20:45 52 Tuesdays (15) 23:05 Gemma Bovery (15) 16:15, 21:10 Howl (15) 14:00, 18:30 Pan (PG) 14:00 (3D), 16:10, 18:30 (3D), 20:50 Empire Cinemas Bugibba Tel. 21 581787, 21 581909 Spectre (12) 10:20, 11:00, 14:00, 15:15, 17:05, 18:15, 20:30, 21:15 Hotel Transylvania 2 (U) 11:15, 13:30, 16:00, 18:15, 20:45 (3D) We Are Your Friends (15) 13:45, 16:00, 18:30, 21:00 The Last Witch Hunter (12) 11:00, 13:45, 16:00, 18:30, 21:00 A Walk in the Woods (15) 10:45, 13:30, 16:15, 18:30, 21:15 Macbeth (15) 10:45, 13:30, 16:00, 18:30, 21:10 AND so another era of James Bond (probably) comes to a close. This year's SPECTRE will most likely mark the last time chiselled, blonde hard-ass Daniel Craig gets to flaunt his 'licence to kill' variety of stylish – and brutal – ways. All in all it hasn't been a bad run… the combo of Craig and – predominantly – di- rector Sam Mendes bringing 007 fully in line with the 21st cen- tury zeitgeist with rising levels of quality. If nothing else, SPECTRE suc- ceeds in wrapping up the – loose – arc the CraigBond films have established, and gives an ad- equate send-off to our star, who has made no bones about his re- luctance to top-up his run, even claiming that he'd rather "slash his wrists" than taken on the role of James Bond once again. A missive from the past sends James Bond (Daniel Craig) to Mexico slap-bang in the mid- dle of the 'Day of the Dead' cel- ebrations, where he takes it upon himself to intercept an infamous criminal. Following the trail to Rome, he gains some valuable in- formation from his alluring wife Lucia (Monica Bellucci), which in turn leads him to uncover the secret gathering spot of the shadowy organisation known as SPECTRE. But 007's rogue operations aren't appreciated by his supe- riors back in London, as MI6 leader M (Ralph Fiennes) is being pressured by the new head of the Centre of National Security Max Denbigh (Andrew Scott) to disin- tegrate the 'irrelevant' double-oh programme in favour for a more technologized system of drone- based surveillance. Left out in the cold, Bond covertly enlists his MI6 allies Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) and Q (Ben Whishaw) to help him locate Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux) – the daughter of a long-standing enemy, who may hold the key SPECTRE. It should be a given by now that James Bond occupies a unique sphere in popular culture, and not just by dint of the sheer pop- ularity amassed by Ian Fleming's superspy ever since he was first given a screen incarnation by Sean Connery with Dr No back in 1962. Bond films are unique because in a lot of ways, they're a lot like the Christmas panto. Instead of stories with dramatic or comic arcs, they tend to be build on action set-pieces and entrenched stylistic tics and catchphrases that the audience doesn't just tolerate, but fully embraces. You go in expecting to be intrigued by the musical introduction, thrilled by the op- eratic action opener, and amused by the deployment of character trademarks ("shaken not stirred", the Aston Martin, the gadgets). SPECTRE certainly doesn't dis- appoint on any of these counts. The failed attempt at subversion with Quantum of Solace (2008) has taught the Bond authorities to not stir the pot too much, and with 2012's Skyfall having inject- ed a sense of over-the-top fun back to the gritty proceedings, SPECTRE balances high-octane action with lighthearted humour comfortably. But neither can Sam Mendes's second attempt at directing Bond escape the dark knight's shadow. Indeed, the focus on the surveil- lance crisis – SPECTRE is basi- cally a Bond & Edward Snowden team-up movie – as well as the trendy grittiness still evident in the films is down to the influence that Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight (2008) has exerted on the pop culture zeitgeist. It will be interesting to see whether the inevitable re-casting will also herald a lighter change of pace from here on out. There's also a clear desire to cast Bond as yet another super- hero, coupled with 'haunted' ori- gin story and a rotating cadre of arch-villains and lost lovers. The CraigBond saga now has its own, consistent arc, and your mileage may vary depending on whether you prefer your Bond as a clean slate or not. Otherwise, all is present an accounted for, barring perhaps a few niggles. Bellucci's much- hyped role as the first Bond girl of 'mature' age turned out to be nothing but a cameo, but the new Euro-cinema It Girl Léa Seydoux is a logical shoo-in for Bond's more significant emotional and cerebral female counterpart. More logical still is the cast- ing of Christoph Waltz as the lead villain – his role is obvious to long-standing Bond fans, but I won't spoil it for the others – which many will probably her- ald with "about time!". Having cornered the market on 'erudite European eccentrics' with his landmark Tarantino roles, Waltz thrills to the part of the head of SPECTRE, offering up some fine fan service towards the end. The only thing that really slows this otherwise well-oiled vehicle down – or at least prevents it from engaging in the full-on op- eratic splendour that was Skyfall – is actually its most interesting element: the surveillance sub- plot. It's great that Bond is using an immediate, real-life issue that after all makes sense within the context of espionage. But while the head-to-head between Fi- enne's M. and Scott's Max Den- bigh is interesting, it often feels like a forceful intrusion from an- other film altogether. Either way, SPECTRE con- cludes in such a way as to suggest that a change in direction for the series is certainly in the offing. Whatever awaits the enduring super-spy, let's hope it's at least as good as this. By Teodor Reljic Daniel's last rodeo? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ THE SPY WHO LOVED ME ★ ★ ★ ★ THE SPY WHO TOOK ME ON HOLIDAY ★ ★ ★ THE SPY WHO BOUGHT ME LUNCH ★ ★ THE SPY WHO SHOULD HAVE STAYED HOME ★ THE SPY WHO BLEW HIS COVER FILM Chasing ghosts: Daniel Craig takes on the iconic role of James Bond for the fourth – and possibly last – time SPECTRE (12A) ★ ★ ★