Review: Bond 24, which eventually got a straight Spectre title brought back a campaign to biggest enemies in 007 canon. However, following the so-called ‘best 007 film ever’ Skyfall, Spectre‘s fate is similar to Quantum of Solace. Quantum followed a previously most acclaimed, Casino Royale, with a similar theme—turmoil against some shadow organisation. The result is: disappointing. Spectre is only slightly better.

Set in aftermath of Skyfall, Spectre is opened with a tracking long shot during Days of the Dead in Mexico City, where the skull-masked Bond (Daniel Craig) from the tacky poster juggled a chopper before Sam Smith’s “Writhing” on the Walls leads an octopus-y opening back to London.

Back in London, MI6 is starting over under new M (Ralph Fiennes), which is threatened to get subdued to C (Andrew Scott). Meanwhile, Bond has different agendas to fulfill the late M (Judi Dench)’s mandate—tracking down his past and an arch-enemies from Roger Moore’s era, S.P.E.C.T.R.E. 

From the famous gun barrel open to the infamous foe; from Bond’s seducing persona to Q’s over-the-top gadgets, from Bond cars (which used to be equal to Bond girls) to skiing over snowfield, Spectre exhibits a campy, action-packed 007 with enough paraphernelias to recreate the good ol’ days.

Not only being a pile of 007 reference, Spectre also wraps up what’s been said and done in Craig’s era—his sin and those who dies for him. There’s a dark wave coming for Bond when a villainous reminiscient of his past is coming to hunt him.

Franz Oberhauser (portrayed by Christophe Waltz) should’ve been a real foe for Bond—more menacing than Le Chiffre and Silva aggregated. However, poor storytelling doesn’t serve a way for him to show off. Also, the ‘John Harrison’a la Star Trek twist doesn’t give any more layer to him. Everyone knows who leads S.P.E.C.T.R.E. anyway, and it’s not an Oberhauser.

Craig might deliver his springy Bond ever, but Waltz cannot live up the expectation (since I was expecting he become as cunning and menacing as Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds). Those Bond girls do not help at all: Monica Bellucci’s semi-cameo is such a waste of talent, and Lea Seydoux cannot emanate any notable chemistry with Craig.

M, Q, and Moneypenny’s delving into action is a new addition, which I think is cool—although it looks like an IMF counterpart in another continent. However, the screen-stealer is, certainly, Dave Bautista as Mr. Hinx, a henchmen who proves himself outmatching Bond.

Inconsistent tone and pace as well as poor twist got mixed up with a very talky and weak middle act should take the responsibility in convoluting Spectre. Practically, Spectre is done following the larger-than-life premise opened with grand action sequences.

Same as Quantum of Solace who failed to live up the high expectation following Casino Royale, Spectre goes to the same pit for not having been able to top Skyfall.

Spectre (2015)

Action, Adventure, Thriller Directed by: Sam Mendes Written by: John Logan, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Jez Butterworth based on characters by Ian Fleming Starred by: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, Monica Bellucci Runtime: 148 mins Rated PG-13

IMDb | Official Site

Bond 24 yang akhirnya berjudul Spectre dengan gamblang membawa kembali musuh besar dalam canon 007 ke dunia modern. Namun, Spectre yang langsung melanjutkan Skyfall yang digadang-gadang sebagai film Bond terbaik, ternyata malah bernasib seperti Quantum of Solace. Quantum yang mengikuti Casino Royale (yang bahkan lebih ‘kuat’ daripada Skyfall) bertema sejenis dengan Spectre—yaitu Bond melawan organisasi misterius. Hasilnya: gagal. Dan sayangnya Spectre hanya setingkat lebih baik daripada Quantum.

Menyambung Skyfall, Spectre dibuka dengan adegan Days of the Dead di Mexico di mana Bond bertopeng norak (langsung dari posternya) memutarbalikkan sebuah helikopter sebelum lagu opening dari Sam Smith yang nampak kurang gereget mengiringi opening yang sangat octopus-y.

Sementara itu di London, MI6 dibawah arahan M yang baru (Ralph Fiennes) terancam harus tunduk di bawah pimpinan C (Andrew Scott). Sementara itu, Bond punya agenda lain untuk memenuhi mandat almarhum M (Judi Dench); sebuah agenda yang membawanya menyelami masa lalunya dan menggiringnya pada musuh terbesar era Roger Moore, S.P.E.C.T.R.E.

Dari scene gun barrel sampai musuh besar Bond, dari pesona penggoda Bond sampai berbagai gadget Q, dari Bond cars (yang dulu sempat sejajar dengan Bond girls) sampai setting pegunungan es, Spectre seolah ingin menampilkan sisi campy dan action-pack-nya dengan berbagai referensi 007 klasik.

Tak hanya sebagai momen nostalgia, Spectre sekaligus mengkonklusikan petualangan Bond di era Craig—membawa kembali seluruh kepahitan masa lalu, musuh dan mereka yang mati demi dirinya. Puncaknya, musuh dari masa lalunya pun punya agenda untuk menghancurkan Bond.

Franz Oberhauser (Christoph Waltz) harusnya bisa menjadi musuh yang jauh lebih besar daripada Bond, serta lebih kejam dibandingkan Le Chiffre dan Silva digabungkan. Sayangnya, storytelling yang kacau tak mengizinkannya. Selain itu, twist a la John Harrison dalam Star Trek: Into Darkness tak memberi lapisan apapun bagi karakter Waltz. Semua orang sudah tahu pimpinan S.P.E.C.T.R.E.?

Penampilan Craig sebagai Bond mungkin adalah yang paling kenyal, namun Waltz tak mampu memenuhi ekspektasi (apalagi kalau mengharapkan dia bisa se-cunning Hans Landa dalam Inglourious Basterds). Selain itu, para Bond girls-nya pun tak membantu sama sekali. Monica Bellucci tampil hanya seperti cameo sementara Lea Seydoux tidak mampu menampilkan chemistry dengfan Craig.

Keterlibatan M, Q, dan Moneypenny dalam action sequences bisa jadi sesuatu yang baru. Namun,yang benar-benar mencuri screen adalah Dave Bautista sebagai Mr. Hinx yang terbukti bukan tandingan Bond.

Tone dan pace yang inkonsisten serta middle act yang talky dan lemah adalah penyebab
Spectre terlalu absurd. Secara praktis, Spectre gagal menampilkan premise-nya yang huge meskipun masih mampu menampilkan aksi yang relevan.

Sama seperti Quantum yang gagal memenuhi ekspektasi pasca Casino Royale, Spectre jatuh ke jurang yang sama.

This Spectre (2015) review is written by Paskalis Damar. Review film Spectre (2015) ini diterjemahkan ke dalam Bahasa Indonesia oleh Paskalis Damar.