I loved it, more entertaining than Skyfall and on par with Casino Royale for me. There's also some really great little nods to the Bond films of the past in there.
I really enjoyed the labyrinthine mystery quest Bond went on across the globe, it took in glamorous locales that housed oldschool Bond architecture in the forms of mountain top high tech medical retreats and villainous lairs.
The big twist that has been the source of so much debate over the last year was neither here nor there IMO, it didn't hurt or help the film, it added a layer that wasn't necessary but the main thing I took away was that [BLACKOUT]Blofeld was a natural born sociopath so whether he had a past with Bond or not, he would have took the measures he did when Bond interfered with his various plans. [/BLACKOUT]
The first 2 thirds of the film are brilliant, from the stunning opening tracking shot of Bond at the day of of the dead to the helicopter sequence, to his meeting with the sensuous Lucia Sciarra, slick car chase in Rome, frosty detente with Mr. White to Bond rescuing Madeline Swann from Hinx in the breathtaking Alpine sequence.
It's here that the film takes a breather and we spend some time with Bond and Madeline just getting to know each other as they search for more clues regarding Overhauser. I loved this part of the film as Bond's charm and dry wit bounce off Madeline's steely resolve, masked by her gentle beauty. Of course it doesn't take long before Mr. Hinx shows back up and he and Bond have the mother of all punch ups on the train.
The moment Bond and Madeline get in the 1948 Silver Wraith Rolls Royce in the middle of the desert, is the moment the 2 part 3rd act starts and the ride they go on is where I think some fans will get off while others will embrace the absurdity.
Bond has no clear plan [BLACKOUT]for how he is going to kill Blofeld[/BLACKOUT] and gets by on pure luck, while the second part in London has an element to it that wouldn't be out of place in Batman '66.
Still, thanks to Craig and Waltz I found myself easily going along for the ride, with the two rivals having some great exchanges. The action at the very end is visually satisfying and I can see why they added it as the Morocco shoot-out is lackluster for such a great location.
This is Craig's steely Bond cosying up to the outlandish elements of Bond's of the past, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
9/10