Rambling review: 15 random thoughts about 'Skyfall'

I just got back from 'Skyfall', and...

 

In short, 'Skyfall' is a Bond movie so good it's like a legitimately good movie, even outside of the franchise. A real review will follow... eventually. 

But, for now, here's 15 random, rambling, thoughts on the film:

• The movie is great. (Duh.) Best Bond movie ever? Probably. And I say that without a trace of hyperbole. Oscars, maybe? (Actually, no. But only 'cause the Academy doesn't like populist fare).
• Sam Mendes should just direct every Bond movie from now on. His typical Oscar-worthy direction funneled through the bloated-budget afforded to the Bond franchise makes for masterful stuff.
• Roger Deakins should lens all of them, too. Truly incredible cinematography.
• John Logan is already writing two more Bond movies. That should be a very good thing, if the scripts for next films are half as well-written as 'Skyfall' was.
• Said script had a brilliant balance between levity and seriousness. It's hilarious at times, but there were real emotional stakes rarely seen in a Bond movie.

• Symbolism and themes: did you know a Bond movie could actually have them? Me neither. 
• Bond formula? Well, this isn't New Coke, that's for sure. More like Coke Classic... if Coke Classic tasted like 50  year old whiskey.
• The story is part old school espionage spy thriller (that could be the plot of a non-Bond picture), part existential exploration on the entire Bond mythos. 
• Blond (Javier) Bardem's fabulously, flamboyantly, fantastically evil Silva is easily the best bad guy in a Bond movie in a LOOOONG time.
• New Q (Ben Whishaw) was excellent, despite (because of?) his Brit-hipster appearance. He and Craig have a rat-a-tat rapport not seen since, I think, Connery and Llewelyn in 'Goldfinger'. So much fun to be had with the inverse of that classic dynamic. Now, Q = young, Bond = old.

• Naomi Harris's Eve is a Bond girl that's not completely useless as anything other than a sex object. Who knew those existed? In fact, she's so capable, I have to wonder--is she even really a Bond girl? (yesdunno)
• Actually, considering her arc in 'Skyfall', is M (Dame Judi Dench) a Bond girl now? (No, but kinda yes.)
• And isn't Ralph Finnes awesome? (Yes.) He's so good in this, in his small part as M's boss. Perfect casting against type.
• Also: the action scenes = amazing. (Duh.) The climax was just an insane combination of everything great about this film. Awesome action, emotionality, excellent acting, artsy cinematography... as Mr. Franco would say, "soooo good."  
• 'Skyfall' has the saddest Bond-ending since 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'. Like, seriously... sooooo sad.