Sam Mendes’ attempt to follow up the highly acclaimed Bond film, Skyfall, with a bigger story and more characters, unfortunately fell short in delivering thrilling action. Spectre, the 24th outing in the James Bond franchise, is criticized for its drab and serious tone, failing to live up to Daniel Craig’s previous Bond outings. Despite its shortcomings, Spectre set a world record for the biggest explosion in a film, showcasing an enormous explosion that lasts over 7.5 seconds and engulfs the entire horizon.
The Bond franchise is renowned for its mind-blowing, awe-inspiring stunts, often pushing the limits of what action movies can achieve. The titular spy, 007, is often placed in life-threatening situations that require ingenious escapes, often resulting in some of the most thrilling set pieces in cinema. Spectre, however, missed the mark, with a story that doubles down on the twists and larger-than-life action, but ultimately falling short.
The film’s drab and serious tone, lack of action, and long, depressing conversations make it a forgettable installment in the franchise. Despite marketing itself as a return to the Roger Moore era, Spectre is Daniel Craig’s era taking itself too seriously, with even the opening couch gag failing to lighten the mood. Mendes’ attempts to counteract the darkness with little jokes fall flat, resulting in an uneven tone.
Daniel Craig’s James Bond (Via IMDB)
Despite its lack of action and thrills, Spectre shines in its climactic explosion, which sets a world record. After being tortured by Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Bond and Madeleine Swann manage to escape his clutches, leading to a behemoth explosion that lasts over 7.5 seconds. The team detonated 8,418 liters of kerosene with 33kg of powder explosives, resulting in an explosion equivalent to 68.47 tons of TNT. This massive explosion towers over Bond and Swann’s heads, engulfing the entire horizon in a blazing fire and thick, black cloud of smoke.
While this record-breaking explosion stands out in a forgettable film, it’s not the only attempt by the franchise to set new records. The Bond movies have always been known for their daring stunts, from the opening parkour chase in Casino Royale to the opening jump off the dam in Goldeneye. The Craig era has continued this tradition, with Spectre’s sequel, No Time to Die, setting the record for the most high explosives ever used in a single take. Let’s hope the franchise continues to set new records in the future. Despite being one of the most boring movies in the franchise’s history, Spectre’s explosion remains an incredible achievement, a reminder that Bond will always push the limits of what’s possible in action cinema.
