On the 50th anniversary of the release of the first James Bond film Dr. No, audiences were treated to Skyfall – the 23rd installment in the 007 series. This marked the third installment in which Daniel Craig played the beloved MI6 agent, bringing along not only his suave lines and charisma, but also character depth – something that until 2006 we had not seen much of in Mr. Bond during years past.

Skyfall earned $88.4 million during it’s opening weekend, giving the series its biggest box office premier since 2008’s Quantum of Solace, and double that of 2006’s Casino Royale. Samuel Mendes makes his Bond-directing premiere and pulls outstanding performances out of all cast members. Judi Dench returns as “M,” alongside newcomer Javier Bardem who debuts as this installment’s villain, and steals the show with his exceptional acting.

Skyfall is not the story of James Bond, but instead the story of “M” and MI6’s past. Yes, Daniel Craig is the main focus of the movie, but the storyline lies with Judi Dench and her character’s abyss of a past. Although not the main plotline this story, Daniel Craig maintains his role as the dark, morally driven Bond that we’ve grown accustomed to. As well as Dench and Craig performed, Javier Bardem is the shining star in Skyfall. With a character entrance as memorable as Hannibal Lecter’s and a spine-chilling history parallel to the late Heath Ledger’s Joker, Bardem keeps the franchise new and refreshing by giving us the most terrifying Bond villain yet.

If the storyline doesn’t keep you on the edge of your seat, the cinematography will certainly keep your eyes on the screen. Roger Deakins makes his 007 debut behind the scenes by helping the locations breathe a life of their own into the film. From Shanghai to Scotland, Deakins captures the beauty of each location, one captivating frame after another. Similarly, the opening credits that have remained static in the Bond series are contributed to by Adele, where the London native sings of rise and demise while the audience is treated to computer generated kaleidoscope-like effect.

Overall, it can be argued that Skyfall may be the best 007 movie yet. From Craig’s turmoil to Javier Bardem’s intrigue, the Bond movies remain fresh, while never forgetting where they came from (ardent fans are treated to a surprise Easter egg midway through the movie). All actors exceeded expectations, and turned a storyline that could have very easily gone horribly into a classic, ensuring that Bond will linger in our hearts for 50 more years.