The legendary James Bond returns with a bang. Literally. From the opening action scene to the end of the film, the new Bond movie “Skyfall”, the 23rd installment of the franchise, has everything a James Bond movie should: explosions, drama, fancy cars and a shirtless British spy.

Yet it lacked one aspect usually associated to Bond movies: confusion. Unlike the 22 previous Bond movies, the plot, who the villain was and the plan to stop him were clear from the beginning.

Rather than just enjoying the combat scenes in almost oblivion of who Bond was fighting, I was able to follow along.

I could hate the villain, completely understanding his crimes, applaud Q, Bond’s tech support, for his inventions, and fully appreciate the complex ingenuousness that is James Bond.

Director Sam Mendes, new to the James Bond industry, was handpicked by Daniel Craig, who has played Bond for the last two installments, to direct the movie. He said in an interview with the British magazine Timeout, “You know what the givens are: three action sequences, girls and glamorous locations. So it’s like being handed the furniture to a house and being told, ‘Right, now find a house that fits the furniture.’”

And he found the perfect house: Skyfall — the Scottish mansion in which James Bond grew up and the perfect scene for the final throwdown of the movie.

By including characters and locations from Bond’s past, the movie established a new facet to the James Bond character, an orphaned child.

My favorite part of the movie, however, was still Adele, three-time Grammy winner and another British icon, belting out her newest song “Skyfall,” during the opening credits. Beware: the song is the also the deadliest part of the movie and will get stuck in your head for at least a week.

“Skyfall” represented the 50th anniversary of the James Bond series. The first James Bond movie, “Dr. No,” was released in 1962. In honor of the anniversary, the James Bond car, an Aston Martin DB5, makes a special and dramatic appearance. Bond’s Aston Martin  has appeared in the five most popular Bond movies.

The movie also marked Daniel Craig’s third movie as James Bond and puts him in fourth place for killing the most in the list of James Bonds, with 25 deadly shots.

“Craig has taken full ownership of Bond, not only filling out a tux, but molding the entire production,” Mendes said.

In all, this movie, which continues the legendary James Bond dynasty, is a must see.

-Avita