Like a satisfying masala Bollywood film, Spectre is strictly escapist fun. Nothing wrong with that. It’s just that you know what they could’ve pulled off had they tried harder.

There is speculation that Craig may holster his Walther pistol following this quintessential-if-unduly-lengthy outing. No matter, for aficionados will still wait with bated breath for Bond No 25. Bring it on. Soon.

For those who are going to compare it to Skyfall, this simply isn’t as good. There is neither the emotional connect nor the sweet melancholy that inhabited the last film, but it is a joyous ride nonetheless. And for what he made out of Bond, we owe this to Daniel Craig as he dons the tux for the very last time. You also owe it to the teenager inside you who loves the whirl of excitement the way only Bond can give – shaken not stirred.

While not perfect, SPECTRE on the whole is better than the sum of its parts and is a marvellous addition to the franchise. If, as rumoured, this indeed proves to be Daniel Craig’s swansong, he could not have asked for a better farewell.

…a few moans aside, Spectre’s action still shakes and stirs, leaving you loving its oak and leather, champagne – and dynamite.

It’s a Bond entertainer starring Daniel Craig. Most of you are going to like it. For me, it was a rather safe, been there, done that outing. Suffice it to say, it started well, but kinda lost steam in the middle. Overall, I was neither stirred, nor shaken.

Spectre has at its core a James Bond. Despite all its flaws, the film is better than a lot of your average fare. The story is easy to figure out and the grey matter is sung a lullaby to, but Spectre is to be savoured. The 25th James Bond is a few years away. That should prod one to make a trip to the theatre.

SPECTRE that maintains the essence of Bond film with enough doses of gadgets, car chases, stunts, wine and women, could have featured a better title track, since Sam Smith’s ‘Writing’s On The Wall’ appears to be rather sluggish when compared to other Bond films. However SPECTRE that in essence features the return of Bond is definitely worth a watch.

The film, in effect, appears over plotted and a little too long-drawn with a flagging middle act and a neatly executed conclusion. This Bond is akin to an ageing Romeo striving to engage in young-man games…and falling flat just a little too often to be exciting!

Spectre manages to keep our attention on red-alert most of the way, in spite of a subtle subdued storytelling , a background score(Thomas Newman) that refuses to over-punctuate the drama and action, cinematography (Hoyte Van Hoytema) that peers at the most exotic countries with intriguing serenity, and an arch-villain (Christoph Waltz) who has a shared family history of resentment towards Bond but is unable to draw into the drama.

… is a dazzling film, but it lacks the lustre and adrenaline rush of a 007 film from the bygone Cold War Era. The chutzpah and the aura are missing.

If you’re a Bond fanboy, you wouldn’t care for a verdict. But even if you’re not, this one is a must-watch.

… you can enjoy Spectre for the same reasons you generally enjoy Bond films – the sleek action, the amazing lead, the cheeky humour, the music, the gadgetry and the Bond girls. Oh wait, the kisses got censored (with awful jump cuts, mind you). Now that’s one thing that’ll ruin our toddy tapper’s visceral experience.