Sam Mendes talks Skyfall's Bond legacy

Skyfall fronts the latest issue of Total Film magazine , with Daniel Craig’s James Bond striking a pose on the cover.

Inside, Craig and director Sam Mendes explain how they’re marrying 007’s modern-day grit with old-school wit. The new issue’s out now (and you can get it for only £1.99 on your iPad) , but you can read an exclusive excerpt below.

When we spoke to Mendes about taking on a film with such a revered legacy and devoted fanbase, he explained: “There are definite echoes of other Bond movies - the Aston Martin DB5, the return of Q - and there are some that only the hardcore geeks will get! I hope they want to go on this adventure.”

On his own relationship with Bond movies, he added: “I wanted to make a great Bond movie… A great movie, full stop. I wanted to go back in tone, back to Ian Fleming. I didn’t want to make a movie in reaction to the last two movies. I wanted to make what I want to see when I see a Bond movie.”

For more on from Mendes, Craig et al on Skyfall , get the latest issue of Total Film magazine, or pick up the interactive iPad edition for just £1.99!

Read a full preview of Total Film magazine issue 199!

The Total Film team are made up of the finest minds in all of film journalism. They are: Editor Jane Crowther, Deputy Editor Matt Maytum, Reviews Ed Matthew Leyland, News Editor Jordan Farley, and Online Editor Emily Murray. Expect exclusive news, reviews, features, and more from the team behind the smarter movie magazine. 

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