If any film series deserves the epithet of "legendary," there can be no more deserving recipient than the James Bond franchise. It's now 50 years since 007 first appeared in movie theaters, and the British agent's latest screen adventure is already the most successful in the series' history. And three months after its London premiere, Chinese film goers can now see what all the fuss is about.

Skyfall is directed by the Oscar-winning Sam Mendes, and stars Daniel Craig in his third outing as Bond after Casino Royale (2006) and Quantum of Solace (2008).

The film has also received critical nods in the form of Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Original Score.

Hard drive

Skyfall begins with our hero trying to get back a stolen hard drive containing confidential information about MI6 agents. And during the subsequent revenge attack, MI6's offices are attacked, with the perpetrator turning out to be a former colleague of Bond's. 

A few days ago, the British singer Adele picked up a Golden Globe for Best Original Song for the movie's soundtrack "Skyfall." And the song is one of the film's few highlights, appearing in the opening credits, which has become an iconic part of the franchise.

So while Skyfall starts on a high, it quickly tumbles into mediocrity.

At its best the film works as a tribute to the franchise's 50-year history and is mercifully free of the hi-tech gadgets and technology that have dominated previous Bond films in the place of a decent plot. 

A notably disappointing aspect this time around is the part of the "Bond girl." 

French actress Bérénice Marlohe essays a thankless role which sees her appearing on screen for less than 20 minutes, before being bumped off. Thankfully Bond's loyal cohorts M (Judi Dench) and Eve Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) ensure there is some interesting input from the film's female characters.

First appearance

Possibly the best thing in the film is Javier Bardem's villain Raoul Silva who impresses with his first appearance walking out of an elevator relating a story about rats. 

Old favorite Q is back, this time played by Ben Whishaw. But Skyfall will be Judi Dench's swansong as M after six appearances in the role. Bond's new boss will be Gareth Mallory played by Ralph Fiennes.

The film has all the requisite Bond "made-in-the-UK" clichés - the Aston Martin, the London Tube, and a Scottish castle, to name a few. Local audiences will enjoy the scenes filmed in Shanghai. Is this nothing more than cynical ruse to appeal to the huge Chinese market? Probably.

Everyone's a critic: Shaken? or even stirred?

Qiu Shengyu

32, Shanghainese

"To be honest, the most exciting part of the whole film was the first 15 minutes' chase and fight scene. It was also cool to see my hometown of Shanghai making such an impressive appearance. But overall the plot was boring and illogical in places. I'm hoping for better results with the next movie in this classic series, both in terms of casting and plotting."

Wang Jing

27, Shanghainese

"I found Skyfall quite entertaining as a commercial blockbuster, and what impressed me most was the beautiful shots of cities like London, Shanghai and Macao. And the 1960s' Aston Martin was awesome! On the whole, the film is full of the standard James Bond elements, but the role of the Bond girl this time around was a bit perplexing."

Irene Chang

26, from Hong Kong

"Daniel Craig is still hot, but we have to admit he's getting older. Skyfall is not as impressive as Casino Royale, which was Craig's first outing as 007. I was pleasantly surprised by some of the supporting roles, such as Javier Bardem's baddie. The excellent photography made the film an enjoyable visual feast. I would definitely recommend people to see the film at an IMAX cinema."