I enjoyed the fact that the plot in this one was relatively simple. There were a few twists but overall I felt they did a great job in making sure the viewer understood what was happening so less time could be spent trying to chew the previous scene and more time could be spent being a part of what was shown in front of you.
I agree. The last two especially were so over the place I just couldn't keep up.
This one the plot was both simple yet powerful. The fact that Bond had true personal stakes in this one was also great for the plot, this wasn't just about the world, it was about his family.
Ending wise, I loved it. What a bitter way for the villain to get his last laugh. I loved after the little monologue, Bond had no words, no anger, no rage....he was just done. Shot the guy a few times and just walked away. I also thought the toast to Bond was very appropriate, they all had a moment.... and then right back to work, for the world is never out of danger.
I found the villain a bit shallow as many bond villains are, but I at least understood this guy, at least got a good sense of where his pain and motivations came from. Now how those motivations got twisted into "I am going to poison the world to control the world"....that's a bit much but for a bond villain it worked fine enough for me.
I really loved the "Bond Girls" in this one.
1) 007 (Nomi) - Badass without being Mary Sue, similar to Bond in certain ways but distinctly different in her own. The fact she gave up the number showed how less her ego was than Bond.
2) Madeleine Swann - Was sultry and had intrigue without being too thrown in your face. Showed a great range of vulnerable to powerful. Sex appeal was never overpowering and was never her primary mover in the plot.
3) Paloma - Character of the movie for me. She breathes such life into her scenes. One of the few people who just actually enjoys spycraft, completely badass but in a mostly humble way. Gorgeous, but never "forced on Bond"..... and I love that she comes in, does her job, and just leaves....no inevitable betrayal, no she's secretly connecting to the master plot, she just is...and that was really refreshing. In the words of Bond himself "You were Excellent".