The MI6 headquarters rests on the bank of the Thames river, smack in the middle of a land full of culture, martinis and spies who drink said martinis. Skyfall was another foray into the darker side of James Bond, eschewing moon sex and cunnilingus jokes for a villain who tore apart all of London for the sake of revenge against the agency.
When your opening move against a secret society of well-trained spies is to blow up their headquarters single-handedly, you’ve officially become somebody not to mess with. This scene isn’t memorable because of spectacular effects and explosions. It sticks with you because for a second, both M and Bond look bothered. The usually stoic duo break face for just a moment, and that’s enough to prove that this is a threat nobody is ready for. Skyfall masterfully blended cinematic action with a powerful story, but the destruction of Bond’s headquarters for the better part of 50 years is too significant to ignore.