22 replies to this topic

[kneelbeforezod]

By Kirk Honeycutt

Nov 10, 2006


Daniel Craig brings the James Bond character back to its roots as a rough-around-the-edges sociopathic killer as the movie eschews high-tech gimmicks in favor of intrigue and suspense.

In "Casino Royale," James Bond is back. Back to his roots as Ian Fleming's driven, bare-knuckled, rough-around-the-edges sociopathic killer in Her Majesty's Secret Service. The movie is so retro it begins with a black-and-white sequence in which Bond brutally earn his 00 status with two textbook-perfect killings.

With every new actor who steps into the role of Bond, the producing team descended from the original producer, Cubby Broccoli, retools the series. For Daniel Craig, the handsome English actor who appears chiseled from raw granite, director Martin Campbell and producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli go back to Fleming's first novel, published in 1953, "Casino Royale" -- previously made as a joke movie with comics Peter Sellers and Woody Allen -- to re-establish Bond's origins in sex, sadism, murder and dry martinis.

What a relief to escape the series' increasing bondage to high-tech gimmicks in favor of intrigue and suspense featuring richly nuanced characters and women who think the body's sexiest organ is the brain. To demonstrate the difference, the movie's first major set piece is a five-minute foot chase, albeit with the acrobatic stunts one associates with Hong Kong action movies.

The film is far too long, with a protracted third act pushing running time to 144 minutes. Yet the new Bond should help newcomers and older viewers rediscover what made Sean Connery's early Bond movies the best of the series. Boxoffice looks promising here and overseas.

It's been awhile since a Bond movie was actually based on a Fleming novel, but the screenplay by Bond veterans Neal Purvis & Robert Wade with an assist by Paul Haggis does take many of the characters, settings and themes from the original novel while eliminating the Cold War trappings in favor of cell phones, computers and infinite data basis that now rule the world of international chicanery and espionage. It all still comes down to a high-stakes card game at the Casino Royale only instead of Chemin de Fer, it's Texas Hold 'Em.

For "Casino Royale," things begin afresh with Craig's Bond evolving from wannabe assassin to the real deal -- his first hit, first major mistake, first dressing down by M (Judi Dench, who too seems reinvigorated by this more "realistic" Bond), a woman to fall in love with and a slap in the face to form his callous, cold-hearted character forever. It's so early in his career he tells a barman he doesn't care how his martini is made.

The surrounding cast has been retooled as well. Instead of a megalomaniac out to rule the world, the villain is Le Chiffre (Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen), "the Cipher," a banker to international terrorists who is only in the game for the money. His quirks are a tear duct that drips blood and the need for an inhaler.

The heroine is Vesper Lynd (French actress Eva Green), a female counterpart to Bond -- cool, calculating, untrusting but drawn to sexual adventure if it comes packaged to suit her whim. Their exchanges contain none of the usual tired double entendres but rather sharp dialogue as the two suss each other out.

Jeffrey Wright is suitably low key as Bond's CIA ally Felix Leiter, while Italian veteran Giancarlo Giannini is his unruffled local contact. Caterina Murino, also Italian, plays Bond's first sexual conquest, who pays dearly for her extramarital fling.

Major sequences -- that chase in and around an African construction site, a fight aboard a runaway fuel truck on an airport tarmac, a shootout in a collapsing Venice, Italy, canal building and a grueling torture sequence -- emphasize the physicality of the stunt work rather than special effects. The old James Bond musical theme is saved for the end as David Arnold's superb score chooses to mirror the rise and fall of tensions and emotions. Phil Meheux's cinematography and Peter Lamont's design take full advantage of the great locations ranging from Prague and Venice to Lake Como and the Bahamas. Campbell, who previously retooled the series when Pierce Brosnan came aboard for "GoldenEye" (1995), has done the series proud.

[JackWade]

Is it possible for any Bond film to get reviews much better than this? I really don't think they can without taking away too much of the formula elements.

Great to see another great review. Can't wait to see for myself.

[kneelbeforezod]

Yeah, it's getting ridiculous now... surely someone will tear it to pieces

I was honestly expecting to hear a few negative reviews... but so far they just aren't happening.

[Harmsway]

Jeez. These reviews have all been rather stellar.

The consensus does seem to be that CASINO ROYALE runs on too long, though.

[deth]

I believe I said that it would be impossible for CR to get at least 90% at rottentomatoes...


I may soon be eating my words....

[triviachamp]

Yeah, it's getting ridiculous now... surely someone will tear it to pieces

Slant or Film Freak will probably do so.

The consensus does seem to be that CASINO ROYALE runs on too long, though.

I was worried of that the moment its running length was announced. Though it seems Bond films are often criticized for being overlong.

[Tarl_Cabot]

The Good the Bad and the ugly is too long...and still the best Spagetti western ever. We Bond geeks don't mind 'too long' if it's good...franklyy, I'm getting tired of movies that are too short and need 'director's cuts' to make sense(Superman Returns for ex).

[JackWade]

Jeez. These reviews have all been rather stellar.

The consensus does seem to be that CASINO ROYALE runs on too long, though.

And it doesn't seem that many critics like the song either.

[MR. BOND 93]

It definately seems that the highlight of the whole movie is when Bond says that 'he doesn't give a damn' (or whatever) about how his drink is made.

Excellent review too.

[Mr Teddy Bear]

Yeah, it's getting ridiculous now... surely someone will tear it to pieces

I was honestly expecting to hear a few negative reviews... but so far they just aren't happening.

Ah-hem are we forgetting the highly credible CM007's review? He tore it to pieces.

[Stax]

http://www.hollywood...r...p?&rid=8223

[Blofeld's Cat]

Craigisnotbond can be heard with a deafening silence.

[dee-bee-five]

Craigisnotbond can be heard with a deafening silence.

Despite myself, I've just had a look on the site (not being religious, it's the closest I get to flagellation). And, hell, do those people look stupid now. And one of their latest desperate posts really is the height of hypocrisy. After all the homophobic abuse they've hurled at Daniel Craig, not to mention members of this site, they're now accusing Eon of homophobia for allegedly making le Chiffre gay!

I've tried holding back from attacking these people too much - and certainly wouldn't email them - because they crave the attention. But one has to conclude that they really are mad.

[Jim]

What was that thing Dave Stewart (erstwhile Eurythmic and permanent twerp) called it, when you feel ill because everything's so wonderful? Paradise Complex, I think.

I think I'm coming down with it. That or Man-Flu, anyway.

[Zorin Industries]

Yeah, it's getting ridiculous now... surely someone will tear it to pieces

Slant or Film Freak will probably do so.

The consensus does seem to be that CASINO ROYALE runs on too long, though.

I was worried of that the moment its running length was announced. Though it seems Bond films are often criticized for being overlong.

Having seen the film, the length - if it is too long - could have been tightened at the beginning of the film (or the first act at least). The African chase is similiar in tone and narrative importance to the Miami Airport one and maybe one could have been scaled down or cut. Though I won't say which one...

[dee-bee-five]

Dave Stewart (erstwhile Eurythmic and permanent twerp).

Don't hold back there now, Jim.

As for flu, it's surely a scientific fact that men are affected by flu worse than women?

A woman gets flu, she can keep on working, running the house, looking after the kids...

A man gets flu, he has to take to his bed.

Ergo, men are affected by flu worse than women.

[MarcAngeDraco]

Tremendous!

When was the last time a Bond movie's review included the terms "intrigue and suspense"?...

[CM007]

Yeah, it's getting ridiculous now... surely someone will tear it to pieces

I was honestly expecting to hear a few negative reviews... but so far they just aren't happening.

Ah-hem are we forgetting the highly credible CM007's review? He tore it to pieces.

Well before you go and make some wild accusations about my opinions on CR I think you need to go back and re-read my thoughts.I never tore it to pieces but I did mention that it

[dee-bee-five]

[quote name='CM007' post='643762' date='10 November 2006 - 10:37']
[quote name='Mr Teddy Bear' post='643596' date='10 November 2006 - 03:37']
[quote name='kneelbeforezod' post='643565' date='10 November 2006 - 11:07']
Yeah, it's getting ridiculous now... surely someone will tear it to pieces

I was honestly expecting to hear a few negative reviews... but so far they just aren't happening.
[/quote]


Ah-hem are we forgetting the highly credible CM007's review? He tore it to pieces.
[/quote]


Well before you go and make some wild accusations about my opinions on CR I think you need to go back and re-read my thoughts.I never tore it to pieces but I did mention that it

[kneelbeforezod]

[quote name='dee-bee-five' post='643766' date='10 November 2006 - 10:46']
[quote name='CM007' post='643762' date='10 November 2006 - 10:37']
[quote name='Mr Teddy Bear' post='643596' date='10 November 2006 - 03:37']
[quote name='kneelbeforezod' post='643565' date='10 November 2006 - 11:07']
Yeah, it's getting ridiculous now... surely someone will tear it to pieces

I was honestly expecting to hear a few negative reviews... but so far they just aren't happening.
[/quote]


Ah-hem are we forgetting the highly credible CM007's review? He tore it to pieces.
[/quote]


Well before you go and make some wild accusations about my opinions on CR I think you need to go back and re-read my thoughts.I never tore it to pieces but I did mention that it

[Qwerty]

Topics merged.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Dave Stewart (erstwhile Eurythmic and permanent twerp).

Don't hold back there now, Jim.

As for flu, it's surely a scientific fact that men are affected by flu worse than women?

A woman gets flu, she can keep on working, running the house, looking after the kids...

A man gets flu, he has to take to his bed.

Ergo, men are affected by flu worse than women.

Men just know how to use it to their advantage.

[FlemingBond]

I notice the one criticism that is holding is the length of the movie. That is also the flaw in Campbell's Goldeneye. Just an observation. Two hours and twenty four minutes?