191 replies to this topic

[Thunderfinger]

I dont think we really need that much time to pass to figure out how good Casino Royale is. For those of you who have seen it 3 or more times, I think you can agree that the initial high has worn off and the movie can now be judged with a bit more of a critical eye. It has for me, and I can easily say it is one of the best ever.

If you have been a Bond fan all your life, and you've always thought (insert movie here) was the best, you develop a certain attachment to it. It can be hard to figure out if your original favorite was better b/c it is truly a better movie, or b/c you just have the history with it.


I think that the only way Casino Royale could tarnish over time would be if Bond 22 and Bond 23 are significantly better movies. (Wouldn't that be amazing?) However, if the series takes a turn towards the other direction, Casino Royale gets elevated even more.

Plus, Casino Royale- with its origin story - will always be set apart from the other Bonds.

Well said. It was almost a sad day when I removed OHMSS from its No 1 spot after Casino Royale came out. Felt almost treacherous after all those years.

[Pete]

I have never thought that CR has been over rated, I think it's problem is that it is so good that you want more and want it now. How many people wanted another DAD after they saw it the first time? They wanted another good Bond film and they've got it. This film was panned before it was even put into production. most people wanted an actor with a certain look, ratger than one who, like Dalton, could act. Daniel Craig, without doubt, nailed the part. I think the reason that people have been talking about it so much is because it is that good. Very few Bond films get this much coverage and it's probably because they follow the same tired old formular, Laser watches, sub/invisible cars etc. The longer they keep "Q" out the better. Also the lack of Moneypenny didn't detract from the film. (If they want characters like that, do what John Gardner did and combine the two and bring in Q'ute.)

In my opinion, for what it's worth, only FRWL has ever lived up to it's reputation. It's taken a long time for another Bond film to come along that is so well acted that the critics saw it as something other than a Bond film.

[Red Barchetta]

CR was not over-hyped. Just the fans were.

Now 'Bee Movie' with Jerry Seinfeld- now that's over-hyped!!!

[RazorBlade]

HH007 has a book?! Well, that's okay in my book! What do you say, if the craignotbond crowd don't come around and apologize we list 'em in the book under "chicken"?

One more thing I like about CR is that instead of CGI we have real cars crashing and real dumb people driving them(a compliment if you saw DEATHPROOF). I wanted more of a chase though to experience the DBS.

[00Twelve]

Right on with Bee Movie. Wow, what a gaudy push.

[bond_girl_double07]

I don't think it's overhyped by the press or the studio, I do think those of us that love it perhaps love it a little too much (especially right after seeing it on opening night).. there was a little too much "best bond ever" speak going on initially.. we'll just have to wait and see what Craig's legacy is, it's too soon to tell only after the first film..

[Kilroy6644]

Now 'Bee Movie' with Jerry Seinfeld- now that's over-hyped!!!

But-but-but- it's SEINFELD!

[HH007]

HH007 has a book?! Well, that's okay in my book! What do you say, if the craignotbond crowd don't come around and apologize we list 'em in the book under "chicken"?

Indeed we should. Now how about that lap dance?

[00Twelve]

<Awkwardly walks into wrong end of conversation, turns, walks back out.>

[HH007]

Sorry, that was an inside joke for us Death Proof people.

[byline]

Die Another Day was way more overhyped, than Casino Royale ever was.

Absolutely it was. I remember a lot more hype in the general media over DAD than CR. And as for CR being overrated, I don't think it was at all. I remember having a simular debate with someone on IMDb. They said essentially that CR was "good but not great" and that we were "buying into a hysteria."

Yup, I waded into that same debate at least once. When I made the point of many people enjoying repeat viewings of "Casino Royale" (which would not have resulted solely from hype), one poster replied that, well then, the movie must not have been as good as everyone said because you had the same people going to see it, rather than a brand-new audience at each showing.

My reply is that those folks can't have it both ways. Some people insist that the film must not have been very good because so many people flocked to it because of either the marketing or the novelty. Yeah, right. Neither marketing nor novelty account for those repeat viewers.

Others seem to doubt the film's worth because if they were repeat viewers, then the fan base isn't as broad as it appears. The repeat viewings, along with the "legs" the film had (its box office business didn't drop off into a steep decline after the first weekend or so, the way most films do nowadays, but held strong for months on end), indicates a very satisfied viewing public overall. If there were disappointed moviegoers, then they were a very small percentage over the overall total, and the vast majority will be quite happy to see Craig as Bond again.

Of course, Craig's impact as Bond will be determined by his overall career. But it's a wee bit early to be predicting his failure when all we have to go by, at this point, is his success in "Casino Royale."

My own feelings about "Casino Royale" are that it simply was a great film. Not just a good Bond film, but a good film, period. And it's one that my husband and I enjoyed multiple times; I went back to see it more frequently than he did. My husband is the original Bond fan in our family, but "Casino Royale" turned me into one. As a result, we revisited most of the films in the franchise, and I saw them in a new light. I still love "Casino Royale" and count it as my favorite in the series, but also greatly enjoy many others.

[Carolinabond007]

I think its the best Bond film since The Living Daylights.

[d0uble0_7]

Casino Royale was a great movie as all Bond films are IMO. As with the modern day filmmaker's trends, every great saga is getting the prequel. For those of you not so fond w/ Daniel Craig's Bond, here's hoping you adjust. Perhaps he's like coffee to most, simply an acquired taste. Nevertheless, he's signed on for quite a while.

[tambourineman]

Overrated? Hell no. In my opinion it was the best Bond film in at least 35 years. I know movies are all a matter of opinion, but personally I dont know how anyone couldnt consider it at least top 5 material. The story, the performances, the dialogue, everything, all so much better then we've had in decades.

[Barry the Saint]

No definately not..
Craig was viciously attacked by so many people before the film even came out (i remember signing the 'give Daniel a chance' petition on the website at the time,so for him to pull out a performance the way he did was fantastic.

I honestly cant find any major critisism with CR and that is rare for me after watching Bond all these years..

The only way is up and we should all be happy Bond is off in the right direction

[HH007]

Craig was viciously attacked by so many people before the film even came out

Craig was viciously attacked before the film was even made. In fact, forget overhyped, most of the press in the months leading up to the release was very negative. I remember some of the headlines...

"The Spy Who Is Not Loved"
"Bond fans reject new 007"
"New website calls for boycott of Bond film"
"Daniel Craig loses a tooth"
"Daniel Craig can't drive a stick"
"Daniel Craig's afraid of guns"
"I have a feeling Craig will be the next Lazenby"
"Eva Green... Eva who? Why didn't they get Angelina Jolie?"
"Bond will be driving a Ford... a Ford?!"
"New Bond gadgets sound pretty boring"

These are all things I remember reading before the movie came out. These headlines are hardly what I would call "hype."

[Barry the Saint]

He was slated and treated disgustingly but knew his acting ability would seem him through whether people liked him or not.

A lot of people owe DC a big big apology ,thankfully im not one of them.

[d0uble0_7]

I must say that I'm quite anxious to see where Bond 22 takes us, and what Craig's able to do w/ it.

[HH007]

I must say that I'm quite anxious to see where Bond 22 takes us, and what Craig's able to do w/ it.

I think we all are.

[Bondian]

After viewing this great movie again. I honestly feel that it's not a 're boot' of the character but of the production company. And I'm sure that Cubby and Harry were aiming to make an 'almost' perfect movie like Casino Royale back in 1962. Okay. The technology wasn't around then to assist making the whole thing look more 'real' (especially in the action sequences). But the Bond actor now has to do much more than to move an arm, and have a stunt-man takes over.

As Dalton said once, "we have to pretend so well". And Craig is incredibly apt at that.

[LadySylvia]

If BSErik5 thought that CASINO ROYALE was overrated, then that's it. You can't please everyone.

[supernova]

Casino Royale is the best James Bond movie and I think if Fleming was alive he would pick Craig as his favourite Bond.

[HH007]

If BSErik5 thought that CASINO ROYALE was overrated, then that's it. You can't please everyone.

But some people state it as if it's a fact, not an opinion. Like the guy I encountered on IMDb, he said "This movie is wildly overrated" as opposed to "Personally, I think this movie is overrated." (But yes, I know it works the other way, too. A lot of people state that CR is the best Bond film like it's a fact provable by science and what not. I'm sure I'm guilty of this myself. )

Edited by HH007, 08 November 2007 - 09:02 PM.

[sharpshooter]

I watched Casino Royale again today, and in no way shape or form is it overrated. It gets better with each viewing. I am liking it even more, if that is possible.

[Emma]

I was thinking about this the other day and came to the conclusion that Casino Royale is just a good film period. If this had been a film about 'Jack Smith Agent 009'. It would have still been a good film. It didn't even need the name of James Bond to do well.


So no it's not overhyped or overatted.

[jaguar007]

Are there still people out there who boycotted CR that have not yet seen it and praised it?

I do know that it did silence many of its harshest critics.

[PrinceKamalKhan]

I think its the best Bond film since The Living Daylights.

My sentiments exactly, Carolinabond007. I feel like CR is the sequel to TLD that I waited 2 decades to see. As to the main topic, I don't find CR overrated(like I dofind FYEO and GE, for example). I think CR stands out as one of the best films in the series. Craig was blessed to have it for his debut. Time will tell how the next few films turn out but I have a feeling CR will probably remain Craig's best 007 film.

It was almost a sad day when I removed OHMSS from its No 1 spot after Casino Royale came out. Felt almost treacherous after all those years.

I'm not quite ready to put CR ahead of OHMSS myself, Thunderfinger. CR will have to age a bit for me first before I put it ahead of the 1969 epic. Ironically, thanks to CR, I gained a whole new appreciation for OHMSS that I lacked before. I found myself watching OHMSS more and more to the point that it's now in my current top 3.

[Licence_007]

I feel Casino Royale has probably been a bit overhyped in the past year or so, but that is to be expected after the very poor Brosnan era. I agree with most of the original posters sentiments, and for Craig to be praised as one of the best Bond actors ever at such an early stage is quite a big statement when he has only made one film.

It is a great film yes, but there are better than it in the Bond series. I feel FRWL,GF, TSWLM, TLD and OHMSS are all better films than Casino Royale.

[tdalton]

I'd agree that Casino Royale is an overrated film, and it may even be the most overrated in the series (it's close between CR and GF). It's certainly not in my top 10, and is probably closer to 14 or 15 on my list. I would also agree with the posters who are saying that it's too early to designate Daniel Craig as the best of the Bonds. I know that I've said that in the past, but with more viewings of the film, I'd place him around 3 or 4 behind Dalton, Moore, and perhaps in a tie for third with Connery.

[Harmsway]

You rank Connery behind Moore, TDalton? Interesting... given your self-professed tastes in Bond, that doesn't seem to make sense to me.