“Casino Royale” James Bond Review – 24nd November 2006

Wow.

Went to see James Bond: Casino Royale on Friday 24th Nov.

If you haven’t seen the film and don’t want to know anything about it – DON’T READ THIS REVIEW.

First off, I give this film 9 1/2 out of 10. I give the same score to it’s new lead actor, Daniel Craig. And I have to be honest, before seeing the film, I didn’t think I’d be rating the film, or him so highly.

Being the Bond nut that I am, I’m a traditionalist that expects all Bond films to stick to the formula that has made them great. See, in my opinion, there are 10 elements that make the perfect James Bond film:

1) Girls;
2) Action;
3) Fast Cars;
4) Bad Guys;
5) Gadgets;
6) Smoothness, Suaveness & Coolness;
7) Quips, One Liners & Humour;
8) M, MoneyPenny & Q repartees;
9) Exotic Locations;
10) Gripping Plot.

But prior to my seeing the film, and upon reading reviews of the film, amidst it’s rave reviews – “The Best Bond Since Goldfinger!”, “The New Benchmark For All Future Bond Films”, “Best Bond Actor Since Connery”, blah, blah – there were comments that suggested a lot of those elements were missing from this ‘new’ film. The very things that helped make the films for me; that had inspired me to become a fan all those years ago…

For example, I gleaned from the reviews that throughout the film, he only seduces ONE woman. Feeling betrayed by the old boy, I also learn that he actually falls in love with her – “What the?!”. I know, I know, it happened in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, but that film was made special in my opinion, in that it was the only time it’s ever happened. It’s also one of my favourite Bond films (and Bond actors).

Already feeling let down, now, I also read there’s a distinct lack of fast cars (although there is an Aston Martin) and gadgets, the stuff that all boys love. Another blow. As well, there is a shortage of the smoothness, suaveness, quips and one-liners (largely due to the more rough n’ ready Daniel Craig) that I have modelled myself on at times. And there’s more…

One of the signature lines of our hero – “shaken, not stirred”, on being asked by a barman how he prefers his Vodka Martini, is replaced this time round with, “do I look like I give a damn?”. Now I’m thinking, “what’s going on?”. And by the time I hear that there’s no MoneyPenny or Q in the movie, I’m about ready to become a Trekkie (okay, not quite).

Thankfully it seems the other elements remain intact, and in some cases, even better than before if the press are anything to go by. The action is unsurpassed (some of the best I’ve seen, incidentally), the bad guy is, well, bad, the plot is good, the scenery, scenic.

Eventually, after more research and careful interpretation, I reasoned that it being the film of the book, “Casino Royale” that ultimately the subsequent Bond films were based on, and it actually preceding them, the film should be looked at as a prelude to what we already know about James Bond. Parts of Bond himself, and elements of the films in general consequently had yet to come to light. And this film fills the gaps, 20 films later…

Let me explain one of those gaps…

Why is it he only gets round to seducing ONE woman, when in all the other films he manages 2, 3, 4? Well, this is before he has developed his rather jaded view of women as disposable time-passers. It’s in this film we learn how he became that way.

I mentioned that he falls in love – he actually utters those 3 sacred words that no real man should say to a woman (at least not 1st). The eventual betrayal of that declaration by his would-be sweetheart leaves Bond in a cynical frame, hinting at and ultimately spawning the more familiar, philandering rascal we all know and love. Throughout the film, other areas are also visited and cleared-up. But that’s beyond the scope of this review.

But, rest assured, this journey back in time is done, thankfully, in a tasteful way. Satisfying the Bond virgin, the neutral, and the purist (moi). The film is great, Daniel Craig is a dude, the action rocks, the girls – although few – are hot, there’s an Aston Martin, there’s poker (which I love), the script is top quality (there ARE some great quips), the soundtrack is cool (Chris Cornell), and now I can’t wait for the next one!

Great job.

It’s my Sunday tradition to watch one of my James Bond films, and tomorrow I’m due to watch “Live & Let Die”. I’ll do so, safe in the knowledge that, at least for now, my hero’s legacy is in good hands.

To freedom,

Scotty Stevens
The Humanpreneur
"mecum et incipio et finio"

Disclaimer: As per my Terms And Conditions, this post reflects my philosophy at the time of writing, and may not necessarily correlate with my life's outlook as you read it, now.

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