Posted on 11/17/2006 3:01:32 PM PST by Jmouse007
I just returned from Casino Royal, all I can say is
O U T S T A N D I N G! Don't miss seeing this on the silver screen.
It was nice for the franchise to get back to basics after all of the gimmicks, bad one liners and predictable plots/scripts. The action is intense, Bond gets "shaken not stirred". He actually bleeds and has scars for quite a while after his encounters with people bent on his destruction (I don't even want to tell you what the other guys look like) and there are enough twists and turns in the story to keep the audience captivated. The writers did an excellent job
Mr. Craig has a tremendously lethal yet sexy screen presence and he nails Mr. Flemings Bond to a tee. All I can say is with this performance he will have the role for as long as he wants it.
Sony took a tremendous gamble rebooting the series and they came up with a Royal Flush!
I went into the film not wanting to like it because of Craig's gaffs with not knowing how to drive a stick and "hating guns", all of the critics and bad pre publicity but everything works, and I mean everything, except the opening title song. It lacks that certain "something" that makes for an outstanding song like Goldfinger or Goldeneye. Some people may also be let down by the opening titles because they are not the usual bill of fare, but they work with the title of the film and it's main theme/location.
Mr. Craig brings a certain ruggedness, killer survival instinct and yet a hint of vulnerability (that is soon quashed by the end of reel three)to the screen and character that has been unseen for decades.
This is a vanity thread and I am just a paying customer like everyone else here on FR but I just have one word of advice; don't listen to the naysayers! Give Daniel Craig a chance and go see Casino Royal for yourself. Not only will you be surprised and entertained, you will get to see Flemings Bond in action! Something few actors have nailed and many would say has not been seen since Sean Connery first brought him to life and gave us something special to look forward to every two or three years.
If you have SEEN IT, feel free to post your opinion on this thread. For "professional" critique check out what the critics have to say about CASINO ROYAL on
www.rottentomatoes.com
The franchise is redeemed for that awful tongue-in-cheek version of "Casino Royale" back around 1967.
Medved liked it a lot, saying the new Bond may be the best ever in that he was tough and mean like Ian Fleming made him...
Please tell me they didn't get rid of the gun barrel view opening sequence.
To say nothing of the US tv version from the 1950s where "Jimmy" Bond was transformed into an American.
Just go see for yourself :o)
Why do you link to the IMDB page for "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" movie? Aside from the title, the car, and the inventor character, the film has almost nothing to do with Ian Flemming's book. In the book the children go out in a 10-cylinder car with their parents (both living), stumble into a gangster's armory, get caught, and manage to signal the police to effect their rescue. Although "Woof Sweets" figure briefly early on, there is no relationship with Truly Scrumptious.
Hmm... Short, blonde and somewhat less than manly...
Sorry. Not Bond.
Sounds like Vladimir Putin.
As for short, Humphry Bogart was short and he was one of the biggest tough guys in film history as was James Cagney. Besides in film EVERY leading man looks 6 feet tall.
Absolutely redeemed; NO Peter Sellers, no stupid plot or acid trip fantasies, but one heck of a story with one heck of an actor playing Bond.
Frankly the old Bond movie formula is a bit anachronisitic. The franchise either needed to be updated, or abandoned. I'm glad to see an attempt to bring Bond out of the swingin' 60s and 70s.
For the fans of that genre, there's always "Austin Powers."
I saw it this morning at Pacific's The Grove Stadium 14 with my gal. GREAT GREAT MOVIE.
On the way in I saw Jack Black walking out and my lady had a fun star spotting. Good for her, helped make her day.
It is amazing the amount of positive word of mouth this film is getting from everyone who has seen it.
The played bond like a man and all business.
I loved it.
The = THEY
Good observation, he wasn't just a pretty face who could dodge a billion bullets.
He was human, brave, loyal, in shape and a machine when needed.
He could perhaps last almost 2 minutes with our Jack Bauer.
Just got back from opening night. It's a Bond that brings the franchise back into the "thriller" genre, and Craig is perfect. What a fine actor -- and Martin Campbell is one hell of a director. First-rate in all respects.
I had lunch today in a strip mall next door to a cinema, and the line to buy tickets to the evening showing of Casino Royal was stretched out from the mall into the street.
I read a review today (among several) that said it is just plain one of the best movies of the year, forget being part of a series. In that regard, it's a lot like "Goldfinger," a genre movie that has the impact of a blockbuster.
I forgot to mention in my earlier post how great Judi Dench is, and how marvelous her scenes with Craig are. I suppose the Academy will look at this as just another "James Bond movie," but I'd certainly nominate Judi for Best Supporting Actress for this one. She's a marvel. Holds this big, sprawling thing together, she does.
I miss the snappy repartee of Connery and Bronson
.
Do not mention Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! The Child Catcher has haunted my nightmares for a long long time.
Give it time, given the fact that this is like a fresh installment taking Mr. Bond back to his roots/beginnings ala "Batman Begins" there is a possibility that the "snappy repartee" will develop later as the character grows even more proficient in his stock and trade and more detached/ruthless (if that is even possible given how proficient, detached and ruthless he was this time around :o)
Even so, I, along with most people, would rather have a rich, realistic story (for once), which is exactly what we got with CASINO ROYAL; peppered with realistic danger (No panties on the head, or mere threatening words for Mr. Bond… just a simple old bamboo seat chair and knotted rope, OUCH!!!!) and action: in this movie, the bad guys actually looked like they REALLY wanted to kill him as brutally as they could, not just mess up his hair (and he ends up with scars that last more than 10 seconds of screen time as a reminder) than a fantasy plot with Bond dodging a billion bullets without getting a scratch, full of snappy throw away one liners.
I haven't watched a Bond movie in years...but reading this thread got me tempted....
Go see it; I guarantee you will not be sorry. They have taken the character and story line back to it's roots. All of the elements that made the original/early Bond films so engaging, enjoyable and watchable are back in spades. This is what Bond used to be like before all of the gimmicks, guffaws and fantasy plot lines got in the way.
Poser,I can tell you for a fact that Daniel Craig is around 5'11 or 6ft as I have a friend who was a runner on Layercake and he is at 5'10 slightly shorter.
'I went into the film not wanting to like it because of Craig's gaffs with not knowing how to drive a stick and "hating guns", '
Oh dear I guess new travels slow over the Atlantic.
Those stories were NOT true!.
In fact both the Sun and the Daily Mirror printed retractions at one point.
And Craig DIDNT say he hated guns,he DID say he knows what damage they do and they arent toys....
'I heard'...'I think'...
Mate,you need to read a bit more.You seem to be making judgements on things you have heard in passing.
You arent sure whether he is a 'Lefty'.Yet you are decideing you dont like him based on what you think/might have heard he is...maybe...
Firstly,Craig isnt a 'Lefty' in the way you mean it.He seems to be a Labour or Lib Dem voter as far as I can tell(like most British actors) and your average liberal,but he MAY very well be a Tory voter.
Secondly,what ARE you going on about ...'Since he will not Shut Up and Act'...????
Daniel Craig has not made one political statement since becoming Bond.NOT ONE.Either about Britain or America.
He has answered a few questions about guns,which as I have pointed out,did NOT have him say he hated guns,but that he hates people treating them like toys when they are after all an instrument designed to kill...from this he has been touted as some pansy ass Limey fag who hates guns,the NRA and America.
Utter utter utter crap..
'I think the guy in real life is a freaking pansy'
The same Daniel Craig that has had a string of beautiful women.And is a rather notorious womaniser.
The same Daniel Craig that has been praised by the CR stuntmen for demanding he do as many of the stunts as possible.
Oh and I have ALREADY pointed out,those UK tabloid stories about the 'stick' car problems etc.,were all crap.
Mainly from one paper(the Daily Mirror) who didnt want him as Bond.And who by the way,have eaten crow and have just given him and CR rave reviews....
The Fleming books were so good, and the films have been so disappointing. Most movie-goers have never read the Bond books, so they don't realize how they are being short-changed.
To date, the best treatment of a Fleming/Bond book was From Russia With Love.
Roger Moore was by far the WORST screen Bond. He treated the character like a Vaudeville act. Then, the original producer of the screen series died, and the productions were turned over to his daughter, who decided to feminize Bond, and make his boss, M, a female.
I'm anxious to see Casino Royale, because it sounds as though there has been a real attempt to return the plot to actually mirror Fleming's book.
As an aside, Sean Connery's primary reason for leaving the role of James Bond was his disgust at the butchering of the Fleming plots with gadgets and gimmicks.
Waiting for it to come to San Francisco. < :)
The opening titles are totally cool, very artistic, and a wonder to watch.
Saw the movie last night. I'm "itching" to see it again.
No, they haven't done away with it.
It's still there..just in a different place.
She was excellent in it..And we find out that M actually has a HUSBAND..
She starts out being exasperated with him, then she grows to realize what a real treasure this Bond is to the secret service, then she tries to guide him into greatness.
The scene on the sailboat near the end of the movie where M is talking to Bond on the cell phone is also great. She's all business, but still tries to console Bond on his loss at the same time..It was excellent.
The chase across the tops of the building and the crane and into the embassy was great..I dont know who they got to play that bomb maker, but he's a hell of a runner.
And the resolution of the scene in the embassy was clever..
I really rate Casino Royale only second to Goldfinger in my top three Bonds. From Russia With Love comes in third.
It's that good.
Short, blonde and somewhat less than manly...
I'm going to see the movie tomorrow. Can't wait. I have seen Craig in "the Mother', 'Layer Cake', 'Enduring Love' and 'Road to Perdition" I find him very manly. I am not usually attracted to blonde men but if I weren't already married, I'd let him take me out for a cup of coffee.....
Now, that's lovely.
I heard the guy is a Lefty. Since he will not Shut Up and Act then I will not contribute to his future. I think the guy in real life is a freaking pansy.
Where'd you hear about his political views? He absolutely refuses to talk to the press about his personal life, so I find it hard to believe he would speak about his personal views. Direct me to your source and I will stand corrected.
Well said, Scotsman!
You are right, the athletic ability he and Craig exhibited is exceptional. I am glad so many freepers are enjoying the film and spreading the news about how good this film and the new Bond is. Looking forward to seeing it again.
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