Casino Royale

[dlbpharmd]

Best Bond movie ever! IMHO

Daniel Craig is great as Bond. My wife is all about him now too.

The movie has some of the best action scenes from any Bond movie, hell any movie I've seen this year.

The script is great, with Paul Haggis (who wrote the script for Crash) getting primary credit. Dialogue is sharp throughout the movie, and of course Judi Dench is her great self.

See this movie!

[Zarathustra]

I agree completely, dlb. I saw it 4:00 PM on opening day, and the theater was packed. At the end, there was thunderous applause. I've never experienced anything like that for a Bond film!

I took my 5-year-old son, who loves Bond (via the Nintendo 64 Goldeneye game, and later Gamecube incarnations) . . . but this was a mistake. This is not the cartoonish, silly Bond of the past. This is a bloody, brutal movie. The character isn't some sarcastic, aging dandy. This Bond can kill you with his bare hands. It's not pretty. You've never seen Bond so sweaty and bloody in all the previous movies combined.

Oh, and Eva Green was pretty hot, too. But we all knew the Bond girl was going to be hot. What was surprising is that they actually gave her good lines and a substantial character to play. Really, this movie is all about the characters. It's not about gadgets, explosions, or bad guys trying to take over the world. It's about what happens when bad guys

Spoiler

f*ck up.

What happens when a relatively inexperienced Bond

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f*cks up.

And what happens when the Bond girl

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f*cks up and betrays Bond.

I like the fact that this is a reboot, showing us how Bond became Bond. I like that he's not infallible. He makes mistakes. He misjudges people. He's too arrogant. And he pays for his mistakes. There are consequences. Believe me, you'll never look at rope the same way again!

I also like the turn during the last act. Some have complained that it slows down, with no huge action sequence to punctuate the end. I think this is a good thing. The action is definitely front-loaded in this movie. [And, I must say, I prefer the low-tech chase sequence on foot rather than flashy CGI-laden tank/speedboat/jet pack/hovercraft/space shuttle chase scenes of past years.] But action isn't the only way to create tension. The best tension comes from characters. That's what this movie does. I won't spoil it, even in spoiler tags! You'll just have to watch it. But I will say that it certainly explains a few things about Bond's trademark character traits. Like

Spoiler

what made Bond such a heartless, callous bastard who trusts no one.

Okay, I've said too much.

Oh, I've never read any of the books, but a friend says this Bond is closer to Fleming's character in the novels. I might have to check out some of those now. When movie can get you to read the book, well, did I mention that it's good? Good.

[Waddley]

What are you talking about, Malik? There was a story? There was a chase?? What lines?

All I noticed, throughout the entire freaking movie, was Bond's eyes.... I couldn't look away. I'm pretty sure the rest of the movie passed me by while I was losing myself in the beautiful bright blue.

(Ok, ok, it was a good movie, and I second everything Malik said

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(except I thought during the lovey-dovey part it got kinda slow and I was thinking to myself "is this it?")

... it's just... DUDE! The blue...)

[Warmark]

Oh, I've never read any of the books, but a friend says this Bond is closer to Fleming's character in the novels. I might have to check out some of those now. When movie can get you to read the book, well, did I mention that it's good? Good.

I hope this is true, as much as i love the films ( and N64 Goldeneye ) the books are much better.

[Worm of Despite]

I was really unenthusiastic about this flick--until I heard how it revitalized the series. Rave reviews across the board, and I'm very interested in seeing Craig's performance.

Will catch it in theaters over the long Thanksgiving weekend.

[Cail]

I'm probably going to see it tonight, but I'm curious about the hype.

You see, this is exactly what happened when Tim Dalton took over the Bond role. Dalton played Bond the way he was written. In fact, Dalton was first asked to play Bond in 1969.

I'll reserve judgment 'till after I see the film, but out of everyone who's had the role, nobody did it better than Dalton.

[CovenantJr]

I was sceptical, but I've been persuaded to see it by the repeated claims that this incarnation of Bond is more "serious and ruthless", as one reviewer said. Sounds good to me.

About the books: I've only read Dr No, but I'd be interested in a more faithful adaptation, since the book was more intense and, at times, gruelling than the film. And I'm given to understand that most of the Bond films have little or no resemblance to the books that share their titles.

I'm off to see Casino Royale tomorrow morning.

[Queeaqueg]

I with Covjr but I have heard it is really good. A movie I must see(when it comes out of DVD).

[dlbpharmd]

I'm probably going to see it tonight, but I'm curious about the hype.

You see, this is exactly what happened when Tim Dalton took over the Bond role. Dalton played Bond the way he was written. In fact, Dalton was first asked to play Bond in 1969.

I'll reserve judgment 'till after I see the film, but out of everyone who's had the role, nobody did it better than Dalton.

I liked Dalton as well, and thought "The Living Daylights" one of the better Bond films, but the next sequel was so bad.....they just couldn't seem to do anything with Dalton.

[Cail]

I thought both "The Living Daylights" and "License to Kill" were both excellent as Bond films and excellent spy/action films as well.

[Zarathustra]

I'm probably going to see it tonight, but I'm curious about the hype.

You see, this is exactly what happened when Tim Dalton took over the Bond role. Dalton played Bond the way he was written. In fact, Dalton was first asked to play Bond in 1969.

I'll reserve judgment 'till after I see the film, but out of everyone who's had the role, nobody did it better than Dalton.

Actually, I've never seen the Dalton movies. I just heard they were bad, and steered clear. Now that I know he plays a role similar to Craig, I'll have to check them out. I, too, share your curiosity about why it worked this time and not with Dalton.

And apparently Dalton wasn't the first to go for a more serious Bond, either. Lazenby made a more serious one (On Her Majesty's Secret Service) which was also not as popular as the rest, but apparently more authentic.

What worked this time?

[Cail]

Oh yeah, I'd forgotten about OHMSS. Good flick too.

[Usivius]

my issue is that as much as the Dalton movies may have been good, for me, Dalton was not Bond ... he was some other double-O agent ... but not Bond.

[dANdeLION]

Dude, none of them are actually Bond; first off, they're all professional actors. Second, there is no James Bond; he's just a fictitious character.

[TIC TAC]

I thought the Dalton movies were pretty good but something wasn't quite right with them. Its a testament to Timothy Dalton's popularity that he had the shortest run except for David Niven and George Lasenby

[Cail]

Actually, that wasn't his fault. EON and UA got into a huge legal battle that lasted 5 or 6 years, hence the reason no films were made between LTK and Goldeneye. Goldeneye was written with Dalton in mind, but he turned it down saying he was too old for the part.

Ironically, Dalton only wanted to do two Bond films, EON (the Bond production company) insisted that he sign at least a 3-picture deal. EON had wanted a new Bond after the long layoff, so they were OK with him declining the role.

[TIC TAC]

Actually, that wasn't his fault. EON and UA got into a huge legal battle that lasted 5 or 6 years, hence the reason no films were made between LTK and Goldeneye. Goldeneye was written with Dalton in mind, but he turned it down saying he was too old for the part.

Ironically, Dalton only wanted to do two Bond films, EON (the Bond production company) insisted that he sign at least a 3-picture deal. EON had wanted a new Bond after the long layoff, so they were OK with him declining the role.

Well, Cail you are better educated on the subject than I am. As to what didn't quite click with me with the 2 Dalton films I can't quite say. I became interested in 007 back when Roger Moore was Bond and since then I've watched more than a few episodes of the Saint. Something about Moore's approach to the role appealed to me. Maybe it was the smarmy smart alec. I don't really know but it seemed to me that Dalton's Bond was even less likely to punch your lights out than even Moore. Of course the writing and direction play a role in that as well. It took a while but I've fallen in with the camp that proclaims Connery as the difinitive 007. I really liked Brosnan as well but I think Craig might just win out in the end if Casino Royale is anything like its been described. I plan to find out as soon as I am able to buy a ticket.

[Cole]

I can't wait to see it. I don't think it's even out here.

[CovenantJr]

I'm not familiar with Dalton's films myself. Like Malik, I heard they were awful and avoided them. As I've done more investigation, prompted by the praise for Casino Royale, I've found that the prevailing view on the issue of Dalton is "Good Bond, bad films".

As for him not being Bond...he isn't Bond if you're accustomed to Roger Moore. But the James Bond, the one in novel form, is brutal, a little cold, somewhat more respectful to women, and with a much quieter, drier sense of humour. There were no quips, no one-liners, and no gadgets, to the best of my recollection. There was, however, a very intense scene involving claustrophobia, darkness and near-madness. I don't know how Bond didn't come unhinged during that.

Which brings me to one of the things I'm hoping for in Casino Royale: vulnerability. The film version of Bond has become too superhuman; there's no danger or struggle for him anymore. Hopefully Casino Royale will see a return to 007 genuinely taking his life in his hands with each mission.

[Kil Tyme]

Great flick! I still like Dr. No better (Connery), then Octopussy (Moore). That said, this movie might be number one after I watch it a few more times like I have the others.

I think Dalton movies were ok, nothing special. Oddly haven't seen any of the Brosnan movies fully. Lazenby's Bond was actually pretty good; even falls in love and I think he was a bit gritty and vulnerable, etc as is Craig's Bond.

Anyway, I think Craig's Bond is going to be a very good series.