"Casino Royale" reaction

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Casino Royale (Columbia, 11.17) screened in London last night (Saturday, 11.4) and the Telegraph has run some reactions. "It's terrific," said one critic. "This is going to be the prequel to all other Bonds. There are a lot of fans who prefer either Moore or Connery but Daniel Craig could be better. This is the story of how Bond got started, before he became 007. Craig is such a good actor...he plays Bond as strong but emotionally vulnerable. For the first time you see his sensitive side."

"The flm begins in black-and-white, but then goes to color. There is no sexual innuendo in this film; Craig's Bond is more sophisticated than that. And the filmmakers have been sure to show the consequences of violence -- he bleeds. Craig depicts a character who is tough and gritty and while the plot of good versus evil is the same, there is no Miss Moneypenny. If Bond has been a role-model for playboys across the generations, Craig's 007 is not only interested in seduction. He falls deeply in love with his Vesper Lynd (Eva Green)."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 5, 2006 at 4:09 PM

comment #1

Dan Revill says ...

Sounds promising. Lord knows that the British are going to be the most critical of a Bond flick.

Posted by Dan Revill at November 5, 2006 4:48 PM

comment #2

ltlewis3 says ...

Is it me or does this sound like it is a Bond movie for people who never liked Bond movies in the first place?

Posted by ltlewis3 at November 5, 2006 6:08 PM

comment #3

Daniel Fienberg says ...

I prefer to think it's a Bond movie for people who loved the Fleming novels and felt like the franchise went off the rails during the bland-and-glossy Brosnan years. That being said, as godawful as the Brosnan Bond movies were, they made oodles of money and those Bondies-come-lately who think that Brosnan *is* Bond (shudder) may not be so happy...

Me? Can't wait...

-Daniel

Posted by Daniel Fienberg at November 5, 2006 6:43 PM

comment #4

Camster says ...

"Bland and glossy Brosnan years?" I take it you haven't seen Octopussy, or Moonraker, or pretty much any non-Dalton Bond flick after Man With The Golden Gun?

Posted by Camster at November 5, 2006 7:34 PM

comment #5

Daniel Fienberg says ...

Camster,

I'm not going to advocate for Roger Moore, but he did have an inflection on the role. Also, the Moore movies were the Bonds of my youth and Octopussy was the first one I ever saw. To a pre-teen, Roger Moore seemed pretty cool. I grew up. I learned otherwise. I'd still take Octopussy over Tomorrow Never Dies any day of the week.

Hopefully Craig will help Brosnan fans recognize what Bond *should* be...

Maybe...

Daniel

Posted by Daniel Fienberg at November 5, 2006 8:06 PM

comment #6

Adonis says ...

Octopussy is a cartoon, with gypsy outfits and scantily-clad women... oh, and the flamboyantly gay Roger Moore.

Bond needs an edge. He needs to look menacing, kill with an assassin's coldness, and most importantly look like he doesn't give a fuck about anything from time to time.

24/7 charisma is boring. I'm really hopeful for this film.

Posted by Adonis at November 5, 2006 8:58 PM

comment #7

addison says ...

I still remember liking some of the Moore films quite a lot as a teen. But Octopussy and Moonraker? Yuck! Give me For Your Eyes Only...my fave of the Moore years.

I must admit that I'm one of the three people who didn't think Timothy Dalton was all that bad in the role so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

Posted by addison at November 5, 2006 8:59 PM

comment #8

The Winchester says ...

Addison, I agree with you about Dalton. He was pretty good. But the films he was in weren't exactly all that great.

Then again, I have a friend who swears that License to Kill is one of the best action films ever made. So what do I know.

Posted by The Winchester at November 5, 2006 9:21 PM

comment #9

Doug says ...

I'm skipping "Casino Royale." I can't support a Bond movie where the villain and the majority of men in the world are better looking than 007.
Conan O'Brien showed a photo of Craig one night, and when he said "This is the new Bond," the audience laughed.

Posted by Doug at November 5, 2006 11:49 PM

comment #10

Arran says ...

Those sound more like the comments of a publicist than a critic. Nonetheless, I'm pretty optimistic about this one.

Posted by Arran at November 5, 2006 11:51 PM

comment #11

christian says ...

the living daylights is easily one of the best bond films. and it was a huge hit, the 4th biggest grosser at the time. watch it again and you'll see a much more serious and political spy thriller with fantastic stunts and dalton's fleming-inspired bond which didn't work since LICENSE TO KILL was not good and audiences probably thought dalton was too serious.

Posted by christian at November 6, 2006 9:41 AM

comment #12

Cadavra says ...

Earth to Wells: This new film is splendid and will be a blockbuster. Yet you'll continue to insist that nobody cares about Bond anymore. Accept it--we still love 007.

Posted by Cadavra at November 6, 2006 12:20 PM

comment #13