Film Review: "Casino Royale" (2006)
Agent 007 returns in this poker-themed romp through Africa, the Bahamas, Miami and Europe as Bond tries to get to the bottom of a ring of terrorist financiers led by a villain from (where else?) France. Although the plot isn't totally airtight, and some scenes require more suspension of disbelief than the last five WWE pay-per-views combined, it's still quite entertaining. Newcomer Daniel Craig was born to play the Bond role, even though the screenplay doesn't really develop the character until about a third of the way in, after which the one-liners come fast and furious. Here's an example:
Bond: "I'll have a martini."
Bartender: "Shaken, not stirred?"
Bond: "Do you think I give a damn?"
He also downs booze like a champ, takes a beating like no other, pulls tail like you expect him to, and generally comes out on top despite a couple of major lapses in judgment, much to the chagrin of M, played by the one and only Judi Dench.
I'll just leave it at that so as to not give away too many surprises.
Beautifully shot and well-paced, while no "Mission Impossible: III", "Casino Royale" is still worth the $9 admission fee and is definitely a solid start to the next phase of the James Bond franchise.
Overall rating: 8/10
posted by Road Hammer @ 8:55 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
I think she needs a tan, personally.
I appear to be a lone voice in the wilderness, screaming to no one that it was the worst Bond movie in years. This guy is no better than Timothy Dalton, and the last quarter was more like a chick flic than a Bond - I kept expecting to see Sandra Bullock walk past with a bag of groceries with a baguette sticking out the top of it.
I suspect the difference is, I am a fan of the Bonds from way back. I don't compare it to Mission Impossible, I compare it to Live and Let Die, or Dr. No, or Die Another Day. It fails the comparison.
Besides, I find Poker a boring spectator sport when I don't know the outcome: that was a painful half hour.
And when the only gadget is a glove box defibrillator, well somethings getting old.
I think the divide on this relates to who your first Bond was. If you grew up with Roger Moore, then you will hate this film. The Moore films bordered on camp.
This film is very much in the same class as the pre-You Only Live Twice Bond films. Less one-liners and gadgets more grit.
I thought it was fantastic. Then again, I thought The Living Daylights was great as well.
So, if you like Moonraker and Spy Who Loved me era Bond, don't waster your dollars, if you like From Russia with Love and Thunderball, check this out.
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