Casino Royale: New Bond, New Direction

Goldeneye was the first Bond film I saw. After that, it was whichever Bond film was on the TNT special. My knowledge of Bond is more general, less "this era of Bond" or "when he was Bond." I do know is this: Sean Connery was the best Bond, and the last two Pierce Bronsan films (if not more) were less and less Bond.

When walking into the new Bond film, I already knew I wouldn't be disappointed. First off, I didn't walk in being pessimistic like other who claim Connery is the best Bond. Connery is the best Bond because no one else comes close to what Connery did as Bond... so stop complaining about everyone who isn't Connery.

Second, it's a prequel. Therefore, it won't make the mistakes made in Die Another Day with invisible, remote-control cars.

Third, it has Eva Green. At the very worst, I have a lousy action film, half of which involves a beautiful woman ranked in my personal "Top Five Beautiful Women in Movies." It's like pizza, even if it's bad, it's good.

Coming out of the movie, I was pleased more than I thought I would be. I wasn't expecting Connery, but the new Bond, Daniel Craig, has brought the character to life in a way different than Bronsan's.

Craig doesn't seem to pull off the romantics and seductions like Bonds in the past. The lines getting him in bed with the girls don't compare to the humorous ones he says to the girls when they're far from the bedroom.

His strong part is the action. He became fit for the role, and his action is brutal, up-front fighting that hasn't always been around in Bond films. In the past, from movie to movie, there have been action sequences where you can tell the actor (Bronsan) has a look on his face saying "Bond is in a tough fight, wink-wink." Craig's action is better done and better rehearsed to look real. The gun work comes naturally to him and the hand-to-hand comes more kung fu and less "practice falling."

Craig's lasting strong point will probably be the lines he pulls off well, in spite of the romantic lines he pulls off bad. Simple stuff as "That last hand... nearly killed me," kicks back and forth at M, and my personal favorite, a one-sided conversation with Vesper (Eva Green's character) ending with him taking her to the bedroom (no sex though).

As far as Daniel Craig's Bond, I'd make a trip to see his next Bond film. I watched Goldeneye and The World is not Enough and had no desire to see Bronsan's following work. Casino Royale brings Bond back, fresh. This is not to say that one day Craig's Bond will become old, but for now, I'd give a positive prediction to his next Bond film. Hey, he has Connery's support.

Looking back over this, I think I'll blog about Eva Green, the movie Casino Royale (and not the actor), or some top lists of my own. Keep an eye out for that. Until then.

Thanks for reading,
RTG
Red Tie Guy