Best James Bond ever.

stockslivevan · Post by **stockslivevan** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 6:16 am

http://movies.eclipsemagazine.com/movie ... _the_years

I was originally skeptical about the selection of the blond haired, blue-eyed Daniel Craig as our next James Bond. From the moment Casino Royale opens with its gritty black and white, pre-credit sequence you know you are in for something different and you get sold quickly on Craig's take on Bond. It's dark, gritty, brooding, and at times surrealistic.

I don't even know where to begin with this review, the plot was simplistic, yet dense and at times a little too complicated. In a nutshell, Bond is trying to figure out who is funding several major terrorist groups. At the same time he finds himself at constant odds with M (Judi Dench). For the first time Dench actually gets to do some acting in a Bond film, in previous films they would trot her out to utter a witticism and then disappear for the rest of the movie. In Casino Royale she's a vital part of the story, but it's in the cliched boss trying to reign in her out of control detective kind of way. Somehow it works here and feels appropriate.

Director Martin Campbell's (best known for the Antonio Banderas Zorro films) minimalist approach keeps the film zipping along, at almost 2 1/2 hours the film never drags. Even the "climatic" poker sequences were engrossing. And I'm one of those people who doesn't understand poker or get its popularity, but Campbell made me care, got me interested in what was going on.

If you want your trademark Bond gadgets, cars, and gear, Royale will disappoint as this Bond drives a rented Ford (I think it was a Focus), that is until he gets back into M's good graces, then he's given the sporty Aston Martin. But even that car lacks ge-whiz gadgets; unless you consider a tray that holds a first aide kit and a gun cool.

The fun thing about Royale is that it really is an "establishing" movie. Craig doesn't come right out and say he's Bond, James Bond, or order the trademark Dry Martini, or Walk around in tailored Tuxes. As the plot progresses, we start to understand that Bond is a young agent who has just been given the 00 status. He's still not used to killing and hasn't quite picked out his drink of choice. One of the only gags in the film has Bond asking for a Long Island Iced Tea at a Casino.

Bond's romantic interest is Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) a by the book government accountant who is providing the money for Bond's high-stakes poker tournament. The chemistry between Green and Craig doesn't sizzle, it's just there. But the writing is what makes it work. There's a cute moment where he calls her Money Penny, and at the end of the film you get a sense of how important that name becomes to Bond in future adventures.

As if we didn't already know that the main goal of Casino Royale is to rebuild Bond and re-establish his character the film's amazing last scene had everyone in the audience clapping and cheering - at the same time the movie, just ends, with nothing really resolved, leaving you wanting more and waiting breathlessly for the next installment.

Casino Royale is one of the best films of the year, well worth checking out.

Final Grade A+

EM Review

by Michelle Alexandria

Post by **The Sweeney** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 7:00 am

Great review!! Pretty much sums up my feelings towards CR too.

Captain Nash · Post by **Captain Nash** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 9:24 am

Yep a very good and well written review.
My sentiments exactly.

Post by **carl stromberg** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:27 am

Very pleasant - if rather brusque - review. Choose your next review carefully stockslivevan, as it may be your last.

stockslivevan · Post by **stockslivevan** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 1:01 am

Just trying to keep some balance carl stromberg.

Post by **Dr. No** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 2:20 am

stockslivevan wrote:Just trying to keep some balance carl stromberg.

Balance?
You did notice the name of the forum right

Nice to meet a fellow Crab Key resident, for those who don't know crab key is a gated community

stockslivevan · Post by **stockslivevan** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 2:43 am

Dr. No wrote:
stockslivevan wrote:Just trying to keep some balance carl stromberg.
Balance?
You did notice the name of the forum right

Nice to meet a fellow Crab Key resident, for those who don't know crab key is a gated community

Of course, but I would love nothing more than to contribute in injecting some sanity into an anti forum.

I must say though, there actually seems to be people here with more intelligence and judgement than Deanna Brayton's time running the site. An improvement I must say, less hate and more objectives.

Post by **The Sweeney** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 7:31 am

stockslivevan wrote:
Dr. No wrote:
stockslivevan wrote:Just trying to keep some balance carl stromberg.
Balance?
You did notice the name of the forum right

Nice to meet a fellow Crab Key resident, for those who don't know crab key is a gated community
Of course, but I would love nothing more than to contribute in injecting some sanity into an anti forum. I must say though, there actually seems to be people here with more intelligence and judgement than Deanna Brayton's time running the site. An improvement I must say, less hate and more objectives.

There definitely is. I didn't have much hope for this forum initially, but they have been very good natured to the pro mob here, and not one of the threads has turned into a flame war (suprisingly).