Friday night I finally got to the theater to see the new James Bond movie. I have been a fan of the bond movies since the early 80's. With the risk of offending many older Bond fans, Roger Moore will always be the original Bond to me. My first movie was For Your Eyes Only and I remember running around my Grandparents house afterwards pretending to be James Bond.
To me there was always something suave and sophisticated about James Bond. He was an international spy who could date gorgeous women and save the world at the same time. But more importantly he was cool and confident which was such a contrast from my own experiences. As I got older I began to realize that the movies were far fetched but that wasn't the point. The point was I got to escape from the real world and live vicariously through this really cool spy. When your young and impressionable, that's about as good as it gets.
As for the new movie, it's above average but a definite departure from earlier bond movies. Gone is the refined, sophisticated Bond and in his place is a rough and tumble replacement. Daniel Craig is still cool but he has an uneven edge to his personality. I think the new Bond is closer to how Ian Fleming originally created him to be. I look forward to seeing how they develop his character in future films.
The plot of the Casino Royale is a little weak and under developed. Yes there are a couple twists and turns but most people in the audience will see them coming. But the biggest disappointment was that I thought the story is supposed to be about Bond in the early years. But the story takes place in modern times which is a little confusing. Plus, they try to take advantage of the latest poker craze by highlighting Texas hold'em poker. It doesn't really work. The real Bond wouldn't play something so pedestrian, he would play baccarat instead.
Despite the flaws, it was still an enjoyable movie. Replacing Pierce Brosnan with Craig works to jumpstart the series. Bronson had gotten a little stale and the change allows them to pursue some new angles to the series. It will interesting to see where they take the new James Bond. I am already anticipating the next movie.
1 comment:
I was disappointed with the movie. If it were just another spy movie it would have been pretty good. But the new guy couldn't tell a joke, kept loading and then unloading any firearm he had in his possestion insted of keeping it loaded at all times, But I guess you get that from an anti. While I like Dame Judy Dench as M if Casino Royale is the "begining" M should have been a man. The Technology was to advanced. The bad guy was nothing special, a Bond villain is supposed to have a Napolean Complex the size of Texas and Alaska combined. No Monypenny, A Black Felix!? To few gadgets. Although the first Bond Girl was incredibly sexy (which she should be.) For this to be an "official Bond movie" was greatly disappointing. It would have been better if it was an unofficial Bond the way Never say Never Again was.
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