Patty couldn’t make it this week, so our son Chris takes the co-pilot’s seat once again.

SUMMARY:

James Bond (Daniel Craig) is awarded double-o-seven status in Her Majesty’s Secret Service and dispatched to Montenegro’s Casino Royale try to beat the sinister LeChiffre at the card table in order to prevent him from funding terrorist activities.

STEVE SAYS:

Daniel Craig’s maiden outing as James Bond is a resounding success as the producers succeed in their effort to re-boot the 44-year-old franchise, the most successful of any in film history. They should be lauded for the effort, since the last Bond film, DIE ANOTHER DAY, starring Pierce Brosnan, was its most successful. Ordinarily, the caveat is “don’t fix it if it ain’t broke.” But the producers correctly realized that the films had drifted into the realm of nonsense, with Bond chasing villains across the ice in an invisible car. In CASINO ROYALE, there is no such vehicle, nor are there any battles in outer space or planet-destroying death rays. Everything that happens in this film is well within the realm of possibility in the world of a spy.

The producers were also wise to return to Ian Fleming’s first novel as the basis for the franchise’s rejuvenation. When producer Harry Saltzman first bought the rights to the Bond books, CASINO ROYALE somehow slipped between the cracks. A film was made as an attempted Bond spoof by schlock producer Charles K. Feldman in 1967. This 131 minutes of idiocy contained no less than seven James Bonds, one of whom was Woody Allen, and bore little resemblance to the book. The new CASINO ROYALE hews to the the story more closely, while updating it to 2006. There is no “Q” to show Bond his gadgets du jour. In fact, the gadgetry is held to a bare minimum in favor of plot and character development. Particularly appealing is seeing some of the source material for the character, including seeing Bond earn his “license to kill” and witnessing the initial acquisition of his beloved Aston-Martin.

Those who had doubts about Daniel Craig’s suitability as Bond can rest easy. He fits the role like a tailored Armani tux. It seems that most people who objected to his casting did so on the basis of the fact that no previous Bond had ever had blonde hair before. Craig makes us forget that within the first scene. For my money, Craig is the best Bond since the grand master himself, Sean Connery.

Oh, about that first scene...the rejiggering of the format has eliminated that spectacular stunt-filled opening that marked almost all of the prior Bond films. In this version, the opening scene consists of two men in an office late at night, with no parachute jumps off craggy mountains or out of crashing planes. Along with a well-written script and terrific performances, it serves to further ground the film in a patina of reality.

To be sure, there is plenty of action and, indeed, some of the best stunt work I’ve ever seen. A foot-chase through a construction site near the films beginning is beautifully staged and executed.

Eva Green is a spectacular “Bond girl,” who is not treated like the disposable plaything we’ve come to expect in these movies. She’s beautiful, brainy and a match for Bond in every respect.

Jeffrey Wright (ANGELS IN AMERICA) makes his first appearance as Bond’s American CIA counterpart, Felix Leiter. While he’s fine in the role, it wasn’t written to make maximum use of Wright’s considerable gifts as an actor. Here’s hoping the next installment will do so.

Dame Judi Dench returns as M, the only actor to do so from previous Bond films. She’s solid, as always.

CASINO ROYALE kicks the Bond franchise up into a whole new category, closer in tone to the original intent of Ian Fleming’s novels with a lot less science fiction and a lot more reality. Whether you’re a casual fan or a dedicated Bondhead, you won’t be disappointed by CASINO ROYALE.

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CHRIS SAYS:

This was a great James Bond film. It belongs with classics such as GOLDFINGER or FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE. CASINO ROYALE is also easily one of the most exciting Bond movies yet.

Filled with beautifully choreographed, fast, and amazing fight scenes, there were some points where there was so much visual input that you just had to stop blinking and try to not pay attention to the fact that your jaw was hitting the floor. All of which were without the assistance of invisible cars! I am immensely glad that CASINO ROYALE decided to base itself in reality. It makes the film more believable and even more entertaining.

Then there’s Daniel Craig. I (unfortunately) was one of the people who thought that a blond, blue eyed Bond would not work. Craig completely turned me around. His performance has a wide range from terminator Bond that kicks ass to an emotionally hurt man (I cannot elaborate, sorry.).

CASINO ROYALE definitely broke some rules. CASINO ROYALE is the first bond film that doesn’t focus on sex appeal for the opening credits and also, the fact my dad pointed out about the disposable bond-babe. Speaking of which, Eva Green was great.

CASINO ROYALE in definitely now one of my new favorite Bond films, I highly suggest you go to see it. It is two hours that will be well spent

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November 29, 2006