Originally Published November 20th.
Thank God.
I thank God everyday for the many blessings my family has received, and I can add another one to the list. Bond is back. And he’s back in rare form.
Caught Casino Royale on Friday night, and I was – and am – quite impressed. In fact, save for a slow fourth act (yes, fourth act), the film was not only a great Bond flick, it stand up to scrutiny as a good MOVIE. Let me explain.
Ever since Diamonds are Forever, I have found that the only way to truly enjoy a Bond film is to not examine the movie’s premise too closely, and to accept huge, ludicrous plot points and stunt sequences simply, on their face. Don’t think too hard, or the whole thing falls apart. Accept it as mindless entertainment – kick back, relax and enjoy yourself. The only other film series that has a similar dramatic downslide is Star Wars – which went from serious to silly in six films (rather than twenty). Both series have similar drastic extremes of tone and approach from film to film (sometimes from scene to scene).
The early script review I read of Royale months back was discouraging – it seemed that they were going the route of Batman Begins, and I did not like the premise at all. I thought it would come off as a gimmick to try and get younger audiences. Well, I was exactly wrong.
While the first hour of the movie is the invention of the filmmakers the next hour IS Fleming’s Casino Royale, with a few modern flourishes. They capture the tone and feel of the first Bond novel and maintain the story’s through-line almost exactly (the only thing missing is, in this PC age, is the smoke-filled casino and the flop-sweat). The torture scene is there, and, though the carpet beater has been replaced with a knotted-up rope, the effect is the same as the novel – brutal. The final betrayal, and the final line, from the novel is there as well, and it is to the producer’s credit that they do not allow any happy ending. Yes, this is “Bond Begins” – but so was the Fleming novel. And, like the novel, when the impact of the events he lives through finally hits Bond, he changes, and turns into the cruel super-spy we have enjoyed for forty-odd years.
The Bond theme is saved till the end, and this choice is utterly appropriate. Craig is superb here, and I dare say he may be the best actor to ever play Bond. Yes, Connery had more of a presence on screen, but Craig is the better actor. I also dare say that if Craig makes another Bond film this good he will be right up there with Connery in the opinion of many. If he makes a third film as good he will SURPASS Sean. Seriously, he’s that good in the role.
Craig and the producers absolutely nailed what makes Bond work in the books – the ability to inflict cruel, harsh violence combined with dark wit, a sharp tongue and a hint of superiority. Combine the great acting by Craig with two FANTASTIC “Big” Bond Action Sequences (copyright, patent pending) and the best title sequence EVER, and you have a fantastic movie, and, as has been listed in the credits at the end of almost every single Bond film, JAMES BOND WILL RETURN.
Thank God. – Joe