Casino Royale in Review
Well that was fun. For what seems to be every even numbered birthday, a Bond film gets released in the UK and this year my birthday film has been “Casino Royale.” I can see this film, in Bond circles, is going to be controversial. As advertised, it’s a reboot, ignoring the previous movies, and providing us a raw man who is being shaped over the this and the next few films into the 21st Century Bond the movie heads need to keep the franchise going.
For me, the core of the film very much took on the air of a tragedy - following the path of the book mean that although certain updates have happened (Texas Hold ‘Em for Chemin De Fer, and more story bolted on at the top and tail to get the running length sorted) the character relationships, loyalties and betrayals are all there. Which lead a haunting air of inevitability to proceedings. And yes, Fleming’s torture scene is prsent, although it has a touch of sadistic humour, I suspect to keep the certificate sensible.
Vikki, on the other hand, had never read the books, and was unaware of anything regarding the film or the novel. Which meant this was more twisty and turny than the hilly b road from Cowdenbeath to Auchtertool. Every beat was a shock, every little twist of tension that Fleming crafted was there for her to discover.
And next to me was a twelve year old boy, who was just happy to go “Wow!” at everything with no embarrasment.
The producers of the Bond films always remark that they set out to make another realistic and gritty “From Russia With Love,” and end up with another “Goldfinger” style spectacular. Well in this case they’ve got their Russia. A fantastic film, and while the ‘reboot’ idea is a bit strange, I always get the feeling that the number 007 and ‘James Bond’ was more a Dread Pirate Roberts technique more than anything else.
My big worry is that Craig is going to go the same route as Dalton - being a ‘Fleming Bond’ rather than a ‘Movie Bond’ might work for the next few movies, but will Hollywood want Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang back? Time will tell, but there are enough hints and tips that we’re getting a little bit of arc stroy over this and the next two movies to keep me happy. Maybe they’re taking that idea from Flemmings Thunderball - OHMSS - You Only Live Twice Blofeld arc?
Besides, we all know that Charlie Higson’s Young Bond is really where the action is…
December 3, 2006; Daily Links;
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One Response to “Casino Royale in Review”
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See, I disagree that there has to be a 21st century Bond to keep the franchise going. In fact, if they could take it back to before we got to the gadgets and girls being the heart of the movie, I’d appreciate it. It may not be a popular view, but OHMSS was one of my favourite movies, it really seems to be in the spirit of the book and it’s the only movie where Bond is something more than a one dimensional sex and killing machine. Not that I don’t appreciate Halle Berry not wearing an awful lot, but that doesn’t make a whole film.
I taking OHMSS as filmed, and remaking You only live twice and then the man with the golden gun, removing the spaceships and midgets respectively would be fabulous.