Casino Royale - Emma's Point Of View

Let's be honest here. I was rather ambivalent about Ian Fleming’s James Bond before watching Bond movie No. 21 - Casino Royale, at the Bolkiah Theatre in town yesterday evening. Although, like everyone else, I DO have an opinion about who makes the best Bond. I liked Sean, and perhaps Pierce, but not Timothy, or God forbid, George. But as a movie franchise, its one for the boys don't you think? With the suits, the cars, the gadgets, the girls with laughable (to women) names such as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger and Honey Ryder in Dr. No. But all good things must come to an end boys, Casino Royale with British-born actor Daniel Craig as a blond Bond hunk, muscles a-rippling and a-bleeding (on the inside too!), the new James Bond movie is definitely one for the ladies.

The opening credits of a Bond film is usually uncomfortable for a woman who is watching the movie with her man. The Bond theme music is incomplete without a shrill and booming brass fanfare, and then comes the naked silhouette of ladies dancing in flames/ice/diamonds. But in Casino Royale, Chris Cornell (former lead singer of Soundgarden) does a slick theme, and instead of aforementioned naked girls, the opening credits has sexy silhouettes of Bond himself in various poses of intrigue. Most with a BIG GUN.

In the new Bond, I liked that the Bond girl looks like she could be your best friend. French actress Eva Green was casted well as slightly imperfect clever lass, Vesper Lynd. Unlike say, Denise Richards as Christmas Jones in The World Is Not Enough, with her perfect big teeth, big breasts, big hair, plays a physicist. Yes, of course. Such a boy's fantasy that was. But I have to say that Daniel Craig's James Bond looks best in a tiny swimming trunk than the other Bonds (okay maybe not early Sean Connery). And a nod goes deservedly to the movie's stylist, as Bond is dressed to kill, not too suave, but handsome (and deadly). I also thought it was interesting that the first car we see James driving in the movie was a shiny Ford rental. Of course he also had the gorgeous silver DB5 and DBS.

There were plenty of rough action sequences with James getting hurt all over the place. One scene was particularly ball breaking. Look out for it. Look out also for Richard Branson (boss of Virgin Airways) who has a cameo in the movie. Blink and you'll miss him. Bobby didn't but I did. There was an obvious deviation from Bond's martini banter in a memorable line from the movie - this time he was asked whether he wanted his Martini shaken or stirred, and he answered with a sexy stoic, "Do I look like I give a damn?"

[I wonder if after watching Casino Royale, Pierce Brosnan is thinking now why do they have to make me look so wimpy.]

Well I thought the movie was fresh and current. Daniel Craig, with his pugly nose and strange-looking-yet-handsome face (and it must be said, those pecs) silenced even me. But even though that body can be distracting, Mr. Craig played double-oh-seven with the necessary edginess and raw physique to compete with the likes of modern-day spies like Jason Bourne and Jack Ryan. So yes, I enjoyed Casino Royale. Bobby did too. For the girls, go watch it and count the phwoarghs in your head. For the boys, there's a new Bond in town.

Comments

[DeeT]

I watched Casino Royale last night without reading your review. When I saw the TV promos, I thought, WHAAAATTTTT?? Definitely NOT Bond material. I am in love with Sean, even more now when he is older (yeah, yeah, me and older men!!). And Pierce was oohhh la la... I agree with Jewelle about Remington Steele, I waited for years to see him as Bond. Forget all the other insignificant Bonds.

I was told that this movie was the start of Bond as Double-0. So I went in with an open mind (plus B1 & my parents).

My first phwoargh was when I saw him at the Club (can't remember the name now, where some asshole thought he was a valet) in his white shirt & grey pants. My brain went Oh Mah Gawd. Whispered to B1 (happily munching his crackers), "I Lurrrrvvveee his BUTT". He looked at me and said "Hmmmmmm. Isn't he too young for you?"

And yes, the scene where he came out of the water in his tight shorts almost made my heart stop. The ultimate revenge for women who have suffered through so many Bond movies. This was hotter than Ursula Andress in her white bikini!!!

The fact that Bond fell in love gave me an insight to why Bond in all the movies is such a womaniser. He fell in love and lost her. No more falling in love again. A one man woman, in his heart but not in his pants.

Craig is so out of the box for me. Not the age group I usually go for. Give me Sean Connery (YES, THE OLD BALD ONE), Harrison Ford, Pierce Brosnan and Richard Gere any day over Tom Cruise, Keanu Reeves and so on..... But Craig, I'll have you shaken, stirred, bounced, rolled, swung and in all the various ways I can.

[lizzie]

after reading your take on casino royale, i'm kinda tempted to watch it now... dang! should have taken up the offer to go last week... =(

[chucklesgalore]

Thanks so much for putting the weirdness/hotness of Daniel Craig so eloquently...he does look strangely drop-dead-gorgeous with his mish-mashed face. Was on the fence about watching the movie at the cinema but your blog has definitely made me want to see Bond on the big screen (and only just for them pecs!).

[Jewelle]

I am never a Bond fan, never watched any completely. But Casino Royale does seem intriguing...and yes, THAT coming out of the water scene is very sexy even in the trailer. And I did think that although Brosnan was the born-to-be-Bond when he first appeared in Remington Steele (remember that show?), judging from the trailer, Craig looks like THE kind of Bond I like. After your review, am definitely going to see this movie.

[Widarchitect]

double-OH-seven is right! went to see it with Sha last night and I loved it. The slight shortage of air in the cinema was in time with the scenes where Bond comes out of the water (twice!)- think about 300 women in the cinema simultaneosly gasping. I have to say though, the fact that Eva Green does remind me of a friend of mine, did little for me. I suppose the bombshell genious just can't work for hollywood. xxw