Bland. James Bland.
I hate to buck the trend of those critics who are hailing the new James Bond film, Casino Royale, as a return to form and reinvention of the superhero spy franchise, but I found the film, while technically proficient, overlong and underwhelming. I’m personally disappointed too, being old enough to remember when a new James Bond film was one of the few reliable pleasures of escapist movie going.
My criticism is not about this Bond’s not being “faithful” to either its literary or cinematic predecessors. It’s true that Daniel Craig’s Bond is, despite his blond hair, closer in many respects to Ian Fleming’s description of the suave-yet-lethal secret agent. Both Fleming’s Bond and Craig are, at least on the surface, cold and unemotional. They can be brutal and ruthless. They both have amazing survival skills and stamina, but Fleming’s Bond is also possessed of a sense of humor, not least about himself, that makes him good company through the casual sexism, racism, and brand name-dropping of the original Bond novels.
Being true to Fleming’s conception of Bond doesn’t necessarily make for a good movie in 2006 and beyond. Several choices made by the filmmakers and by Craig contribute to Casino Royale’s shortcomings. Some may be built-in tensions that no one can resolve to everyone’s satisfaction. Ironically, some may be due to Craig’s skills. It’s quite possible he’s too good an actor for this role.
The filmmakers wisely re-set the Bond clock so that, for this film, Craig’s Bond is on one of his first big assignments. This Bond is still rough - not the suave sophisticate with an encyclopedic knowledge of wine and the finer things in life, but a blunt instrument, a man who kills because it’s part of his job, and who has cut off most of his emotions so he can continue to do that job.
Craig’s Bond limits his sexual dalliances to married women because there’s far less chance of emotional involvement on both sides. He does flirt, but Craig makes it seem like something of an effort - a difficult concert piece instead of a jazz improvisation. Craig plays all this and creates a credible human being. Unfortunately, he’s not a human being that’s fun or interesting to spend two and a half hours with.
Article comments
1 - jay
you're allowed your opinions but i disagree with pretty much everything you say. you are clearly too old and prefer everything to be traditional bond. get with the times and understand that bond needs to modernise and has done so. successfully.
2 - Triniman
They had to get away from the over-the-top, cartoonish feel. I applaud them for trying something different.
3 - bunz
As stated above, once again you are entitled to your own opinion, but in response to your beef with Bond's indestructability in the movie, it appeared to me that his mistakes/vulnerabilites were much more apparent than any superhuman-ness. In actuality, it seemed like they were trying to stress this even more as a rookie agent, that had just reached "double O" status. And as for your peeve of not finding out Bond's "tell" as evidence to his godliness, it seems like you are merely nit-picking and finding reasons not to like the movie. You obviously don't enjoy change and are clearly in your 40's or 50's and lack an open mind.
4 - Brad Blake
I enjoyed it in an escapist way, but it wasn't much better than Miami Vice, which I sadly wasted two hours on a few months ago.
Craig has potential, but we need more of his sense of humor, his personality, etc.
Nice and accurate review!
5 - handyguy
Especially if you can see it under the right circumstances - a big bright theater screen, a good sound system, a large and appreciative audience - I think this is not just the best Bond in 4 decades, but the best action film in quite some time.
Several of the action sequences, especially that early chase through a construction site into an embassy, are just plain amazing, and completely thrilling. Craig is near perfect.
This may not be up to the best Connery films and On Her Majesty's Secret Service, but it puts to shame all those tacky Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan extravaganzas. The only spy movie of recent vintage to come close is The Bourne Supremacy, which is fantastically well directed but doesn't have quite the same Big Pop Event factor.
Sorry you were disappointed.
6 - Todd
It could have used 10 minutes of editting, but beyond that was hands-down the best Bond since Connery left.
7 - Auburn
I agree with the review; this latest version of James Bond is absolutely boring. There's nothing special about the movie at all. Perhaps it's time to kill off the Bond franchise.
8 - LSU
Good review!
Craig was miscast as Bond.