Thursday, November 27, 2008

Casino Royale

New timeline, new structure, new James Bond

We can see alot of changes in Casino Royale, no Q from the R&D division, no special weapon, no high tech gadgets, no Moneypenny.

The classic James Bond theme only plays in ending credit, not in the movies.

The opening sequence use playing cards and guns, instead of naked girls in silhouette like previous Bond film.

And if I'm not mistaken, this is the first time they use male singer to perform the title song.

Why are there so many changes?
I have to admit, the first time I watched this movie 2years ago in cinema, I really cannot accept all those changes.

But after I watch it over and over again, I start to like Casino Royale...
and one thing that distinguish this movie wih previous Bond film is
~ they put alot of effort to the script and focus on character development~


Despite the criticsm, I think Daniel Craig did a good job.
Some say he looks like a villain, some say he is not good-looking, some say he is too cold.

But if you realize their intention to make a new and fresh Bond, you will understand why Daniel Craig acting in that way.
And I admit, I actually under estimated his performance at the begin.

The new Bond is more brutal and more emotional. He made mistakes.
The new Bond is inmature and innocent. He learn lessons.

Which is why, in my opinion, his character is developed really well in the whole movie.
And you need solid performance to take this role, and it is not easy.

Pierce Brosnan's James Bond perhaps is more cool, and more clever.
But frankly, there is not much of effort put on scriptwriting.


For me, Casino Royale is the best James Bond movie in recent years.

The dialogue and conversation is fantastic.

The location chosen is really good, Madagascar, Bahamas, Montenegro, and Venice....
it brings you back to Roger Moore and Sean Connery era, different costume in different country...
~~the James Bond feel is back~~


Talking about cinematography, the action sequence in Madagascar is one of the best scene I have ever seen in Bond movies.

The ending is so sad, terrific climax!!!

Perhaps some of the fans still cannot accept the new James Bond....
but it needs time....

3 comments:

Wei Xiang said...

yeah, i guess u're right =) many of us (at least the ones living around our era) are still quite attached to Pierce Brosnan's casanova/prince charming-type of Bond. maybe because he possesses the charm that most guys can feed their ego with =) well, u know what i mean! who doesn't want to be as charming as him right?

Daniel Craig, as the producers earlier said when Casino Royale was in the cinemas, is the more "primitive" and is more of the "Bond that was intended by Ian Fleming". i'm not sure how much of the 2nd statement was true, but i do agree with the 1st!

nice review again! i might want to watch C.R. for a 2nd time.

Anonymous said...

Your reviews getting better and better.
Talking bout Bond movies,regardless the characters, cinematography and etc...
i still can't accept the 'new' james bond movie. Perhaps the old ones had leave us a deep image. Generally, this is not my liking of james bond. Perhaps the new generation of Bond can create another symbolic character in the future. But one thing, the new Bond has nothing different than any other hero movies. Maybe should remain the new James Bond some similiarities in each Bond movies. For me, this 'new' character still in the Beta version, still testing the audience.

Anonymous said...

哦..
你和你的朋友都很屌 !!

我就沒將屌啦..
我不大會看戲..
也不曾看過任何Bond Film..

不過第一次看這片..
我覺得他滿酷的..
很喜歡他的性格 !!!

相信很多'男人'..
都想像他那樣吧..
去GYM時常能看到這類人 !!
身邊還好多'成熟'女的說..

哈哈..