| RATING: | 80% |
| FORMAT: | Cinema |
Daniel CRAIG is very different in the role of James Bond from any of his predecessors; lacking the suave sophistication of the latter. This is acknowledged in the scripting and acting. The fact that this Bond has come from poor roots, wears off-the-peg suits and is most definitely not a scion of Eton - as the novel’s original was. And yet the plot of this book is adhered to with remarkable fidelity – a good thing since it is one of the best of Ian Fleming’s 007 potboilers.
The small plot concerning a card game was a major set piece. No nuclear weapons poised to strike at the London or Washington unless a significant ransom is paid? No underground criminal lairs blown up at the end? Moreover, someone else eventually kills the villain!
A movie set very much in the down-to-earth world of real human emotions, sensations and thoughts – especially regarding what to do about terrorism. There is no reliance whatsoever on gadgets or even guns! Just plain, old common physical skills. This is a rough ‘n’ ready Bond who makes silly mistakes, gets into trouble with his boss and loses his temper when he should keep his cool.
What we have here is something of a love story about a man who cannot trust anyone – especially women. Who resigns from the Secret Intelligence Service to find himself, only to discover that the world actually is a place where trust and genuine friendship is in very short supply. The very realizations producing the very qualities that make him the best secret agent the world has ever – or will ever – know.
Bond’s financier, Eva GREEN is hot stuff. And she plays her role of the ultimate treacherous femme fatale very well.
Whatever the copyright and contractual difficulties of finally filming an official version of the first James Bond novel were, it was a delight to see Ian Fleming’s name on a Bond film: Something we have not seen since Octopussy in 1983. Bond’s going back to his roots and this is matched by the fact that the script development clock has been set back to zero in this particular movie. We see 007 meet his only friend, Felix Leiter, for the first time – when his CIA counterpart has been a recurring character since the first film (Dr No) in 1962 (played by Jack Lord). (Even the famous old Monty Norman jazz theme make a welcome reappearance along with a featured part for a certain 1963 Aston Martin DB5 - which is always going to win against the later Martin models.)
The producers have clearly decided that Mr Craig is their new James Bond and have successfully built the film around him: His mannerisms, look and his style. Deciding that the changes to the character are necessary for a little reinvention for a new generation of Bond aficionados. In this it is reminiscent of the alterations recently made to British television’s Doctor Who that have fruitfully reinvigorated a series and a formula that was dead on its feet a decade ago. It is this willingness to risk change that's made the Bond films the most successful movie series in history because of its ultimate refusal to become stale and trite. Otherwise, Casino Royale would have been little better than Dr No XXI.
This is Bond gold. Not only one of the very best Bond films but perhaps the very best.
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