Casino Royale Review *No Spoilers*

[Blarg]

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Dudes - Fleming's Bond in the novels was a stone cold killer. I thought Craig was an excellent choice for the role (based on "Road To Perdition" and "Layer Cake"), and I'm glad to see that they moved the character in that direction.


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Yes, he was. The stone cold killer comes across very well in Dr. No, when Bond sets up a guy to break into his hotel room, then after knocking the gun out of his hand basically sits and chats with him in order to lure him into making a hopeless grab for it when Bond knows it's empty. When the guy clicks on the empty chambers, Bond leisurely reaches over to a table, legs crossed, grabs his own gun, and brings it to bear on the terrified would-be killer. Bond says something on the order of "That's a Smith and Wesson K-frame. Your six are up," lets the hopelessness and terror sink in for a second and lets the guy agonize how he'd been set up by Bond all along, and then plugs a couple silenced rounds into him.

Bond really dragged it out unnecessarily just to toy contemptuously with the guy. Because, well, that's just the kind of guy he was. Great, great scene! The old Connery Bond was not always a very nice guy at all. When he said he was going to break a girl's arm -- kind of a shocking thing to consider in the movies in those days especially -- you got the feeling the really meant it. There's a spark of absolute determination in Connery's eyes a lot, and I wouldn't want to get in his way.

[Scotch78]

I'd like to second everything Phill said about this movie. On the negative side I would add that the construction site action scene reminded me of the horror movie cliché where a blonde runs upstairs instead of outside, and the defibrilator scene stretched my disbelief a tad too much as well, but those were both minor points and overall I found the movie more realistic than most action movies, let alone other Bond films. On the positive, I will come right out and say that Daniel Craig gives the best Bond perfomance I have seen so far (I've watched maybe half of the series).

Scott

[2Fast]

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On the positive, I will come right out and say that Daniel Craig gives the best Bond perfomance I have seen so far (I've watched maybe half of the series).

Scott

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wow this is a pretty strong statement - from what I can tell though it seems like Craig is more old-school Bond a la Connery which is a very good thing I think.

[Dominic]

Fantastic movie. I'm not sure if it's really as good as I think it is, or just that I went in with lowered expectations as I do with any movie that's just supposed to be "entertainment."

Either way, this is the darkest, most real Bond ever. Daniel Craig embues the character with such a steely-eyed masculinity, mixed with an ambiguous and well-hidden remorse for his actions - and why he's able to do the things he does - that makes his Bond the most well-rounded and human Bond yet.

The supporting cast is equally compelling, especially Eva Greene as a woman who is James Bonds' equal, and not merely a plaything between the covers.

And Judi Densch does more with less screen time than any actor alive. She's amazing.

The poker scenes, while ludicrous, were still fun to watch.

But what was so enjoyable about this film was how surprising it was, both in plot turns and in character building. I love how the writer's threw in classic Bond references like his martini, his car and others but with a modern, realistic twist.

And my god, how brutal and dark was this film at times? Bond goes through a torture scene that will have every man crossing his legs and wincing. Horrible.

Even though I saw the ending double-cross coming, it was still refreshingly powerful to see the origins of James Bond's emotionless resolve after being both betrayed and losing someone he loves.

And there's something so perfect about the scene - I won't ruin it for you - where Craig gets to utter those famous three words for the first time: "Bond. James Bond."

Terrific movie. Not only one of the best films of the year, but THE best Bond film ever. And yes, I'm serious.

[surfinillini]

this movie is gonna flop big

[cwsiggy]

lol - you really have it in for this one to flop Surf - I can't wait but will be going in with low expectations.

[IggyWH]

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this movie is gonna flop big

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I can't seem to see why you think that at this point. Right now after 120 reviews, it's getting a 96 on RT.

You got to think almost everyone going into this movie is "expecting" to hate it. No one was really pleased when they named who the new Bond would be. Many predicted this would be the series demise.

Now, these same people with negative expectations are coming out the theater and writing nothing but great things about the movie.

Also, in general, Bond movies do well in the box office. I think it's oddly one of those films that men love but women also like to see them.

No way does this movie flop. It might be slow this weekend, but from all the positive press of the movie, it'll be huge next weekend.

[DeezNuts]

The current box that the studio wants is $150m. To get that, we would have to hit around $55m this weekend. I think it hits more around $40m. Anyone that says under $30m(or flop) considering it has no real competition opening with it(Happy Feet is completely diff demographic) must be surely joking.

DN

DN

[ed8383]

Im a fan of Roger Moore as bond even if everyone seems to think he was horrible (ok he did seem like a metrosexual in the Bond movies and not the manly/rugged Sean Connery)

[cwsiggy]

Play on words Surf?? "Flop big" like in poker?? I forgot how clever you were on the LATB threads.