Casino Royale...

[fajrdrako]

I saw Casino Royale today.

What a great movie.

Not just the best of the Bond movies, but a good movie in itself: good script, good acting, good plot, good suspense, good characters. Exciting and romantic and heroic, all those things I like. I feel like raving about it... but will try to control myself.

I would have liked more sex and less violence, but that's par for the course. Sexiest bit: the exchange about Bond's smile and his little finger.

It's wonderful when a movie exceeds expectation by so much.

Comments

[littledrop.livejournal.com]

You could rave, if you wanted. It's an excellent movie.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It certainly is! Amazing.

[brashley46.livejournal.com]

I'll bet it isn't as funny as the 1967 version.

David Niven, Ursula Andress, John Huston, Woody Allen ... I just put it on my Ziplist at Rogers Video Express so I can see it again.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

No, not as funny. I saw the original Casino Royale when it first came out - seems like a long time ago now.

[kittyfisher.livejournal.com]

I loved it! I went out of curiosity and emerged a fan. Like you say, it's a real movie, not just a piece of Bond fluff. And everyone sold it, especially Daniel Craig and Eva Green. I'm even tempted with seeing it again!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I agree with you on all counts. One doesn't expect a Bond movie to be substantial. One doesn't expect it to be anything but superficial.

And yet, even though this movie had thematic substance and emotional impact, it still did the things a James Bond movie is traditoinally supposed to do - gave us lots of action, suspense, excitement, humour and pretty pictures.

It's the first time I've ever felt James Bond was really a hero.

[kittyfisher.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes! exactly - he's human, he's damaged, he endures but he fights on. I never imagined any other Bond actually dying. Or actually breaking under torture - because they are all pretty much superheroes. Craig's Bond is human and hence mortal. Very nice.

Oh, and the action sequences weren't shabby either :)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Craig's Bond is human and hence mortal. Very nice.

Yes - mortal, fallible, and subject to change. It's wonderful to see.

[kittyfisher.livejournal.com]

Shame we have to wait two years for the next one!

Oh, and one thought - my fave Brosnan Bond was Goldeneye and that was directed by the same director as Casino Royale... I hope they get him for the next one too!

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

my fave Brosnan Bond was Goldeneye

Oh, mine too!

and that was directed by the same director as Casino Royale... I hope they get him for the next one too!

Haven't seen it yet, but am getting more excited practically by the minute. *g* I didn't like the last Brosnan one at all so YAY! for a return to form on Casino Royale.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I liked Goldeneye best of the others, probably, too. It helped that it had certain actors I love - Alan Cumming, Sean Bean, Famke Janssen. It still doesn't compare to this one, in my opinion.

I don't remember the last Brosnan one very well. That's one of my problems with the Bond movies, I don't find them substantial enough to be memorable.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Shame we have to wait two years for the next one!

I am, as always, impatient. But I would rather wait 2 years for a good movie than wait 2 months for a mediocre one.

The director was great and I hope he does more.

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

Ooh, suddenly I'm really looking forward to seeing it! And I'll listen if you want to rave...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I was really stunned by how good it was. Not that I don't generally like James Bond movies, I do - except for the ones with Roger Moore - but I've always thought they were lightweight and I don't think I've ever wanted to see one more than twice, much less wanting to own one.

This was really atypical, in a good way. It took the James Bond mythos and made it something different and fresh. But it's still Bond. Bond for the twenty-first century.