James Bond and Felix Leiter ponder their chip stacks in Casino Royale. (photo: IMDB)
I went to see Casino Royale with my family and relatives this evening in Houston, TX. Everyone with the exception of my mother and brother are loyal 007 fans. Meaning specifically that the rest of us have seen all of the movies while acknowledging that Never Say Never Again is not really a Bond film. The cable channel Spike has been good enough to re-run some of the old classics so we were definitely in the mood to see it.
The film was overwhelming for most of us. The action was too intense for the “seniors” and admittedly a shift from the previous films. This Bond film is probably closer to Ian Fleming’s narratives and character but is a big departure from the cinematic character of James Bond. No longer is Bond the charmer, quick-witted and likeable secret agent. Daniel Craig’s protrayal has shifted Bond into a post 9/11 cold blooded killer who “apparently” is easy on the eyes for women (and some men). Yeah…he must work out.
So I believe this may have been too much of a change for James Bond. I missed the charming ladies man and the comic relief scenes - most notably the banter between 007 and Q (recently R) over the crazy gadgets. No gadgets, no Walter PPKs and apparently Bond could give a damn if his vodka martini is shaken or stirred. At least an Aston Martin DB5 made a cameo…
However, this movie might play better if - and this is what I’m hearing - this is a complete re-boot of the James Bond franchise. If that’s true, than Casino Royale will serve better in the context of an origin story: an unrefined Bond, rough on the edges, who hasn’t learned all the tricks of the trade.
Oh, Chris Cornell’s theme song sucked. Really sucked. Duran Duran have been the only men that ever did a Bond theme song justice and such as that I think it should be left to the ladies to sex it up. I’m thinking the internet rumor mongers had it correct when they suggested that Goldfrapp would be doing the theme song. Perhaps Allison will get a shot at the next one.
Either way, I’ve suffered through enough horrible Bond movies to welcome this one to the family. Like children in the family, I love all of them for their own virtues and faults. Never Say Never Again being the exception, of course.
I was just listening to Kasabian - L.S.F (Lost Souls Forever)