Movie Review: "Casino Royale"
Category: Movies...
Posted Friday, November 17, 2006 at 04:52 PM [GMT-6]

[No spoilers]

We caught the first matinée of the "new" James Bond movie, Casino Royale. I can't remember the first movie with that title, which was released in 1967, but it's just as well since it wasn't really a part of the franchise that most of us are familiar with.

As you no doubt know by now, this incarnation supposedly takes us back to the beginning of Bond's career. He's just achieved "double-0" status (presumably he was a single digit intern of some sort up to now), which means he gets to kill with impunity, and in a way, he becomes the Dwight Schrute of Her Majesty's Secret Service, taking his new responsibilities quite seriously.

Actually, the movie starts off with a great chase scene with nary an Aston-Martin -- or any other sports car, for that matter -- in sight. It made me look forward to Spiderman 3, due for release next May, according to the trailer. But that's neither here nor there. Daniel Craig makes a passable Bond, but he's no Sean. His debonair needs serious evolving at this point, but I suppose he'll grow into the role.

It was odd, however, to watch what was supposed to be the beginning of his career being played out in the current time, along with all the current gadgets and technology (and related product placements, most Sony, Sony-Ericsson, Ford, Range Rover, and, of course, Aston-Martin). But this Bond doesn't rely on gadgetry to the same extent as we've seen in many of the other 007 films...and that's not really a bad thing. There is one rather shocking display of technology, but I promised no spoilers so I'll leave it at that.

I'm being awfully coy about this, aren't I? OK, I'll cut to the chase. This is an entertaining movie, generally predictable but with a few unexpected twists, and just enough humor to keep it from being ponderous. The new/old Bond is far from infallible, not exceptionally suave, and the action is often riveting and only occasionally dumb. The one exception is an interminable high stakes poker game, but we can't really dispense with it because the whole plot turns around it. I apologize to you poker fans, but I can't work myself into an edge-of-the-seat frenzy over a card game. Fortunately, they took enough breaks to keep things lively.

I did miss the traditional 007 opening credits (you know what I mean), and I'll save you the trouble of trying to deal with the inevitable effects of a large soft drink and a two hour movie by telling you that nothing happens during or after the closing credits.

If you're a fan of the series, or if you have a hankering for some movie popcorn, this is as good a way as any to spend a couple of hours. We liked it; I think you will, too.

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Comments

How about if it were a game of dominoes? Or is that "dominos?" Would that up the rating slightly?

My randomly generated license plate # is NXT007...I think that's kind of cool. ;-)

Posted by: Gwynne at November 17, 2006 07:06 PM

Probably not dominoes, but maybe if it was a game of chickenfoot. Nothing more exciting than chickenfoot.

Did you pick "dominoes" because of the character in "Live and Let Die"?

Next 007, huh? Then you'll love "Casinĝ Royale." The heroine (sort of) is an accountant!

[Note: "Casinĝ" is a bad word, according to my spam filter.]

Posted by: Eric at November 17, 2006 08:06 PM

The original Casin0 Royal movie ;-) was a dandy romp, full of pretty girls and the glorious Deborah Kerr. But the best thing about the movie was the sound track. I had the LP (that's a vinyl long-playing record for you downy birds), but lost it somewhere along the way. The music embodies the best of the 60s.

Posted by: Deborah at November 17, 2006 11:13 PM

I am at odds with myself over this - on one hand, I love the Bond movies, generally - heck, I even found something to salvage from Timothy Dalton's performances. On the other hand, Craig? Bleh.

I thought Bond preferred Baccarat to p0ker...but what do I know?

I'll more than likely see it at some point, but I'm guessing that point will involve PPV.

Posted by: beth at November 18, 2006 08:04 AM

I am the die-hard Connery fan.

There is only ONE Bond. The rest are cheap imitations.

Posted by: Cowtown Pattie at November 18, 2006 09:09 PM

The music to that old Casin0 Royale was as camp as the movie itself. It starred David Niven as Bond (actually, I think everyone in the movie plays 007)! And check out the cast, including Woody Allen as a villain. "It looks like an aspirin, tastes like an aspirin..." His nefarious plan was to kill everyone in the world who was taller than him.

A big funny mess.

It was actually the first Bond movie I saw (by accident, on TV when I was a kid).

Posted by: Jim at November 19, 2006 07:52 PM

Dang, I had a link in there to the cast at IMDB. Let's try again.

Posted by: Jim at November 19, 2006 07:54 PM

And my suggestion of dominoes was because of your recent family reunion post. You give me too much credit if you think I knew that a prior Bond character was a "bones" enthusiast. ;-)

Posted by: Gwynne at November 20, 2006 10:31 AM

Well, I was sure that one of the perceptive Gazette readers would point out my error in referring to that character as "Domino," when in fact she was "Solitaire." ;-)

[In my defense, both would be equally scintillating to watch on-screen.]

Posted by: Eric at November 20, 2006 10:42 AM

I'm in no danger of seeing the movie, my wife has no interest (or make that a negative interest) in James Bond.
The one thing that strikes me about Craig is that he's rather homely. Maybe he has the debonair, but I just can't see him as being the sort of guy that women fall all over.
Am I being unfair?

Posted by: soccer dad at November 21, 2006 04:11 PM

Am I being unfair?

I'll assume that question is being directed toward the Gazette's female readers. I don't presume to have a clue as to what kind of guy women will fall for. It's obviously something other than looks, or else I'd still be unmarried. ;-)

As much as I like Sean Connery as an actor, I never thought he was the most handsome guy in the world.

Posted by: Eric at November 21, 2006 04:22 PM

I heard that if OJ played the part of James Bond they would have to call it/him and the movie OOOJ since he killed three people.

Posted by: Becky at November 23, 2006 09:17 PM
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