Share
As a fanatical fan of Ian Fleming's 007 series, I approached the highly anticipated "Casino Royale" with some trepidation. After the floundering franchise was rejuvenated in 1995 by "Goldeneye," the sequels once again grew increasingly irrelevant and over-the-top. The most recent film, "Die Another Day," was nearly unbearable. Among other absurdities, it featured an invisible car— to go along with the invisible plotline and invisible box office returns.
Following that failure, Sony Pictures decided the way to get this franchise back on track was to make Pierce Brosnan disappear. They then bet the house that a new 007, Daniel Craig, could breathe life into the dying franchise. They were right.
"Casino Royale," based on the very first Bond novel written by Fleming, introduces the audience to James Bond (Daniel Craig) before he becomes a 00 agent. Bond's first assignment is to spy on Le Chiffre (Mads Mikklesen), a banker who funds international terrorists.
When it is discovered that Le Chiffre, a mathematical genius, is placing his funds in a high stakes poker tournament in Montenegro, MI6 places Bond undercover to win the game and take Le Chiffre's funds.
Bond is placed under the watchful eye of Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), a beautiful but no-nonsense MI6 agent in control of his funds for the game. As the stakes grow higher and the game gets out of control, Bond is forced to put his new license to kill to good use in order to save Lynd and recover the money.
By now anybody with a TV has seen this film advertised as the "Best Bond movie yet!" and Craig as "The best Bond ever!" Sadly, this just isn't true. This isn't the best Bond film ever, (Goldfinger) and Craig isn't the best Bond. Any adult male on the planet can tell you who the best Bond is (hint: not Timothy Dalton). Furthermore, a comparison of any subsequent Bond to said actor is insulting. Actors who play Bond are judged only in how they compare to the original, the best, and if they can even come close then that is an achievement. Luckily, Craig comes close.
The good news is that not being the best doesn't mean this film isn't incredible. And this film is just that – incredible.
The producers of this film stripped down the series and went back to Bond's roots in this gritty action flick. Taking a cue from the massive success of "Batman Begins," they created a Bond prequel that is darker and more realistic than its extravagant predecessors.
The complex gadgetry, endless witticisms, and melodramatic villains are all gone. They are replaced by a brilliant script, riveting action, a deeply conflicted Bond, and something new to the 007 franchise – a love story with real consequences.
That's right, Vesper Lynd is more than just another Bond girl. She is a fully realized character whose love affair with Bond offers a rare insight into how 007 develops into the womanizing, emotionally detached killer we all know and love.
Craig plays a James Bond that is dark, unpolished, and most surprisingly of all, vulnerable. He certainly lacks Brosnan's charm, but his reckless demeanor and physical presence are well suited for this new, harder hitting Bond.
Leave a comment 0 Comments Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.