Jaded by 007

Rating: 8/10 (29 November 2006)

I don't know if I can give a fair critic of Casino Royal since I must confess I feel significantly jaded by my own fan-hood of 007 through the years. It started of course with Connery's portrayal of Bond which set the iconic standard and which was such a big part of my movie childhood. He's always been my favorite Bond. Having said that, I like to consider myself open to change especially if it's in a character's portrayal that brings it closer to the author's original creation.
I also very much enjoyed Daniel Craig's performance in Layer Cake and knew beforehand that I would enjoy him as bond regardless of the varying differences personality and body type to previous Bond heroes. Craig to me has more of a street fighter roughness than the tall dark & handsome stereo-types of Bond movie history, sort of like Jason Statham, who is really great in The Transporter I & II. This is good but I did find a certain dichotomy missing in the character that I enjoy in Connery's films which is a cool sophisticated demeanor in contrast to the physical take control ability. Although in Casino Royal it's there in the script, I didn't feel the same smooth aloofness during the non-action segments with Daniel Craig. Craig is unquestionably cool under pressure but it's more of a pensive stiff-upper-lip sort of cool. Again on the other hand it would be difficult to ask for more in terms of his action performance. On that score he serves up very high marks.
It just occurred to me that I could go on & on making comparisons between Craig and Connery which I think in the end is probably a waste of time because it's just apples & oranges. But it IS all Bond and every Bond fan should experience this newest incarnation.
What about the storyline? It's an appropriate theme reflecting present day issues. British Secret Service is trying to track down the original source of big money used to support worldwide terrorism and put the bloodhound Bond on the trail. But for me as I imagine it is with many Bond fans, the plot was always secondary to the particulars such as the way Bond would execute the improbable and extricate himself from dire situations. Casino Royal will most likely satisfy on both counts. Go see it!
Oh yea, and I am still a fan of the 1967 silly version!