It IS enjoyable and yet....

Rating: 8/10 (12 January 2007)

I have given this film 8 because it IS enjoyable- but unfortunately I didn't see it in English!! -so I don't have a clue what it was about!! I also think that Craig did come across-visually at least- as a real character.... Yet the criticisms of this film are valid My private belief is that Ian Fleming needing money got the idea for Bond from Cary Grants image -intelligent without being pretentously intellectual,fearless and a man of action yet always a gentleman-full of ironic laid back humour-a perfect example of an idealised British gentleman.... This image actually realised so perfectly by Sean Connery and maintained through the series has now been changed to accommodate changing times and more violent attitudes. The producers have discovered in Daniel Craig a superb example of an actor far more similar to any real James bond -if they in fact existed-and curiously its this that made the film surprisingly realistic. The fact is that Craig with his pointy ratlike face,sticky out ears small head and unsmiling hard expression is exactly like the many real brave British soldiers who joined the elite Commando Brigades in WW2.These men were often from working class backhand's and were trained as ruthless silent killers on special operations.Looking at Craig I was reminded of a well known character actor-Sam Kydd who looked like him and appeared in many British war films .... Yet where is the Cary Grant bit? I certainly didn't detect any trace visually...but who wants that kind of smooth sophisticated lifestyle and ironic humour today? The audience for these films is late teens and early twenties so I feel the producers have probably found the right man ...Only one thing might spoil the party...Bonds have always appealed to women...Will this new fellow produce the same attraction? The jury is I think still out on this one...I wonder...but perhaps the producers are clever...the next film may see Craig doing the full Cary Grant/Connery thing once again...perhaps he will even comb his hair....