Best Bond Ever

Rating: 10/10 (11 January 2007)

I've seen every Bond film at least ten times (thanks to TBS, Spike, et all over the years) and so I feel assured when I declare that this is the best of all the Bond films. Having read the novel, I must say that it is an excellent adaptation, for it retains the elements that made the first Bond adventure such a draw, while discarding all of the pulpy, misogynistic and poorly structured plotting of Fleming's original tale. In the novel, women are presented as the antithesis of men, weak, scheming and needy. There is even a Biblical theme that women are the root of all mankind's (and Bond's) problems. The third act of the book is a joke, dragging on and on with atrocious dialogue (look to the conversation towards the end of the book where Vesper suggests everyone is like an island, to which Bond coyly replies that maybe their islands should meet and they could form a peninsula. That was in the book, cross my heart and hope to die!) The film places the story in a contemporary setting, fills it out with more action and humanizes Bond in a way that is somehow true to the character of the previous films and novels, but manages to update him and make him more compelling for modern audiences. Craig is perfectly suited to the role. It's delightful to note that the film is dead serious, but doesn't take itself overly seriously. I love Brosnan, but rewatch any of his films and you'll find yourself zoning out periodically because the films were so convoluted and seemed to constantly be crying out "We're serious! See, we mention politics and go to thirty locations and have three girls, etc etc". They're such a sensory overload. Casino Royale is a welcome departure. It has a narrative that is leaner, more focused, and overall, much more interesting because you care about the characters. Eva Green is the best bond girl ever, without question. She is both sexy and intelligent, and her character has believable motives. Madds Mikkelsen makes for an arresting and charismatic opponent, and Judi Dench is able to flesh out her role more thoroughly almost than Bernard Lee, the original M. The script is the best, the characters are the most explored, and Craig is the best bond of any in the series. It may take a while for some of the die-hards to realize this, but after they find themselves watching this movie over and over instead of returning to The World is Not Enough or Diamonds Are Forever, they'll realize that it is the Zenith of Bondian entertainment, and they'll eagerly anticipate the nest installment for the first time in a long time. I know I am.