A Bloody Good Show, Mr. Craig

Rating: 8/10 (27 November 2006)

The charm of James Bond films have mostly eluded me over the course of my 31 years. In fact, I've only seen one other as far as I can recall ("Octopussy" -- and by the way, how did that movie ever get released with THAT title?) and I remember virtually nothing about it. I don't think I'm missing much. From the isolated moments I've been able to catch on T.V. here and there, Bond movies look pretty awful -- not, mind you, awful in the tongue-and-cheek, isn't-this-fun kind of way, but awful in the I-wonder-what-else-is-on-T.V.-right-now kind of way.
Well, Daniel Craig may make me a Bond convert, at least for the next few films. "Casino Royale" is a blast -- it's an action-packed adrenaline jolt of a movie, full of beautiful people and beautiful locales, and it's a testament to its ability to entertain that I didn't once look at my watch during its 144 minute running time.
Daniel Craig looks like a bulldog, runs like the terminator, and has steely blue eyes that usually match the color of whatever body of water he happens to be standing in front of at the moment. The moment he appears on screen, you get the sense that he's out to quash once and for all all of the naysayers out there who assume that he'll make a lousy Bond. And boy does he. He could take on Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan at the same time with both hands tied behind his back. Sean Connery maybe would give him a run for his money, but I suspect Craig would still pummel him severely. As for his sex appeal, I'll leave that to the ladies to assess, but if my wife's reaction to Craig's entrance half way through the film in a tuxedo is any indication, he's not lacking in that department either.
It's almost laughable how regressive these movies are. Women are treated as nothing more than objects to either seduce or save, and Bond usually refers to the lead female in this as nothing more than "the girl." I bet feminists hate James Bond.
Grade: A-