Fantastic Bond for the 21st Century

Rating: 10/10 (22 November 2006)

I loved this movie and have seen in twice already! I'm happy I can watch Bond again. I loved Sean Connery so much that all Bonds since have paled in comparison and I stopped seeing the movies when Roger Moore was Bond. Just too stupid to sit through. But Daniel Craig IS Bond not only because he's the Bond that Flemming wrote, but because he brings this gritty, physical toughness that's so sexy and compelling. I loved the fighting, his blood-drenched shirts, his sweating and constant movement. The franchise had gotten tired and needed an infusion of new blood and I commend the film makers on all of their choices. The titles are beautiful, the music contemporary, the women smart. M was more human and not just an initial with one scene. The dated gadgets of Q were gone and the scene where Bond gets poisoned and almost dies when the defibrillator disconnects was one of the most exciting I've ever seen. The writers had an awesome task and they did a great job. They had to keep millions of fans happy, introduce a new Bond who wasn't well-received in the beginning and pull all future Bond films into the 21st century. I think they achieved what they set out to do. There are people who have complained about the film being dark and not fun. I disagree. I think the fun comes from the edginess and depth (relative depth, it was still an action flick after all!) and from the fun it makes of itself. The new Bond, when asked if he wants his martini shaken or stirred, says "Do I look like I give a damn?" A clever way to say goodbye to the old Bond and hello to the new.