21st Century Bond

Rating: 8/10 (28 November 2006)

I began reading Fleming's Bond series in 1959 when I was 14 and could not wait until the next book was released. I read them more or less in order, beginning with Casino Royale, written in 1953. "Dr. No" and "From Russia with Love" were adequate representations of the novels and Connery was an excellent choice for Bond. "Goldfinger" was a thrill ride (I was 18 when it was released). "Thunderball" moved back towards adequate.
When Roger Moore (known around the trade as a 'clothes horse')appeared, I dropped out and didn't really get back into enjoying Bond until Pierce Brosnon reclaimed some of the aloof and sexy mysteriousness of Connery's and Fleming's original.
Still, all the Bonds prior to Craig were - in my mind - a little too polished and sophisticated, as if they had know luxury all their lives. Fleming's Bond was from a scruffier beginning, had a harder edge, and had discovered on his own, the luxuries he enjoyed. Craig's extemporaneous drink order at the casino table was Fleming's idea of who Bond is. The drink was made up on the spot, but Bond said later in the film, he liked it. Craig, except for a nit about hair color, is as close to my idea of Fleming's Bond as any to-date.
The music was the usual over-the-top - I wish they'd just stay with the background theme. As for the plot... well, beyond the early films in the series, Bond directors have never shown much interest in the actual Fleming plots and why should they start now? The original post WWII plots do need some revamping in light of changing world events and trends, but the basic Fleming was good enough for the books and should I think - if ever done - would make pretty good Bond movies. I was grateful for the dispatch of Q and the hackneyed, unrealistic tools of the trade from past Bond films. This one had a few gadgets but mostly real technology.
As Bond goes into the future, lets hope he gets back to the basics and entertains more.
At a dinner party the day after we saw the film, my other half and her lady friends were talking in conspiratorial tones over dessert about the "new Bond" and his wonderful physique.
Let's hope Craig stays around for a while as a Bond for the new century. I think Fleming would have been pleased with this one.