So much different, so much excellent!

Rating: 10/10 (15 December 2006)

Last night saw the movie at a local theater. I am big James Bond fan, but about this movie was totally skeptic, when saw picture of Daniel Craig. I was fist time great disappointed, when saw "Golden Eye" - new actor crew, new M, new Bond, new music composer...new everything, except the good old Q (everybody loves Q!) For me Bond was a legend, kind of superhero already and they made him look so casual and boring...until "Casino Royale".
This movie is very different from previous movies in few things: - Blond actor - Love story shown in much wider scope - Now even Q is gone! (damn!) - Theme song is not cabaret-style - it's rock. - Increasing amount of computer effects - Less impressive auto stunts - Decreased amount of gadgets - Spectacular human stunts (Yamakasi-guy)
I know this is much. But the movie is great anyway. Must say very very good one! A must see for every Bond fan!
Probably the most noticeable new thing is the much wider scope used to show the love story of Bond. The only thing coming to my mind to compare is "Star Wars Episode II" Anakin-Amidala love, just there is kinda boring (in my opinion), unlike "Casino Royale", where it is shown much more precise and in-depth, with great sense of detail - but not much - just as needed.
Second thing to notice: I am not impressed by the auto-stunts. Yes, spectacular, good, but not impressive as needed. Need something as the truck stunts in "License to kill" or Remi-Julien team stunts.
Very very good, actually great idea was the black Yamakasi stunt guy in the beginning of the movie (the one later killed in the embassy). I was wondering when Bond crew would come to the idea of using Yamakasi guys - they are so brilliant! Need more of them for next James Bond movie.
About the gadgets - there is no anything special, except very very few things. Everything else is Sony - all cell phones Sony-Ericsson, the laptop is Sony Vaio. I don't care much. Actually the other new things were so good and amusing, that did not noticed much the absence of laser-watches, hidden in car Stingers and everything else.
Music is wonderful. As big Bond fan I was expecting cabaret-style theme song, such as "Goldfinger" for example (one of the best Bond songs ever!! in my opinion). Of course this is not the first non-cabaret Bond theme song - for example A-ha's "Living Daylights" is another example, and there are more of them. But a rock song?! Must say I was surprised. The song is wonderful. Still listen to it. Performance should not be questioned - ex-Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell is doing great with this one.
The opening animation is very original idea. There is something similar and same time totally different from other Bond openings. Maybe because it is somehow not so traditional...no chicks too :) (very stylish anyway!) Reminds me of old computer games "Another World" and "Flashback" - same kind of graphics.
Things I really miss in Bond movies: - Desmond Llewelyn as Q - John Barry as main music composer - Better character development, especially for the bad guys (example: Jaws was great character, Goldfinger, Oddjob too, also Drax - there was something to remember about these characters) - Good theme songs - since "Golden Eye", I consider "The world is not enough"'s theme song as best (my all time favorite is still "Goldfinger"'s theme song)
I saw all Bond movies. Some more than once. I love them all. And love all songs. For me in general every new Bond movie is a holiday (as well as every new "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater" or similar ("Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer", "Wakeboarding Unleashed") computer game, but this is off-topic now). "Casino Royale" is a must-see for every Bond-fan. For non-Bond-fans this would be a very good spy-thriller, but I promise - no one would be disappointed.
This is one of the best Bond movies, hope more will follow.