Bourne Again: The Bond Identity

Rating: 8/10 (21 November 2006)

Yes, they had no choice but to get serious about rejuvenating the Bond series: say what you will about Damon's franchise, the DVD sales of "Bourne Identity" were through-the-roof, and Pierce Brosnan's employers had to see the writing on the wall.
Suffice it to say, the New Bond is equally as brutal but not as real-world as the "Bourne" series... Yet the competition is definitely in play: "Casino Royale" is both the best Bond movie since the 1960s, and also the most faithful to its source book since ... maybe ever? Although "Casino Royale" feels slightly too long, it's a minor quibble with such a banquet of what's good about it: an adult relationship with substance (again, forced via competition with "Bourne"), a fantastic foot-chase as good as any car chase (although does anybody else miss the pre-CGI days where stunts really were real?), Craig's acting (best since Sean, believe it) hits the perfect (purist, gritty) tone, some excellent twists... all that's missing is a classic theme song for the ages.
So the question is: what would Ian Fleming think of this new tough, brutal Bond? None of us can honestly answer that question, but for Bond fans, the next Daniel Craig Bond cannot come soon enough.
On a personal note, I can't let go of "Bourne," partially because Bourne is truly real-world, and he's a hunted character as well -- the stakes are always higher for Bourne than for Bond. But I'm hoping that the scriptwriting & directorial craftsmanship stays high for the next Bond, because Bond's an elder statesman of the genre and has a respected place.
I could do without the RFID audience-conditioning bullshit, however.