Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Casino Royale, Finally the Real Bond
I've seen it twice and I'm still giddy about it. It is the first Bond Film that stays true to the book.
Ian Feming, one of the creators of England's real spy network in WWII, introduced the world to the spy network he helped create with his first novel, Casino Royale. This film introduces Ian Fleming's genius to movie viewers.
All through my first viewing of the film, my mind was so trained to the Bond film formula, I was certain I missed key points of the plot. Nothing about this film follows that formula.
Here's some key differences:
Ian Feming, one of the creators of England's real spy network in WWII, introduced the world to the spy network he helped create with his first novel, Casino Royale. This film introduces Ian Fleming's genius to movie viewers.
All through my first viewing of the film, my mind was so trained to the Bond film formula, I was certain I missed key points of the plot. Nothing about this film follows that formula.
Here's some key differences:
- There's plenty of action and violence, but none of the trite quips after someone is killed.
- There's no ridiculous stunts- well, maybe a couple- but at no time are you forced to suspend belief in order to make the scene work.
- The women are pretty, but hardly playboy material- and there's none of the typical Bond sex scenes.
- After a chase, Bond drips with sweat and his clothes are ruined.
- After a fight, Bond's knuckles are swollen and bruised- as is his face... and his clothes actually look like he's been in a fight.
- There's a real mystery and plenty of twists.
- There's no super human bad guys- just a network of truly evil terrorists.
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I agree. Although, I'll have to point out that Ian Flemings' books had some pretty graphic sex scenes. There's a really graphic nude scene at the beginning of From Russia with Love which wasn't depicted in the movie.
Another great thing about the Bond girl in this one. It's not someone that's super-famous. All of the older Bond girls were made from the Bond flicks. While Eva Green isn't what you call... a no-name actress, she's played more artsy roles in smaller films.
Of course, as a Bond fan, I'm curious as to if people know that there was already a Casino Royale made a long time ago. It was a spoof Bond, but Bond nonetheless.
There's also the one where Bond is married in Her Majesty's Secret Service.
Another great thing about the Bond girl in this one. It's not someone that's super-famous. All of the older Bond girls were made from the Bond flicks. While Eva Green isn't what you call... a no-name actress, she's played more artsy roles in smaller films.
Of course, as a Bond fan, I'm curious as to if people know that there was already a Casino Royale made a long time ago. It was a spoof Bond, but Bond nonetheless.
There's also the one where Bond is married in Her Majesty's Secret Service.
DM- In the previous Bonds, the sex scenes were as ridiculous as the stunts. In the books, they're...well... more in tune with the story. Bond is a Playboy in the books, no doubt.
I think, like you, I'm such a huge fan of Bond and the whole genre, when a movie like this one is really good, I love it all the more.
PS- The second time I viewed it, the poker scenes set up the plot, without it, the twists would never occur. I agree it is stupid to think the US and GB would foil the plot of terror funding with a poker game. But I liked how the scene revealed so much of each character in the story, not the least of which- the bad guy.
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I think, like you, I'm such a huge fan of Bond and the whole genre, when a movie like this one is really good, I love it all the more.
PS- The second time I viewed it, the poker scenes set up the plot, without it, the twists would never occur. I agree it is stupid to think the US and GB would foil the plot of terror funding with a poker game. But I liked how the scene revealed so much of each character in the story, not the least of which- the bad guy.
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