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Plot:
James Bond's first 007 mission takes him to Madagascar, where he is to spy on a terrorist Mollaka. Not everything goes as planned and Bond decides to investigate, independently of the MI6 agency, in o...( read more 
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Casino Royale Recent Reviews
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Recent Reviews
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MCT:November 21, 2008It's ok. Daniel Craig makes a GREAT bond and Eva Green is Bond's best, most talented and sexiest co-star in a long long time (certainly blows Halle Berry out of the water), but the film dragged on for what seemed to be an eternity.
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MCT:November 21, 2008
Too bad. I'd heard great things about this, but I was a bit disappointed. This was quite possibly the most uneven movie I've ever seen. The fact that this was supposed to be a prequel of sorts - set in 2006? - bugged me. Craig was okay, nothing truly spectacular here, but he did the role justice. I was, however, unimpressed with the lacklustre script and cheesy Bond trademarks like the chases that last 20 minutes and the ridiculously obvious ending. I was confused most of the way through, but I gave it an extra half star for Craig's B-E-A-uuuutiful eyes. I just wish he didn't pout like he was a model or something. Bravo to Judi Dench for added some much needed sparkle. Well, better luck next time.
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MCT:November 19, 2008"Any thug can kill. I need you to take your ego out of the equation."
Casino Royale denotes the 21st official entry to the James Bond cinematic pantheon (three unofficial Bond films are also in existence - two earlier versions of Casino Royale, and another version of Thunderball entitled Never Say Never Again with Sean Connery). To the die-hard 007 aficionados, 2002's somewhat atrocious Die Another Day indicated the immediate death of James Bond. The film wasn't warmly received in spite of grossing $450 million at the international box office. As a consequence, EON productions returned to the drawing board to devise an alternative strategy to re-invent Bond and rescue the filmic franchise that had endured for forty years.
During the four-year space between Die Another Day and 2006's Casino Royale, EON must've noticed the remarkably successful Batman Begins - a reboot of the Batman cinematic franchise, resurrecting a character that had died in the unspeakably appalling Batman & Robin. EON productions had acquired the rights to Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel - Casino Royale - and ultimately opted to take the opportunity to reboot the Bond cinematic franchise. From the outset, the objective was to offer a far more compelling, brutal antihero and a faithful embodiment of the Ian Fleming character.
Back in 1995, the world beheld a modernised James Bond in GoldenEye (arguably the best in the franchise since Goldfinger). Directed by Martin Campbell and starring Pierce Brosnan in the title role, the film successfully transplanted the classic character to a post-Cold War setting. It re-ignited the Bond series which alas subsequently died again with Die Another Day. EON productions were desperate for the Bond film franchise to continue, and their last hope was Casino Royale. Quentin Tarantino had expressed interest in helming an adaptation of Fleming's novel, however his wish was denied. Instead Martin Campbell was chosen to direct (as he had effectively resurrected the series once beforehand), and Daniel Craig was selected as James Bond.
Casino Royale has been described as the most faithful cinematic appropriation of an Ian Fleming 007 novel. Gone is the suave womanising, the endearing one-liners, the charm and the fascinating gadgets. Sure, the creators wanted the series to be closer to the Ian Fleming novels, but following forty years of the appealing "Classic Movie Bond" formula it frankly feels like too little, too late. Throughout the early 21st century the world was introduced to numerous action heroes barely individual from one another. Craig's rougher Bond fails to differentiate himself in the field of action heroes today. What originally set Bond apart from the rest was his style, his wit, the sex and the class... All of which has vanished. In addition to paying attention to Batman Begins as a way to revive a classic franchise, it seems EON also noticed the smartest espionage action-thrillers ever made - the Jason Bourne series. To keep Bond alive for a modern generation, Bond has been transformed into an emotionless thug - a fundamental clone of Jason Bourne (interestingly, Gary Powell is responsible for the stunts in The Bourne Ultimatum after he was hired for this film). Yes, this is Fleming's Bond, but it's lacking a compelling story. The emotionless Jason Bourne movies work because of the story that keeps viewers engaged. In this case, the mishmash of a brutal thug with a flippant Bond narrative is jarring. It lacks the charming "Film Bond" elements, and therefore fails to emerge as separate from the Bourne series.
Casino Royale also lulls a tad too much with its emaciated plot flattened out into an action/adventure film with a distinct lack of momentum. Towards the end of its 140-minute runtime it contains a number of anticlimaxes that go on forever. The subdued villainy (more of a fault of Fleming's novel...but it's still a fault carried over to the film) is less interesting and less menacing. Casino Royale could have been far worse, but it also could've been far better.
"I have no armour left. You've stripped it from me. Whatever is left of me - whatever is left of me - whatever I am - I'm yours."
As for the film's plot, James Bond (Craig) has just earned his Double-0 status. At MI6, M (Dench) sees Bond's potential and is aware that he's the best card player in the service. Bond is sent to the Casino Royale in Montenegro to play a high-stakes poker game against Le Chiffre (Mikkelsen); a banker to the world's terrorists. If Bond wins and bankrupts Le Chiffre, it will destroy his terrorist organisation. M places Bond under the vigilant eye of the beguiling Vesper Lynd (Green).
Fleming's Casino Royale novel isn't as sexy, tense or action-packed as the other jazzier Bond novels. Apart from the obligatory action scenes (of which are very limited) all Bond needs to do is play cards and win. The premise just isn't as strong as the other Bond films/novels.
Typical Bond screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade are joined by Paul Haggis; a man responsible for Crash and Million Dollar Baby. The script works well throughout the kinetic first half in particular. However, at times during the second half there are moments of dialogue entirely improper in a Bond setting. The film even alludes to Macbeth! It may seem clever to insert Oscar-winning moments of drama, but in an action/adventure movie it doesn't work...it's cringe-worthy.
There are incalculable other flaws in the screenplay. For example, the novel approach of gritty realism is abandoned during moments that are utterly preposterous. Bond is shown as a vulnerable human, yet it'd be impossible for anyone to survive some parts of the furious action scenes. For example: at a time during the opening foot-chase he falls onto a metal surface before rolling onto the ground. If he was "human" he'd have fractured a rib or two. And Bond runs almost non-stop during the opening chase. No matter how fit he is no-one can run for that long. The most substantial insult to the realism approach is the combined fault of the screenwriters and those behind the camera. A car swerves to avoid hitting someone, consequently rolling around in the air several times. It's physically impossible for any car to dance around in the air like that in this certain context. Bond also survives this massive car wreck. If he was "human" he'd have broken a few bones and his organs would be in trouble. But no - a few scratches is all suffers. Uh huh...
"Arrogance and self-awareness seldom go hand in hand."
In tradition with the Bond films, the location filming (Italy, Montenegro, Bahamas, England, Czech Republic) is striking. Director Martin Campbell is masterful at setting the required atmosphere. For the amazing pre-title sequence there's a moody atmosphere. Casino Royale is one of the gloomiest Bond films in existence, containing much blood, brutal punches and a high body count. The violence has a more British neo-noir spark to it. The film is even reportedly the first in the franchise to feature rain. The action scenes rattle along at a furious pace, and the card-playing (while excessively dragged out to monotony) is lensed with consummate dexterity. The stunts are utterly superb. All the fights (reminiscent of Jason Bourne) are brutal, rough and riveting. To accompany this, David Arnold's exhilarating score radically accelerates the pacing. There are a few miscalculations with the action, unfortunately; the collapsing building in Venice is a gimmick too far in an emotional finale which would play better without all the noise.
"I'm sorry. That last hand... nearly killed me."
Most controversial during the film's production period was Daniel Craig as James Bond. He's a wooden, stiff, emotionless assemblage of muscles. In this single movie alone he spends more time with his shirt off than any other actor portraying the role combined! To be honest he looks like a slightly ham-fisted attempt at woodworking. Craig's head is a rough cube, sawed and sanded, with the blue eyes hammered in like nail heads. He looks right at home handling the action scenes and beating opponents to a pulp, but he occasionally falters while delivering dialogue. Also, when the writers offer him humour to deliver, he sounds forced.
As the sixth actor to play James Bond in the official films, Craig doesn't have the ruggedness or cheek of Sean Connery, the charming dapperness of Roger Moore, nor the playful and debonair grace of Pierce Brosnan. But his portrayal is superior to the less popular Timothy Dalton and George Lazenby. Casino Royale is expected to be the first of three or four Bond adventures featuring Daniel Craig as the beloved spy.
Eva Green is outstandingly beautiful and impossibly well-dressed as the Bond girl of the picture. Judi Dench immediately won the heart of Bond fans when she debuted as M in 1995's GoldenEye. To be honest, M seems pretty useless here. She begs Bond to stop his silly investigation before begging for his help. M is quite poorly written in the film. Jeffrey Wright features as 007's traditional CIA contact, Felix Leiter. A black Felix may appear somewhat peculiar to some, but Wright is just right for the part (excuse the pun) and is spot-on believable. Mads Mikkelsen is barely menacing, nor is he remarkable as the film's primary villain. Memorable villains are a necessity for Bond films, but Mikkelsen's Le Chiffre is tragically underwhelming. This is a fault of adhering to the original Fleming novel. Whatever makes the novel enthusiasts happy, I suppose.
Overall, Casino Royale is a decent action-adventure film and a solid revitalisation of everyone's favourite British secret agent. The film stalls and is indeed too long at about 140 minutes (the longest in the franchise's history), and there's a sappy lacklustre section towards the film's conclusion, but at least there's sufficient time for character exploration and the action is predominantly amazing."The name's Bond... James Bond." -
MCT:November 19, 2008Daniel Craig has done more with Bond in this single film than Roger Moore did in all seven of his films put together.
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MCT:November 19, 2008
Very sub-par bond film. Didn't see the point of making him into a typical tough guy as there are plenty of different characters in other films that achieve the same thing. This bond just had no class at all! Also I don't think I will ever recognzise Craig as bond as out of all the potential Actors that could have played that role he was one of the worser choices. But apart from that fact this was just a very decent thriller, but nowhere near as good as the stylish Goldeneye.
Comments
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philton61posted 172 days ago -
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for all da haters out der dis movies is fantastic don't hate cause aint him lol suckers
posted 391 days ago -
Muhaha, just recieved this in the post this movie on Blu-ray Disc :)
posted 466 days ago -
Daniel Craig isn't as suave for a reason you fucking idiot. He was TOLD to act like that.
posted 476 days ago -
i didnt like this bond at all...it shouldve been Clive Owen as Bond...and that Eva Green was the worst Bond Girl i ever did see...god gouge my eyes out so i dont have to watch this again....i mean the only two good things about this bond was his eyes and his body...but he has a monkey looking head!!
posted 480 days ago -
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OMG. How much action do you need? The film was full of it. LMFAO!
posted 496 days ago
