Casino Royale

Jay Maidment/Sony Pictures

Before there was Ethan Hunt, Jason Bourne, there was Bond, James Bond. Amid all the controversies, manufactured or not, Casino Royale is opening to pretty good reviews. And Daniel Craig seems to be on his way to quiet his critics. I have yet to see the movie to form an opinion.

UPDATE:

I did see the movie.

It was good but not as good as I wanted it to be. It's definitely more physical than the previous Bond movies I remember. I am not a Bond fan so my memory of Bond is pretty limited to Brosnan. I remember in Die Another Day, the special effect in which Bond kind of "snowboarded" his way to safety really made me laugh. The special effect was awful and out of place with the whole Bond's franchise. Right there, Bond lost its credibility. Craig's Bond, if anything, put some serious muscle and action back to this old franchise. Craig, more than once, showed off his physique on screen, which I must say, almost reminds me of the young Arnold Schwarzenegger (okay, may be two sizes smaller but you got the idea). The first half of the movie got some awesome actions despite a bit mindless but not so much toward the second half. The second half Bond plays the 007 version of The God of Gamblers or Du Shen (1989) minus the Hong Kong style of humor, sort of, okay maybe not Du Shen as there's no cheating, it's just that it involves high stake card games and bluffing.

Daniel Craig is not Piere Brosnan, he is just another Bond, James Bond.

For who: People who like action and excitement. Children: The film is rated PG-13, so don't expect anything seriously adult. But I won't bring any 7 years old to see it. It has a ball whacking torture scene that involves a very naked 007. If you are into outlandish gizmo and gadgets, invisible car anyone? Then this one is not for you. The only gadget in the movie is a cardiac defibrillator.

UPDATE:

How could I not mention the very lovely Eva Green? She plays Bond's love interest in the movie. I think the New York Times says something to the extent that she proves that her talent is bigger than her breasts. Considered that a compliment. I must say I didn't know she starred in Bertolucci's softporn Dreamers (2003), I didn't see it as I was not sold to this arty farty kind of movie anymore, if I saw it I must have remembered her. She is probably the only Bond girl who appeared totally nude in a major motion picture prior to casting as a Bond girl. This being a work-safe blog, I am not going to link to her arty soft-porn stills from Dreamers. I may just need to check out Dreamers just so I can better understand her body ... of works.