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2012

 

Daniel Craig as James Bond

Eva Green as Vesper Lynd

Mads Mikkelson as le Chiffre

Judi Dench as M

Giancarlo Giannini as Mathis

Screenplay by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and Paul Haggis; Novel by Ian Fleming

Directed by Martin Campbell

 

“Everyone has a past. Every legend has a beginning. On November 17th, discover how James…became Bond.”

Is it the beginning, though? I guess it’s the beginning of his career as a 00 agent, but we don’t really see his true beginning. That’s a different movie.

The film opens in black-and-white, a quick scene that shows some of Bond’s (Craig, The Golden Compass, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider) skills—he can break into an office completely undetected, take the bullets out of his target’s gun, and kill two people without much effort (I guess the first one was more of a struggle than the second)—thus earning his 00 status. Then he’s in the Bahamas, trying his hand (feet?) at parkour, and finally lands in Montenegro, playing cards to stop a terrorist banker from winning and continuing his dastardly trade. True to form, Bond digs his female counterpart (Green, 300: Rise of an Empire; Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children), and learns more about the world than he wants to know.

I have NO problem with a blonde playing James Bond. Everyone was up in arms when Daniel Craig was announced as the successor to the series, but I think this film shut up all the haters. Who cares what color his hair is?! He’s probably more physically gifted to do these crazy stunts than any of the other Bonds. This is a great film, and a fantastic opening to the Craig years. Why?

  • The opening scene is incredible. It’s edge-of-your-seat, high-speed craziness. Climbing cranes, launching off of the crane onto a building, racing around an embassy. And then Bond gets yelled at. So great. Dumb guy.
  • The poker game. I’ve never felt so stressed out watching other people play cards. There are some cool characters around the table, too.
  • James nearly dying, then Vesper restarting his heart. Oof. Go take a nap, dude.
  • Gorgeous city, horrific end to a character. James really gets cold after this.
  • Miami—Body Worlds. I got to see this exhibition at the Arizona Science Center a few years ago, and it was A.MA.ZING. Plastinated bodies are really freaking cool, and I love that it managed to be incorporated in a major film. Personal connections mean a lot.

I’ve seen this a few times since the last time I wrote about it; see my previous review from March 2014 to see me eat my words about Eva Green in particular. There’s no way this movie doesn’t make the Top 5 of any list; it’s too good. I give Casino Royale the #4 spot on my list.

Bond rating: 007. Wow. The sharp intake of breath when he steps out of the ocean was heard around the globe on premiere night. He’s really tough, too.

Baddie rating: 004. Le Chiffre is pretty awful, but he’s kind of a chicken shit, really. He’s desperate to win this poker game, because he knows if he doesn’t, he’ll be offed. The tear duct thing is pretty rad, though. And Mikkelson (King Arthur, Hannibal) plays him well.

Bond girl rating: 007. I really like her portrayal. She’s still working for the government, even though she wants SO BADLY to trust Bond (because she’s so obviously attracted to him) with a ton of money. She’s got her own drama to deal with, and she’s a snarky bitch. She’s perfect.

Photo credit: © 2006 Danjaq, LLC, United Artists Corporation and Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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