Casino Royale

Watched the highly anticipated 21st installment of the James Bond series, Casino Royale. Adapted from Ian Flemings 1st book on Bond, this film was produced Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli and directed by Martin Campbell, who also directed Goldeneye - Pierce Brosnan's first Bond appearance. Why is a Bond movie doing in my blog? Coz its my blog, and many gadgets are in the movie, and c'mon, its a Bond movie.

Much of the plot have been cover in the mass medias and internet, so here's a summary. James Bond (played perfectly by Daniel Craig in his first Bond outing), having just got his double-0 licence (licensed to kill, and kill on behalf of the government without prosecution!!), is tracking down Le Chiffre, a money launderer for "freedom fighter" (American calls them terrorists) cells all over the world. When Bond stops Le Chiffre's plot and causes the villain to lose his clientele's money, Le Chiffre sets up a high stakes poker game, at Casino Royale, in an effort to win back the money. And Bond is out to stop him. Why poker? Coz evidently Le Chiffre is very good at numbers and is a show off. Why Bond to stop him? Coz he is the best poker player the British govt has in her payroll, and that he is at good at reading characters. Geez...

Much of the key plot points from the book is retained in the movie. Bond's change from being cocky to suave, from raw brutalness to slick efficiency. The gambling. The torture of Bond. And surely the women. But many things was changed too. The Cold War villains are updated as international terrorist groups, the gambling game is now Texas Hold'em Poker. The gambling in the book was in the form of Chemin de Fer, a variation of Baccarat.

Lets get the bad out of the way first. The time line of the movie confuses me, and this hurt my enjoyment of the movie initially. This movie is about Bond just receiving his double-0 status, thus he should be in the 60s-70s era (at least to me). Also, this movie is when Bond meets his first love, and she was the one that drove him to be the detached, unemotional and cold Bond years later.

Yet he drive a 2006 Ford Focus, an Aston Martin DBS, and the latest 2007 Range Rover Sport was also featured. Also featured prominently are Sony VIAO laptops and latest Sony 3G hand phones (the Bond silver limited edition K800i, and M600i). I know this is a Sony Pictures movie, but the product placement was too blatant. But what confuses me was if this is the time and plot that defined Bond to be who he will be known to the world later, the gadgets are too up-to-date, as are the vehicles.

I have to give up on the confusing time line, and decided to enjoy the movie as an action movie, not as the first Ian Fleming Bond book movie. And soon i was enjoying it.

Now the parts of the movie i liked. Very nice plot, very capable Bond played by Daniel Craig, very believable character (namely Bond's) development, very stylish action sequences. Its rare for a Bond movie to have character development, and this movie breaks all Bond stereotyping movies, all 20 of them in the past. Daniel Craig is a very capable actor, you can see his cockiness in the early part of the movie (egoistic as he just got his double-0 status) turn into suaveness. This Bond is raw, and don't even care how his martini is served. Haha.

The first action sequence (after the black and white flashback sequence) is very nicely paced, unbelievable stunts (Parkour in action, also featured in the movie Yamakasi) and wire work that can match any Jacky Chan movies of late. You will believe that this Bond is actually capable of kicking ass, and does suffer from cuts and bruise after each fight. Man, he even bleeds and needs to wash up. And he has the body and looks to show too.

Eva Green (pronounced as "grain") is very capable as Vesper Lynd, the sultry beautiful confident woman who falls for Bond, and later betrays him. You can see her change in character very well in the different times within the movie too. Add to that mix is Mads Mikkelsen playing the cold, arrogant and calculating villain Le Chiffre (no first name given), the cast is very well cast for their roles, and they are very convincing in character. Also given screen time is Felix Leiter (Jeffery Wright), a recurring CIA agent in Bond stories (Dr No, Live and Let Die, and Licensed To Kill).

The centerpiece of the movie, the poker game, is planned, organised and filmed to perfection with prefect tension levels and emotions shown with very little words. This is the magic of cinema and great directors understands the concept of "show but not tell". This sequence was designed by producer Michael G. Wilson, just to give him credit for a job well done.

Overall, I had tremendously enjoyed Bond in Ian Flemings first Bond story, filmed 21st in sequence of the Bond series (see, told ya it was confusing). The impressive action pieces, the very well directed character and plot, the tense gambling centerpiece and the shocking twist to Bond's heart are all very enjoyable, befitting for a new Bond.

My rating:

Story: 8/10

Action/Acting: 8/10

Length: 8/10

Overall: 8/10

Note: To fully enjoy the movie, assume that this is a new, present day Bond action movie with present day gadgets. Ignore the marketing hype that this is the movie that shows a newly acquired double-00 Bond, forget the time line, you will enjoy it better.