Entertainment HomeDVD review : Casino Royale .
by: Anthony Chatfield
 |
I’ve always been a huge fan of James Bond. The campy, over the top suave secret agent was the epitome of coolness from the time I was old enough to watch Sean Connery’s black and white firsts. The one liners, the tuxedos, and the martinis (shaken not stirred) all made 007 one of the coolest secret agents in film, and for 20 films he more or less remained the same slick secret agent, slowly but surely growing more and more stagnant with the years.
By the time Pierce Brosnan hung up his tuxedo, the series had become something of a cliché. Everything in a James Bond flick could be figured out before you watched it. There would be a love interest, a femme fatale with a suggestive name, an evil nemesis with ridiculous plans of world domination, and multiple near death escapes from impossible situations. The climax would regularly be filled with slick one liners and Bond making out with his love interest on their way to a secluded beach paradise.
The formula worked, but after 20 films even the most diehard Bond fans began to grow weary. And so, when Brosnan left, the studio decided to try something different. Instead of casting yet another suave, raven haired Britain, they went with the gruff, gangster playing blond, Daniel Craig.
It seemed like a poor move, but only a few minutes into Casino Royale you’ll see that they could not have picked a better bond, and never have they made a better Bond film.
Casino Royale is a film that doesn’t try to follow a formula. Rather it tries to show a man struggling with the weight of his new responsibility, learning how to be a double-0 agent and occasionally scattering in a few subtle references to the Bond we know and love in past franchises.
Daniel Craig’s gritty, down to earth approach to the Bond character is exactly what the film needed, as instead of a suave, machine gun toting secret agent with a smile and pass key to leave it all behind, we’re given a man with a rash sense of urgency, unwilling to follow protocol, making mistake after mistake, and no matter how incredibly talented he might be, show’s a strikingly human side.
I’ll liken it to the manner in which the new superhero films have found such ample success with both critics and audiences. An audience wants a character with problems; desires, family, things they can lose. When we’re presented with an indestructible superhero with no faults, the film can do little to make you any more invested than you were when the film started. The same can be said of Bond. He had become a modern day superhero, idealized to the point of icon, in which he could do no wrong, and he would always succeed.
 |
Casino Royale takes all of that away and makes Bond human again. As a film, the new Bond is magnificently shot. Gone are the overabundant chromes and neon of recent Bond flicks, replaced with the Mediterranean backdrop of Casino Royale and the exploits that lead Bond there. Also gone are the outrageous villains with plans of world domination.
Our villain here is not only a simple con artist, he is in trouble of his own, threatened by the men whose money he took in the first place. Motivated by his own fear and a certain childlike arrogance, Le Chiffre, is a realistic hero, who by actually managing a stab at Bond, proves a perfect foil, not only in his arrogance, but in his humanity. These are not super humans. They are men with exceptional talents, and endless foibles. And ultimately, the greatest downfall of any of Casino Royale’s many characters is love. Whether it is the promise of love, or the protection thereof, love drives these men and women in a way unlike any Bond film before.
By being something completely different, by throwing out the old formula and starting fresh from the source material, a tactic that has worked very well of late for other mediums, the Bond franchise has returned and its returned with a vengeance. I think Daniel Craig might be around for a little while.
[ Back to top ]
About The Author
I'm a self avowed unemployed writer, working on semi-constant basis to try and overcome the need to go and work a real job. I've written more than 200 articles and reviews and am constantly scouring the internet for any and all excuses and methods to make myself less dependent on corporate pay days. Visit my website at TheChatfield.com
Movie Trailer: Casino Royale
'Entertainment.WebWorlds-One.com' is the name, - what's the game?
- welcome to Entertainment.WebWorlds-One.com, - an exciting new initiative in info-mercial marketing on the internet.
This is where we bring you(r) postings about Entertainment news and trends in all their various guises . . .
[ Back to top ]
[ Back to top ]
Additional information:
Yahoo! Movies: New DVD Releases Next Week
New DVD Releases Next Week
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:42pm Directed by Roger Kumble (THE SWEETEST THING, JUST FRIENDS), the 2008 comedy COLLEGE ROAD TRIP stars Martin Lawrence as Chicago cop James Porter, an overprotective father who wants to keep his college-bound daughter, Melanie (Raven-Symone), close to home. When the smart, assertive Melanie declares her intention to attend Georgetown instead of Northwestern, James insistently sets out with her on a cross-country car journey to Washington D.C., hoping to dissuade her along the way. En route, of course, plenty of hijinks ensue, including scenarios involving a precocious pig and, oddly enough, Donny Osmond, who turns up as an eeriely cheery dad also on a college-touring campaign.
With its broad, slapstick humor and enegetic leads, COLLEGE ROAD TRIP is a perfect vehicle for Lawrence and Raven, who both play to their well-established personas--the former a cranky bumbler, the latter a headstrong teen. Osmond, in his first film role in decades, ideally embodies Ned Flanders-like enthusiasm, stealing plenty of scenes with the aid of his equally giddy on-screen offspring (Molly Ephraim). Although it's far from high-minded cinema, TRIP is a fun, family-oriented road movie that easily appeals to a wide audience, and offers up many silly and appalling moments of parental embarrassment. (1 hr. 23 min.)
Secretary
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:42pm Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal) has a few strikes against her when she applies for a secretarial position at the law office of E. Edward Grey (James Spader). First, she was released only recently from a mental institution; second, after one day back with her dysfunctional suburban family she has succumbed to her secret obsession - self-mutilation. Somehow, she gets the job anyway. Then again, Mr. Grey is far from a normal boss. They embark on a relationship together, crossing lines of conduct that would give most human resource directors shivers. (1 hr. 44 min.)
Step Up 2 the Streets
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:42pm Andie is a newcomer at the Maryland School of the Arts, and her bad girl streak and street style threaten to keep her from finding her place. But she pairs up with the popular Chase, and they find a group of students to dance in a secret competition that suits Andie's talents. (1 hr. 37 min.)
Penelope
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm Like Tim Burton's EDWARD SCISSORHANDS and the TV show PUSHING DAISIES, PENELOPE is a modern fairy tale, complete with candy colors and whimsical cinematography. PENELOPE begins with a generations-old curse by a jilted lover: the next girl in the aristocratic Wilhern family will be born with a pig's snout and ears. Though ages pass, the bad luck finally manifests itself in young Penelope (Christina Ricci) much to the shame of her mother (Christopher Guest favorite Catherine O'Hara). In an effort to break the curse, her mother and father (Richard E. Grant, WITHNAIL AND I) try to bring in a series of blue-blooded suitors. But when they see her face, the men all run screaming. Enter Max (James McAvoy), a down-on-his-luck gambler who connects with Penelope. But when he is exposed as a fraud, the heartbroken girl escapes into the surrounding city. Though she hides her face with a scarf, Penelope gets to experience life outside her family's mansion for the first time.
Pig nose and all, Ricci is adorable as the title character, excellent in alternating between naïveté and independence. Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon succeeds in double duty as both a producer and in a small acting role as Penelope's first friend in the big city. But it's McAvoy, a standout in ATONEMENT and THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND, who threatens to steal hearts. The pair's romance is believable, and it makes the film good viewing for fairy tale fans of all ages. The PG rating should appeal to families, as should the film's message about the importance of inner beauty and self confidence. (1 hr. 30 min.)
Shutter
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm Treading territory similar to JU-ON: THE GRUDGE (2003), RINGU (1998), and ONE MISSED CALL (2003), all Asian horror films remade for American audiences, SHUTTER is the first English-language film for director Masayuki Ochiai, whose career has been primarily within the horror genre. The result is another potent ghost story able to conjure up feelings of dread through a single longhaired, poker-faced female apparition.
Newlywed New Yorkers Ben (Joshua Jackson, THE SKULLS) and Jane Shaw (Rachael Taylor, TRANSFORMERS) have traveled to Tokyo, where photographer Ben is investigating a potentially lucrative job opportunity. While driving on a dark road at night, the couple runs over a mysterious woman who seems to appear out of nowhere and can't be found after the accident. Over the next few days, Jane goes sightseeing while Ben works, only to see strange apparitions that also appear on the photos she takes. After Ben's photos show the same ghostly forms, he confesses that he knows something about the woman they ran over, but it may be too late to stop her trail of terror. Another Hollywood remake of an Asian horror film, SHUTTER has a tricky lineage: the 2004 original was made in Thailand, while this version is U.S.-financed, but shot mostly in Japan. By setting the film in Japan, director Ochiai retains an element of exoticism for American audiences, which also allows Ben and Jane to be out of their element, à la DON'T LOOK NOW. As the menacing spirit, Megumi, Megumi Okina is adept at conjuring fear with a simple glare in a minimal but effective performance. SHUTTER doesn't stretch the boundaries of horror cinema, but it provides a handful of decent shocks and a couple of crowd-pleasing gross-outs, all within the limits of a non-restrictive PG-13 rating. (1 hr. 25 min.)
The Bank Job
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm A car dealer with a dodgy past and new family, Terry has always avoided major-league scams. But when Martine, a beautiful model from his old neighborhood, offers him a lead on a foolproof bank hit on London's Baker Street, Terry recognizes the opportunity of a lifetime. Martine targets a roomful of safe deposit boxes worth millions in cash and jewelry. But Terry and his crew don't realize the boxes also contain a treasure trove of dirty secrets - secrets that will thrust them into a deadly web of corruption and illicit scandal that spans London's criminal underworld, the highest echelons of the British government, and the Royal Family itself...the true story of a heist gone wrong...in all the right ways. (1 hr. 50 min.)
Eureka - Season Two
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm This smart series from the Sci Fi Channel combines the strangeness of THE X-FILES with the diverse characters of NORTHERN EXPOSURE to create an innovative dramedy. A car accident leads U.S. Marshal Jack Carter (Colin Ferguson, COUPLING) to the small town of Eureka. The town is the brainchild of Albert Einstein and President Truman, and has become a haven for the smartest people in the country. Though Eureka appears to be like any other small city in the Northwest, its denizens make sure their home is never normal as they create the innovations that power the rest of the globe. As Eureka is kept a secret from the outside world, Allison Blake (Salli Richardson-Whitfield) acts a bridge between the town and the Pentagon. She and Carter bump heads, but their rivalry is driven by a heated chemistry that gives the show some zing. EUREKA also features the talents of genre favorites such as Joe Morton (BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET), Debrah Farentino (EARTH 2), and Matt Frewer (MAX HEADROOM). This release includes the second season in its entirety.
Final Approach
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm Anthony Michael Hall, he of former movie geekdom as part of the Brat Pack in the 1980s, goes full throttle as a terrorist who hijacks a commercial flight on behalf of the radical People's Separatist Movement. Luckily, Dean Cain is on board as a crackerjack hostage negotiator who is flying on the troubled airplane in question, while his wife (Lea Thompson), an FAA employee, works toward uncovering the terrorist group's motivation. With a nuclear holocaust looming, all sides must race against the clock before the government's executive decision to blow the plane out of the sky is carried out in this tension-filled actioner.
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) is a NASCAR racing sensation whose "win at all costs" approach has made him a national hero. He and his loyal racing partner and childhood friend, Cal Naughton Jr. (John C. Reilly), are a fearless duo, thrilling their fans by finishing most races in the top spots - with Ricky Bobby always leading the pack. When a flamboyant French Formula One driver, Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen), challenges him for the supremacy of NASCAR, Ricky Bobby must face his own demons and fight for his place as racing's top driver. (1 hr. 50 min.)
The Curiosity of Chance
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm Chance Marquis (Tad Hilgenbrinck) is the new kid in school who manages to make friends with both the jocks and the outsiders in THE CURIOSITY OF CHANCE. The movie is set in the 1980s and takes an amusing look at high school conventions from the era.
Held Up
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm Foxx portrays Michael Dawson, a successful Chicago businessman whose life falls apart while he's driving to the Grand Canyon with his gorgeous fiancee, Rae (Long). When Rae discovers that he has used their savings to buy the car, she cuts off the engagement and leaves him behind. Intent on driving back to Chicago to win Rae back, Michael instead finds himself stuck in a hillbilly town when a young punk steals his car. And when a gang of bandits attempts to rob the "Sip & Zip," it's up to Michael to keep the bumbling thieves and incompetent cops from doing real damage to each other. (1 hr. 29 min.)
Insanitarium
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm He's played a terrifyingly mono-syllabic kidnapper and murderer, an eccentric drug dealer, and Satan at least once each, so it was only a matter of time for the well-trained Peter Stormare (FARGO, BAD BOYS II, CONSTANTINE) to take on the role of Dr. Gianetti, the unhinged head physician of the Mid-Psych mental institution. When the punky Jack (Jesse Metcalfe) discovers the patients of Mid-Psych--including his sister--are being subjected to experimentation and turned into vicious killers, it's up to him and his nervous-yet-trusty friend and sidekick (Kevin Sussman) to take care of business. This innovative and energetic directorial debut from MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN scribe Jim Buhler combines gallows humor, a vivid cast of characters, lovingly crafted practical gore effects, and genuine terror to a sickening effect.
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya - Complete Collection
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm Blending smart humor, sci-fi, and fantasy, this anime series features a high school club specializing in the not-quite-commonplace. In MELANCHOLY OF HARUHI SUZUMIYA, the slightly off-kilter members of the title character's SOS Brigade parlay their loves of time travel, alien life, and ESP into adventures that are anything but mundane.
Grind
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm When a drag-racing, hard-luck parolee moves in with his brother in hopes of that ever-elusive fresh start in life, he's sure to be warm for the form of his brother's bored young wife. Guess what? Things only get worse when he tries to turn a quick buck in a one-time insurance fraud operation. (1 hr. 36 min.)
The Fabulous Journey to the Center of the Earth
Posted on 8 Jul 2008 at 8:41pm Professor Otto Lindenbrock and his niece find an amazing lost world in the planet's core in this adaptation of Jules Verne's classic novel FABULOUS JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH.
Thank you for visiting WebWorlds-One.com, - call back soon and have a Nice Day!
[ Back to top ]
©2006-07