Pre-Review:I thought it'd be nice to talk (even more) about a movie which come out ten days from now, adding another piece of cinema history to what is already a longstanding successful series... I'm talking of course about Casino Royale... and I'm ready to share my expectations and thoughts before I see the film just in case you wanted to know whether or not I feel that it'll be worthwhile to see opening day or at a midnight showing...
There are many elements which I feel could make this movie one of the worst in history, I have had many reservations since I first heard the details surrounding this movie... let's get to it...
Cons:1) Daniel Craig - You're actually going to find this name on both the pros and cons lists... When I think of James Bond I think of anybody but this guy, he's blonde, isn't particularly good looking in my opinion and has sort of a rough edge to him while previous Bonds have always had a sort of playful, tongue-in-cheek approach to saving thw orld, wrecking the car, and banging the Bind girl. I'm afraid that with this harder edged Bond, he won't be recognized as anything except what the trailer describes him as, "half-monk, half-hitman."
2) Seprequal - When James Bond first hit the printers, the year was 1952. Ten years later Sean Connery donned the tux and took up the Walther to first bring him to life on the big screen for Dr. No in 1962. This movie is set in the year 2006, but the events take place before James Bond earns his rank as a double-O agent at MI6. Also characters (such as Judi Dench's M) are seen acting alongside 007 even though they are out of place in the timeline (Judi Dench's character of M is actually a different character than other Ms and hasn't been present the entire series). Make sense to you???
3) Missing Characters - Certain classic Bond characters, such as Q and and Ms. Moneypenny will not be in this film. I'm afraid that when they are through they may have a good movie, but it may not be a James Bond movie.
There are some ups to the downs though...
Pros:1) Daniel Craig - While James Bond may not be serious all the time, he is most of the time and this man looks as if he may be the most serious actor to order a Martini and kill a man in the same breath. The trailer reveals that there are some moments of humor which has always been Bond.
2) Roots of Bond - This movie as I said before is a prequal and could be pretty good biography-wise for the James Bond series. Also if you forget the strange time setting, it could be rather interesting to see James become Bond.
3) Elements of Classic Bond - The classic elements of a James Bond movie abound: a villain with a scar, a hot Bond girl, an nice fast car, plenty of action, an awesome freaking trailer. These are elements that have always been in James Bond movies since the very beginning and hopefully will make up for the lack of other elements.
But ultimately the decision is this... if you want to be chilled, thrilled and killed by a licensed professional, go see James Bond. My prediction is that if the viewer is willing to forgive the odd method used for the reinvention of James Bond, then Casino Royale will awe and amaze. I hope to see everyone there on November 17th.
