Bond fans will be shaken and stirred by 'Casino'
By Phil Villarreal
pvillarreal@azstarnet.com
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.16.2006
Blond. James Blond.
Yellow-haired, sapphire-eyed Daniel Craig shoulder-rolls suavely into the pressed tuxedo-wearing, martini-swilling, plot-busting suaveness of the James Bond persona in "Casino Royale."
An invigorating reboot for a once-strong franchise that had lost its relevance over the past 20 years, 007's latest succeeds in every way its dreadful predecessor, "Die Another Day," failed.
While the traditional Bond was smirking, above-it--all and invulnerable, Craig's Bond emits flaws, insecurities and frustration. Before, Bond could seduce a lady with a sideways glance. In this film he abruptly leaves a sexual encounter out of paranoia that he may be letting a lead slip away. In the past, Bond was a dandy, never allowing a hair to be mussed and insisting his martinis come shaken, not stirred. This time out, Bond sidles up to the barkeep all scraggly and bruised. When asked how he'd like his drink in this film, Bond snaps back, "Do I look like I give a damn?"
Five minutes with this reinvented, younger Bond, who is just getting started and finding his way through the perilous world of classified kills, and you totally buy in. Here is a hero to get excited about. Craig is so relatable, you'll gladly follow him with pumping fists through byzantine double and triple crosses and ludicrous set pieces. Bear in mind that Bond is no slouch, even as a beginner. It's tantalizing to see flashes of his genius emerge and to pinpoint the details that shape the mystique we're familiar with. The story underlines the way he becomes so callous and rigidly precise in his methods.
Credit belongs to director Martin Campbell, who also remade the franchise in 1995 with "GoldenEye." His work here shows he's noted the kinetic anti-Bond films such as "XXX" and "The Bourne Identity/ Supremacy."
Finally it's true that Bonds have more fun.
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