Since American audiences are letting me down by letting those pesky penguins dance all over the box office for the last two weeks I have been looking for some kind of upside to the entire ordeal, and I think I found it.
Besides the United States, "Casino Royale" has been the number one movie in every International market since its release. And if that isn't enough, this last weekend in the UK, which was the second weekend of its release, Bond brought in more money than the other nine movies in the top ten ... combined. That relieves some of the stress of animated penguins making more money than a cold-blooded assassin working for her Majesty's government.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Casino Royale: An All-Time High
After the first viewing of “Casino Royale” my initial reaction was very clear: not only is it one of the best movies of the series, but also Daniel Craig steps into the role with ease and confidence.
I wasn’t sure how I would react to Bond’s first “00” mission, considering my nervousness was outweighing my anticipation. Instead of giving a broad overview of the film and my opinion of it I have decided to review elements of the film that make Bond movies what they are and explain how the producers either stuck to the formula or altered it in order to keep the franchise fresh.
Bond:
I have no problem admitting my reluctance with the choice of Daniel Craig as the new James Bond. The photograph almost every media publication used to announce his unveiling exhibited an almost unknown actor (which I liked) with a tired, worn face who looked uncomfortable in his suit (which I didn’t like). However, things have changed a bit since then. Craig put on 20 pounds of muscle for the role and his scenes in a bathing suit proves it. Besides having the body of a healthy, well-built spy, Craig spent countless hours rehearsing his fight scenes in order for it to look authentic, which it does.
Besides the look, Craig puts forth all of his acting efforts to show a different side of the secret agent we know. Craig was lucky enough to be given the chance to let audiences find out how Bond becomes the tough, womanizing, cold man he is in every other movie. But it isn’t all brooding and fight scenes for Craig. He is allowed to pull out a few zingers when it is necessary, but also when it is inappropriate. Sadly Craig’s timing isn’t as good as Pierce Brosnan’s or Connery’s.
Girls:
The two main Bond girls in “Casino Royale” are Caterina Murino and Eva Green. Murino is the norm when it comes to a Bond movie. She looks great in anything (or nothing) and makes a grand entrance, but ultimately is a passing fancy. Green is quite different though. Green was cast not to just turn heads while in an evening gown, but to also bring characterization to the film. Her relationship with Bond grows and drives the movie while action takes a back seat to gambling. One specific scene that exhibits Green’s talent best is in a shower scene (not that kind of talent pervert) with Bond that could easily have come off as cheesy, or even worse laughable.
Villain:
Mads Mikkelsen is terrorist financier Le Chiffre and does a first-rate job of playing the villain. He isn’t one of those evil megalomaniac types who are trying to take over the world or steal some nuclear weapons in order to hold the world for ransom. He simply wants money. The producers gave Le Chiffre a physical deformity that many Bond villains receive in order to make them memorable, but Mikkelsen doesn’t really need it. He doesn’t eat up the scenery around him and plays it low key when its necessary.
Allies:
The choice of leaving Judi Dench in the role of M completely screws up the timeline of the film series, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t welcomed. Her portrayal of Bond’s boss is one of respect and care for her employee but she doesn’t put up with his childish antics and arrogant attitude.
Moneypenny and Q are both absent from this film, but a reference to Moneypenny is made that will either bother or amuse the viewer.
Cars:
Bond cars have always been admired. Sometimes they even overshadow Bond himself. The producers were smart enough to shake things up with this movie’s idea to return to Bond’s roots, but they weren’t so dumb as to get rid of the classic Bond vehicle we all love. Craig drives the tasteful, refined Aston Martin DB5, which was featured for the first time in “Goldfinger” and has become known as the epitome of the Bond car. With the updating of the story, we are also given an update of the Aston Martin. Despite not having any true gadgets installed, the Aston Martin DBS becomes the newest Bond car. It is a machine that exhibits modern elegance along with the classic style the DB5 has.
Gadgets:
Besides a defibrillator and the use of computers, “Casino Royale” is practically void of all gadgetry. The producers want to get back to the basics and that meant ignoring laser watches, disguised suitcases and toothpaste plastic explosives.
Pre-title Sequence:
Since the beginning of “From Russia With Love” where we see Bond stalked in a lavish garden by an assassin for SPECTRE, the pre-title sequence has always been a highly awaited piece of the Bond formula. It usually unveils a small piece of the plot with Bond in the midst of danger and astonishing stunts. Like much of the movie itself, “Casino Royale” is completely different.
The first difference of this pre-title sequence is it’s shot in black and white. The second is it has everything to do with the storyline while at the same time it has nothing to do with the plot of the movie. It is rather low-key with crucial dialogue about Bond and his “00” status but has intense fight segments flashed before us. It is a great combination of plot and combat, however, the dialogue can be a bit confusing for anyone not familiar with the world of James Bond.
The one big upset for the ultimate fan during the pre-title sequence is the positioning of when the gun barrel shot takes place. This has always been the first thing the audience member sees is a small white dot moving across the screen and then opening up to show Bond in a suit or tuxedo. Bond walks back across and then flings himself around to shoot the sniper that has him in his sights. For “Casino Royale” they toy with this sequence and place it at the end of the pre-title sequence, which for me was not an improvement. I also thought the blood coming down the screen looked extremely animated and cartoon-like.
Title Sequence:
This was another element that was changed for the back to basics style. We usually get to see naked silhouettes of women set to a theme of the movie or displaying some trendy technology of the times, such as neon in the 80s, with the credits running in the foreground. “Casino Royale” has the silhouettes, but it doesn’t have the naked women. Instead it uses a theme of cards – go figure – that shows off Bond fighting and gunning his way around the screen. As you can tell, it’s not my favorite. Hopefully with more viewings it will grow on me, but my first response is going to be a big thumbs down.
Music:
David Arnold, who has composed every Bond movie since “Tomorrow Never Dies,” doesn’t really put much into this one. After leaving out any hint of the theme song from “Die Another Day” in the score, due to pretty much hating Madonna’s tune, he at least utilizes Chris Cornell’s theme song “You Know My Name.”
In the context of the movie, and especially the score when it is a slower instrumental version, it sounds great. Yet, that is almost the only memorable musical moment from the movie, not counting the final two minutes. Arnold ends the movie on a high note (no pun intended), but the other two hours and 10 minutes in between the theme songs of James Bond, nothing is recognizable or impressive for the film.
Overall Opinion:
I can’t say yet where in the rank it goes, but “Casino Royale” is going to be a classic in the series and is one of my top five favorites. The action isn’t over the top like in “Die Another Day” and the plot isn’t a replica like “Moonraker” or “A View to a Kill.”
For Craig’s first try at the role, and considering all the negative press he had to deal with during production, he does a remarkable job. I still think Connery is the ultimate James Bond, but Craig is going to always be considered one of the best by the general public.
I wasn’t sure how I would react to Bond’s first “00” mission, considering my nervousness was outweighing my anticipation. Instead of giving a broad overview of the film and my opinion of it I have decided to review elements of the film that make Bond movies what they are and explain how the producers either stuck to the formula or altered it in order to keep the franchise fresh.
Bond:
I have no problem admitting my reluctance with the choice of Daniel Craig as the new James Bond. The photograph almost every media publication used to announce his unveiling exhibited an almost unknown actor (which I liked) with a tired, worn face who looked uncomfortable in his suit (which I didn’t like). However, things have changed a bit since then. Craig put on 20 pounds of muscle for the role and his scenes in a bathing suit proves it. Besides having the body of a healthy, well-built spy, Craig spent countless hours rehearsing his fight scenes in order for it to look authentic, which it does.
Besides the look, Craig puts forth all of his acting efforts to show a different side of the secret agent we know. Craig was lucky enough to be given the chance to let audiences find out how Bond becomes the tough, womanizing, cold man he is in every other movie. But it isn’t all brooding and fight scenes for Craig. He is allowed to pull out a few zingers when it is necessary, but also when it is inappropriate. Sadly Craig’s timing isn’t as good as Pierce Brosnan’s or Connery’s.
Girls:
The two main Bond girls in “Casino Royale” are Caterina Murino and Eva Green. Murino is the norm when it comes to a Bond movie. She looks great in anything (or nothing) and makes a grand entrance, but ultimately is a passing fancy. Green is quite different though. Green was cast not to just turn heads while in an evening gown, but to also bring characterization to the film. Her relationship with Bond grows and drives the movie while action takes a back seat to gambling. One specific scene that exhibits Green’s talent best is in a shower scene (not that kind of talent pervert) with Bond that could easily have come off as cheesy, or even worse laughable.
Villain:
Mads Mikkelsen is terrorist financier Le Chiffre and does a first-rate job of playing the villain. He isn’t one of those evil megalomaniac types who are trying to take over the world or steal some nuclear weapons in order to hold the world for ransom. He simply wants money. The producers gave Le Chiffre a physical deformity that many Bond villains receive in order to make them memorable, but Mikkelsen doesn’t really need it. He doesn’t eat up the scenery around him and plays it low key when its necessary.
Allies:
The choice of leaving Judi Dench in the role of M completely screws up the timeline of the film series, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t welcomed. Her portrayal of Bond’s boss is one of respect and care for her employee but she doesn’t put up with his childish antics and arrogant attitude.
Moneypenny and Q are both absent from this film, but a reference to Moneypenny is made that will either bother or amuse the viewer.
Cars:
Bond cars have always been admired. Sometimes they even overshadow Bond himself. The producers were smart enough to shake things up with this movie’s idea to return to Bond’s roots, but they weren’t so dumb as to get rid of the classic Bond vehicle we all love. Craig drives the tasteful, refined Aston Martin DB5, which was featured for the first time in “Goldfinger” and has become known as the epitome of the Bond car. With the updating of the story, we are also given an update of the Aston Martin. Despite not having any true gadgets installed, the Aston Martin DBS becomes the newest Bond car. It is a machine that exhibits modern elegance along with the classic style the DB5 has.
Gadgets:
Besides a defibrillator and the use of computers, “Casino Royale” is practically void of all gadgetry. The producers want to get back to the basics and that meant ignoring laser watches, disguised suitcases and toothpaste plastic explosives.
Pre-title Sequence:
Since the beginning of “From Russia With Love” where we see Bond stalked in a lavish garden by an assassin for SPECTRE, the pre-title sequence has always been a highly awaited piece of the Bond formula. It usually unveils a small piece of the plot with Bond in the midst of danger and astonishing stunts. Like much of the movie itself, “Casino Royale” is completely different.
The first difference of this pre-title sequence is it’s shot in black and white. The second is it has everything to do with the storyline while at the same time it has nothing to do with the plot of the movie. It is rather low-key with crucial dialogue about Bond and his “00” status but has intense fight segments flashed before us. It is a great combination of plot and combat, however, the dialogue can be a bit confusing for anyone not familiar with the world of James Bond.
The one big upset for the ultimate fan during the pre-title sequence is the positioning of when the gun barrel shot takes place. This has always been the first thing the audience member sees is a small white dot moving across the screen and then opening up to show Bond in a suit or tuxedo. Bond walks back across and then flings himself around to shoot the sniper that has him in his sights. For “Casino Royale” they toy with this sequence and place it at the end of the pre-title sequence, which for me was not an improvement. I also thought the blood coming down the screen looked extremely animated and cartoon-like.
Title Sequence:
This was another element that was changed for the back to basics style. We usually get to see naked silhouettes of women set to a theme of the movie or displaying some trendy technology of the times, such as neon in the 80s, with the credits running in the foreground. “Casino Royale” has the silhouettes, but it doesn’t have the naked women. Instead it uses a theme of cards – go figure – that shows off Bond fighting and gunning his way around the screen. As you can tell, it’s not my favorite. Hopefully with more viewings it will grow on me, but my first response is going to be a big thumbs down.
Music:
David Arnold, who has composed every Bond movie since “Tomorrow Never Dies,” doesn’t really put much into this one. After leaving out any hint of the theme song from “Die Another Day” in the score, due to pretty much hating Madonna’s tune, he at least utilizes Chris Cornell’s theme song “You Know My Name.”
In the context of the movie, and especially the score when it is a slower instrumental version, it sounds great. Yet, that is almost the only memorable musical moment from the movie, not counting the final two minutes. Arnold ends the movie on a high note (no pun intended), but the other two hours and 10 minutes in between the theme songs of James Bond, nothing is recognizable or impressive for the film.
Overall Opinion:
I can’t say yet where in the rank it goes, but “Casino Royale” is going to be a classic in the series and is one of my top five favorites. The action isn’t over the top like in “Die Another Day” and the plot isn’t a replica like “Moonraker” or “A View to a Kill.”
For Craig’s first try at the role, and considering all the negative press he had to deal with during production, he does a remarkable job. I still think Connery is the ultimate James Bond, but Craig is going to always be considered one of the best by the general public.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
I Can Taste The Vodka
In exactly 24 hours from now I will be seated in a dark theater with about eight of my close friends watching the most famous spy of cinema history drinking his legendary alcohol, bedding gorgeous and exotic women, killing without regret and being an all-around super cool British agent.
If you can't tell I am really excited about the upcoming "Casino Royale." I have only heard good things about this movie from the critics and from what I have seen in the previews it looks like they took the source material, author Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel, very seriously.
I will most definetly post my initial reaction to the movie either late Friday night/early Saturday morning or sometime Saturday. I expect to be blown away, but I will try to be objective when reviewing it.
If you can't tell I am really excited about the upcoming "Casino Royale." I have only heard good things about this movie from the critics and from what I have seen in the previews it looks like they took the source material, author Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel, very seriously.
I will most definetly post my initial reaction to the movie either late Friday night/early Saturday morning or sometime Saturday. I expect to be blown away, but I will try to be objective when reviewing it.
Friday, November 10, 2006
A Real American Haunting
The story I am about to share took place yesterday and it is one of the few times I have ever truly feared for my life.
We got a report from the scanner in our office of a trespassing and possible attempted burglary on a county road outside of Palmer, which is about five minutes north of Ennis. After copying down all the information the dispatcher and officer were sharing I got in my car and headed to the location of the crime. Supposedly two men had parked in a field next to this house and then began running toward the residence with crowbars and hammers in their hand and ski masks over their face.
When I arrived at the home I saw five cars sitting in front of the home at one end of the long driveway. I pulled in and parked near the grouping of cars. Before getting out I got my pad and pen out and thought through what I was going to ask the woman who phoned the police. While doing this I noticed two dogs laying on the ground not too concerned with my recent arrival.
I got out of the car and slowly made my way to the front door. I didn't want to spook the living security system in any way that would give them a reason to attack. I rang the doorbell a couple of times and knocked but nobody answered and I didn't hear anything rustling on the inside.
Making like the diligent reporter I should be I decided to snoop around a bit. Again not wanting to bother the dogs, I slowly began to walk around the side of the house. As I was approaching the rear of the home I found a swimming pool, large carport, trailer and two new dogs who were much more upset about my present than the first wave of canines.
The first dog I noticed was quickly up on his feet and had already made a few steps in my direction. I could tell he was not excited that I was there as his lips were snarled high enough that I could count each pointy instrument of death he was showing off so proudly like the day after a dentists visit. His growl was menacing and extremely threatening, but Little Caeser (that is what I have named him) was nothing compared to the monsterous creature I then saw staggering to his feet.
Zeus (again I have named the dog) was hands down the largest dog I have ever seen in my life. While standing on all four paws, his head easily came up to the top of my chest. I could turn his intestines into a roomy one-bedroom apartment with washer and dryer hookups. Zeus didn't bark much but when he did it began as a low rumble that shook the ground around him until he spewed a short, husky woof that couldn't be ignored.
Little Caeser didn't move much but Zeus was consistently making his way in my direction. At first I froze and forgot the reason I was there in the first place. I regained my wits and slowly started backing toward the front of the house. As I was I slinking to the car I noticed Zeus getting closer and his bark getting more frequent. I grabbed my phone in my left hand, prepared to call 911 in case the canines decided to take a hint from Hitchcock and turn on the humans and had my keys in the other hand repeatedly pushing the unlock button to make sure Mobyd would be ready at the slightest hint of trouble.
Well, since I am writing this I obviously made it back to the office unscathed. The woman I was looking for popped her head from around the side of the house and motioned that it was okay to come out. She and I spoke about the incident and I left moments later.
I have seen some large dogs in my time, one being my mom's boyfriend's rottweiler, but Zeus wins the prize for most horse-like canine.
We got a report from the scanner in our office of a trespassing and possible attempted burglary on a county road outside of Palmer, which is about five minutes north of Ennis. After copying down all the information the dispatcher and officer were sharing I got in my car and headed to the location of the crime. Supposedly two men had parked in a field next to this house and then began running toward the residence with crowbars and hammers in their hand and ski masks over their face.
When I arrived at the home I saw five cars sitting in front of the home at one end of the long driveway. I pulled in and parked near the grouping of cars. Before getting out I got my pad and pen out and thought through what I was going to ask the woman who phoned the police. While doing this I noticed two dogs laying on the ground not too concerned with my recent arrival.
I got out of the car and slowly made my way to the front door. I didn't want to spook the living security system in any way that would give them a reason to attack. I rang the doorbell a couple of times and knocked but nobody answered and I didn't hear anything rustling on the inside.
Making like the diligent reporter I should be I decided to snoop around a bit. Again not wanting to bother the dogs, I slowly began to walk around the side of the house. As I was approaching the rear of the home I found a swimming pool, large carport, trailer and two new dogs who were much more upset about my present than the first wave of canines.
The first dog I noticed was quickly up on his feet and had already made a few steps in my direction. I could tell he was not excited that I was there as his lips were snarled high enough that I could count each pointy instrument of death he was showing off so proudly like the day after a dentists visit. His growl was menacing and extremely threatening, but Little Caeser (that is what I have named him) was nothing compared to the monsterous creature I then saw staggering to his feet.
Zeus (again I have named the dog) was hands down the largest dog I have ever seen in my life. While standing on all four paws, his head easily came up to the top of my chest. I could turn his intestines into a roomy one-bedroom apartment with washer and dryer hookups. Zeus didn't bark much but when he did it began as a low rumble that shook the ground around him until he spewed a short, husky woof that couldn't be ignored.
Little Caeser didn't move much but Zeus was consistently making his way in my direction. At first I froze and forgot the reason I was there in the first place. I regained my wits and slowly started backing toward the front of the house. As I was I slinking to the car I noticed Zeus getting closer and his bark getting more frequent. I grabbed my phone in my left hand, prepared to call 911 in case the canines decided to take a hint from Hitchcock and turn on the humans and had my keys in the other hand repeatedly pushing the unlock button to make sure Mobyd would be ready at the slightest hint of trouble.
Well, since I am writing this I obviously made it back to the office unscathed. The woman I was looking for popped her head from around the side of the house and motioned that it was okay to come out. She and I spoke about the incident and I left moments later.
I have seen some large dogs in my time, one being my mom's boyfriend's rottweiler, but Zeus wins the prize for most horse-like canine.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Only Nine Days Left
Bond, James Bond.
Those immortal words so coolly uttered at a card table across from an intoxicating seductress in 1962’s “Dr. No” began a pop phenomenon that has manifested itself to the world as the James Bond movies.
Of all the movies I have seen, which add up to more than I could possibly imagine, my favorite series is the James Bond, or 007, films. That suave spy with the license to kill, who travels to exotic locations, beds ravishing women, drives the sleekest cars and operates futuristic gadgets, is the everyman’s hero. Several debonair men have portrayed 007, including Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan, and beginning Nov. 17 a new Bond era will begin.
Daniel Craig, who you may recognize from recent films such as “Munich,” “Road to Perdition” or “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” has the demanding task of not only being the sixth official James Bond, but also portraying the character from his beginnings with the British secret service.
“Casino Royale,” opening in theaters this Friday, is the latest in a long series of movies – 21 to be exact – that has spanned more than four decades. Unsure of exactly what the newest movie is, “Casino Royale” is something of a prequel, reboot and retcon all in one.
Eon Productions, the handlers of the official James Bond series, have done this sort of thing in the past, but never to this great an extent. It is almost necessary when working with the same character for 45 years.
At the height of “Bondmania,” following “Goldfinger,” “Thunderball” and “You Only Live Twice,” the producers decided to scale things back a bit while breaking in a new actor for the role in 1969’s “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” Poor box office returns and an initial rejection of George Lazenby as the star resulted in audiences dismissing a small scale Bond movie. Since its release, time has been good to “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” along with the fans of the film, who now declare Lazenby’s only outing as 007 to be one of the highlights of the series.
Following the success of “Star Wars” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” in 1977, the Bond producers decided to turn their spy into an astronaut with the filming of “Moonraker” in 1979. “Moonraker” was given the largest budget of any previous Bond movie and was a financial success, but the producers decided to come back down to earth with their next story.
“For Your Eyes Only” told the simple tale of a lost military encryption devise Bond must retrieve before it is sold to the Soviets. This time audiences were much more accepting of the simple, gadget-less Bond movie.
In the long run, Bond producers are two-for-two when it comes to changing up the formula that creates a Bond movie and reconstructing the series. “Casino Royale” will be their third attempt to do so. In it they will unveil a new lead actor, dismiss the principal characters of Miss Moneypenny and Q, avoid advanced technology such as invisible cars and laser watches and take the audience down the path of how James became Bond.
Those immortal words so coolly uttered at a card table across from an intoxicating seductress in 1962’s “Dr. No” began a pop phenomenon that has manifested itself to the world as the James Bond movies.
Of all the movies I have seen, which add up to more than I could possibly imagine, my favorite series is the James Bond, or 007, films. That suave spy with the license to kill, who travels to exotic locations, beds ravishing women, drives the sleekest cars and operates futuristic gadgets, is the everyman’s hero. Several debonair men have portrayed 007, including Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan, and beginning Nov. 17 a new Bond era will begin.
Daniel Craig, who you may recognize from recent films such as “Munich,” “Road to Perdition” or “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” has the demanding task of not only being the sixth official James Bond, but also portraying the character from his beginnings with the British secret service.
“Casino Royale,” opening in theaters this Friday, is the latest in a long series of movies – 21 to be exact – that has spanned more than four decades. Unsure of exactly what the newest movie is, “Casino Royale” is something of a prequel, reboot and retcon all in one.
Eon Productions, the handlers of the official James Bond series, have done this sort of thing in the past, but never to this great an extent. It is almost necessary when working with the same character for 45 years.
At the height of “Bondmania,” following “Goldfinger,” “Thunderball” and “You Only Live Twice,” the producers decided to scale things back a bit while breaking in a new actor for the role in 1969’s “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” Poor box office returns and an initial rejection of George Lazenby as the star resulted in audiences dismissing a small scale Bond movie. Since its release, time has been good to “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” along with the fans of the film, who now declare Lazenby’s only outing as 007 to be one of the highlights of the series.
Following the success of “Star Wars” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” in 1977, the Bond producers decided to turn their spy into an astronaut with the filming of “Moonraker” in 1979. “Moonraker” was given the largest budget of any previous Bond movie and was a financial success, but the producers decided to come back down to earth with their next story.
“For Your Eyes Only” told the simple tale of a lost military encryption devise Bond must retrieve before it is sold to the Soviets. This time audiences were much more accepting of the simple, gadget-less Bond movie.
In the long run, Bond producers are two-for-two when it comes to changing up the formula that creates a Bond movie and reconstructing the series. “Casino Royale” will be their third attempt to do so. In it they will unveil a new lead actor, dismiss the principal characters of Miss Moneypenny and Q, avoid advanced technology such as invisible cars and laser watches and take the audience down the path of how James became Bond.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
"Casino Royale" Update
A couple of things have taken place involving the upcoming 21st James Bond movie in the last few weeks.
First of all, the theme song is terrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiibbbbbbbble. I own an Audio Slave album and think Chris Cornell, who sings the theme song titled "You Know My Name," is okay. He definitely has a distinctive voice and will be remembered, but he is not the best choice for a Bond song. I know that this Bond movie is different than anything to come before it and the song has to be the same, but the producers shouldn't have traded creativity for quality. Oh well, nothing I can do about it now.
Secondly, some early reviews are coming in for the movie and most of them are very positive. I haven't read any of the narrative (mainly because I don't want anything that might surprise me to be revealed), but the ones that have rated the movie are mainly putting it at 4 out of 5 and 5 out of 5 stars. Very positive news.
The next topic of discussion should be the fact that the producers are already discussing Bond 22. News has been slipping about potential directors, singers and plots for a little while now, but Barbara Broccoli, one half of the family producing the Bond movies, has been very open about the direction the next movie will be taking. This is momentous news for the Bond fan considering the roller coaster event the last four years have been with the firing and hiring of a new Bond going along with the monumental fact that "Casino Royale" is finally being made into a serious Bond film, unlike the putrid specimen from 1967.
To coincide with the release of the 21st film in the series a new set of Bond movies has been released with more special features. Only 10 of the 20 movies were released today, but like a faithful fan I dispensed the $120 so I could own another set of my favorite film series.
The last bit of news, which is pretty amazing, is that I was propositioned today by my editor with a special press screening of "Casino Royale" on Thursday ... and I turned it down. I know this sounds like I am not a fan, but there were some good reasons for doing so. I want to make sure I see it on the best possible screen. I don't want to mess up my Bond marathon, which would only be at "Octopussy" by Thursday. I want to enjoy the experience of a new Bond and a new Bond movie with my friends and the rest of the audience, even though I am taking a risk with a close neighbor ruining the movie by talking during the film, which is becoming an increasing probability as I grow older.
First of all, the theme song is terrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiibbbbbbbble. I own an Audio Slave album and think Chris Cornell, who sings the theme song titled "You Know My Name," is okay. He definitely has a distinctive voice and will be remembered, but he is not the best choice for a Bond song. I know that this Bond movie is different than anything to come before it and the song has to be the same, but the producers shouldn't have traded creativity for quality. Oh well, nothing I can do about it now.
Secondly, some early reviews are coming in for the movie and most of them are very positive. I haven't read any of the narrative (mainly because I don't want anything that might surprise me to be revealed), but the ones that have rated the movie are mainly putting it at 4 out of 5 and 5 out of 5 stars. Very positive news.
The next topic of discussion should be the fact that the producers are already discussing Bond 22. News has been slipping about potential directors, singers and plots for a little while now, but Barbara Broccoli, one half of the family producing the Bond movies, has been very open about the direction the next movie will be taking. This is momentous news for the Bond fan considering the roller coaster event the last four years have been with the firing and hiring of a new Bond going along with the monumental fact that "Casino Royale" is finally being made into a serious Bond film, unlike the putrid specimen from 1967.
To coincide with the release of the 21st film in the series a new set of Bond movies has been released with more special features. Only 10 of the 20 movies were released today, but like a faithful fan I dispensed the $120 so I could own another set of my favorite film series.
The last bit of news, which is pretty amazing, is that I was propositioned today by my editor with a special press screening of "Casino Royale" on Thursday ... and I turned it down. I know this sounds like I am not a fan, but there were some good reasons for doing so. I want to make sure I see it on the best possible screen. I don't want to mess up my Bond marathon, which would only be at "Octopussy" by Thursday. I want to enjoy the experience of a new Bond and a new Bond movie with my friends and the rest of the audience, even though I am taking a risk with a close neighbor ruining the movie by talking during the film, which is becoming an increasing probability as I grow older.
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