Going the Other Way
When I finally saw Casino Royale, I understood why everyone was excited. (Beyond Daniel Craig's abs. Can we focus, please?)
A big part of the reason Casino Royale was so fun was because it was full of surprises. It was full of surprises because it repeatedly turned our expectations on their heads.
Exhibits A through E:
A. He's a blond, thick, serious looking Bond. There was hoopla over the casting. Clearly, the intent was to go as far away from Pierce Brosnan's prettiness as possible. Which lent the movie some bad-assishness.
B. This bond is anything but effete, and doesn't quite belong. Shaken or stirred? they ask. He answers: "Do I look like I give a damn?"
C. The little details don't work out the way they normally do. At one point in the hotel hallway, Bond's earpiece gives him away. (I've always wondered why that doesn't happen more often.)
D. When this Bond is tortured, he doesn't seem unhurtable. He's actually pretty darn vulnerable. In fact, the torture he goes through is about the worst (and possibly most humiliating?) a man can suffer. This movie risks emasculating Bond, which actually has the opposite effect.
E. This Bond genuinely loves the girl, and has a complete character arc. Refreshing!
It's hard to say if many of these particular "fresh takes" can be repeated as the series continues, or if they're "reboot" factors. Nevertheless, if future Bond films surprise us by intentionally doing the things we don't expect them to... I'm in.
A big part of the reason Casino Royale was so fun was because it was full of surprises. It was full of surprises because it repeatedly turned our expectations on their heads.
Exhibits A through E:
A. He's a blond, thick, serious looking Bond. There was hoopla over the casting. Clearly, the intent was to go as far away from Pierce Brosnan's prettiness as possible. Which lent the movie some bad-assishness.
B. This bond is anything but effete, and doesn't quite belong. Shaken or stirred? they ask. He answers: "Do I look like I give a damn?"
C. The little details don't work out the way they normally do. At one point in the hotel hallway, Bond's earpiece gives him away. (I've always wondered why that doesn't happen more often.)
D. When this Bond is tortured, he doesn't seem unhurtable. He's actually pretty darn vulnerable. In fact, the torture he goes through is about the worst (and possibly most humiliating?) a man can suffer. This movie risks emasculating Bond, which actually has the opposite effect.
E. This Bond genuinely loves the girl, and has a complete character arc. Refreshing!
It's hard to say if many of these particular "fresh takes" can be repeated as the series continues, or if they're "reboot" factors. Nevertheless, if future Bond films surprise us by intentionally doing the things we don't expect them to... I'm in.
Labels: action, convention
posted by Jennica at 12:49 p.m.
5 Comments:
Netflix is delivering this particular title to me later in the week, but I'll read the rest of your surprising column as soon as I watch it. I'm glad someone who really knows what she's talking about loved this flick and I'm now looking forward to mail. Thanks, Jennica!
I have to agree that it is the best. For me it was for three simple reasons:
1) Bond can actually get hurt.
2) The bad guy was real. No plan to take over the world. No evil empire based on some oil rig/island. Just a bad guy after the money.
3) No silly gadgets. You could believe what you saw.
In short they made a realistic film.
I hope I didn't overhype, Joe... if I did, I'm in good company!
Chris, 3 fantastic points that should have been in the post to begin with!
You didn't overhype it, Jennica. Casino Royale was one of the best flicks I've seen in awhile. I even watched it twice before sending the DVD back, and that experience hardly ever happens.
I love how they reconfigured Bond from a debonair fop and into an athletic killer. Much more realistic, intriguing and along the lines of what Ian Fleming wrote. I was stunned they actually gave him a real relationship with a real professional woman. About time.
You're right, Bond really does not belong in many of the settings they put him in and that kept the movie interesting as an action drama, instead of just spectacle.
Phew! Joe, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
I feel so encouraged that this movie was made, in this way, in this time.
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