BOND'S ROYALE FLUSH; CASINO ROYALE.Byline: DAVID EDWARDS David Edwards may refer to one of the following persons.
Cert 12A, 144mins ****** Ever since it was announced Daniel Craig was to don that tuxedo and play the world's most famous secret agent, the brickbats have been flying. Too short. Too ugly. Too soft. Too blond. But right now, Craig should be wearing the world's widest, smuggest grin. Moore, Brosnan, Dalton, Lazenby, and maybe, just maybe, even Connery should stand aside. The man born to be Bond is here. A mighty claim? Yep. But if you don't leave the multiplex thinking the same thing, I'll slide a casino chip into your DJ. That's not a misprint mis·print tr.v. mis·print·ed, mis·print·ing, mis·prints To print incorrectly. n. An error in printing. just to the left, by the way, this really is a six-star triumph. Casino Royale is a great film - thrilling, action-packed and boasting some absolutely stunning set pieces. But what makes it one of 007's finestever outings is Craig who turns in a performance that, for the first time, gives a Bond movie a heart. And as for blond on Bond - why the heck not? Based on Ian Fleming's first novel, the action begins in moody black and white as Her Majesty's finest dispenses with two bad guys in order to earn his 00 status. But the rookie spy has little time to rest on his laurels as he's despatched to Africa to track down a suspected terrorist bomb-maker. And if the film's opening minutes are intense, you ain't seen nothing yet as Bond chases his quarry through a jungle and into a building site, culminating in a vertigo-inducing showdown atop a crane. But don't even think about drawing breath, for we're soon plunged into further mystery and intrigue as 007 heads to the Bahamas - pausing only to seduce a married woman - and then on to Miami where he must foil a plot to blow up a prototype airliner. The film culminates in a high-stakes poker game where Bond faces arch villain Le Chiffre (Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen), a banker to the world's most dangerous terrorists. The first half of the film doesn't disappoint with Craig tearing up the rulebook to play a meaner, moodier Bond - one who seems to take a sadistic sa·dism n. 1. The deriving of sexual gratification or the tendency to derive sexual gratification from inflicting pain or emotional abuse on others. 2. The deriving of pleasure, or the tendency to derive pleasure, from cruelty. pleasure in killing - while at the same time hinting at a dark, tortured psyche. Eva Green as new Bond girl Vesper Lynd positively oozes class and sex appeal as she falls for her hero, a move that, in keeping with the formula, means she probably won't be around for the sequel. There's no sign of gadget master Q or Miss Moneypenny here, but M is once again expertly played by Judi Dench who gets some of the film's best one-liners. After Bond blows away a baddie during one of his more explosive assignments, she exclaims, "Christ, I miss the Cold War!" Sure, there's the odd niggle nig·gle intr.v. nig·gled, nig·gling, nig·gles 1. To be preoccupied with trifles or petty details. 2. To find fault constantly and trivially; carp. See Synonyms at quibble. . As a Bond villain, Le Chiffre isn't up there with Blofeld or Jaws, while Chris Cornell's theme tune is a grower at best. Some viewers may also find it a touch perplexing per·plex tr.v. per·plexed, per·plex·ing, per·plex·es 1. To confuse or trouble with uncertainty or doubt. See Synonyms at puzzle. 2. To make confusedly intricate; complicate. that Casino Royale is set right at the start of Bond's career, effectively ignoring the previous 20 movies. But these really are mere quibbles. It's right up there with early entries such as From Russia With Love, Goldfinger and Thunderball. And did I mention just how good Craig is? May the naysayers be slowly lowered into a tank of maneating sharks. Dan is the man. I say again, Dan is the man! THE BIG RELEASE THE REEL LOWDOWN low·down n. Slang The whole truth: gave us the lowdown on what happened at the party. lowdown low (inf) n he gave me the lowdown on it → BEST QUOTE: M to Bond: "This may be too much for a blunt instrument to understand. Any thug can kill. I want you to take your ego out of the equation." BEST BIT: Daniel Craig dazzles. WORST BIT: Some may find it too long. IF YOU LIKED... GoldenEye, The Bourne Bourne, town (1990 pop. 16,064), Barnstable co., SE Mass., crossed by Cape Cod Canal; settled 1627, inc. 1884. Bourne Bridge (1935), across the canal, made the town an entry point to Cape Cod and a resort and commercial center. Supremacy... YOU'LL LIKE THIS. CAPTION(S): ON THE RUN: Explosive opening chase' HOT STUFF: New Bond girl Eva Green' DAN'S THE MAN: Daniel Craig excels as 007 |
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