Screenwriters: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Paul Haggis; Ian Flemming (novel)
Many a groan was heard round the world when Daniel Craig was chosen to follow in Pierce Brosnan’s very big Bond footsteps: Who is this new guy? He’s not tall enough. He’s blond, for chrissakes! As an avid James Bond fan, I admit I was a tad skeptical, more so about the story than the actor, though (the trailer was all over the place). However, I really enjoyed it.
For those of you who just screamed, “Sacrilege!”, grab the nearest crowbar, pry open your minds, then see the movie. I predict your groans will turn to cheers.
So who is Daniel Craig and why does he make a good James Bond? According to imdb.com, the 38-year-old British actor has appeared in over 40 movies and television episodes, most notably, Layer Cake (a hip gangster flick a la Guy Ritchie) and Sylvia (as Ted Hughes, opposite Gwenyth Paltrow). Why is he a good Bond? Once our hero earns his “007” status, he reveals a different kind of intensity and mixes it with a touch of vulnerability. Which is not to say that he’s made James Bond wimpy; quite the contrary. As he pursues terrorist banker Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) with the stubbornness of a bull chasing a matador, this vulnerability reminds us that, despite his skills, smarts and strengths, our hero is still prone to errors in judgment. Just like us.
What I liked: Smartly written script, featuring witty repartee (finally!) between Bond and love interest Vespa Lynd (Eva Green); verbal exchanges during the high-stakes poker game between Bond and Le Chiffre; creatively rewritten Bondisms; the construction site chase
What I didn’t: As a prequel, I was confused by the casting choice of Judi Dench as “M”; the conspicuous absence of “Q”; fewer gadgets
Madeleine says: Worth full price
What do you say?
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