To me, Dalton always looked severely constipated or like he had to pass a kidney stone. I felt like HE thought that was being "tough". There was no charm or charisma as far as I saw. Even Connery thought Dalton was too grim in the part and took it too seriously. If I wanted a hero who is working that hard to be tough, instead of being cool and effortless (as I think Bond is and should be), then I'd be the fan of an AMERICAN action hero in countless bad action films.
Edit: And by effortless I mean that he portrays an ease even as things get dicey, not that he's not seriously challenged. He's just smart enough and secure enough to keep his cool under any circumstances.
To me "Bondian" is how Brosnan dispatches the guy at the bar in TWINE, by taking his knife, pinning his tie to the bar and kicking his legs out from under him. Then having another sip of martini.
Preceded by the first time ever Bond needed see-though glasses to figure out somebody had a weapon in their armpit, utterly unnecessary...but I digress.
I liked Dalton as Bond until he started to move or open his mouth: when he wasn't being grim he was trying to be "romantic," which always seemed to equate to a goofy non-Bondian smile, it made for a very disconcerting performance IMHO. And I really wanted to like Dalton as Bond, he just looked so lost...he was the best Bond on paper, just that the reality was something much less than the idea, kinda like New Coke.
Damn we Bond fans are a tough crowd. :007)
Yes we are...as for the see through glasses, to me that was a light comic moment as Bond sees that everyone is packing, even the ladies, and their guns weren't under their armpits.
Good question, I liked Dalton as Bond, I think he had the charisma needed, while also being physical. I especially enjoyed his chemistry with Carey Lowell. The critics and fans can say Craig will play Bond like Dalton, which I take to mean tougher, more ruthless, etc. However, I have never seen any Craig performance (I have seen at least four of his movies)that leads me to believe that he can project the charisma that I feel Bond needs, while also being tougher and more ruthless. When I see Craig on screen, the word pugnacious comes to mind. I don't believe Bond should be pugnacious, he should be suave and debonair, while also being tough. IMO and I am only one single Bond fan, Craig is not capable. As evidence, one only needs to look at the final shot of the CR trailer, Craig at the gambling table, sure didn't look like the suave, debonair, gentleman agent. To me he looked more like a mob enforcer in a tuxs.
Well, you and I know we disagree on Craig for a number of reasons and on a number of points. Hopefully Daniel can prove himself to you, and if he does indeed give something of a different interpretation, hopefully you will like it.
Good question, I liked Dalton as Bond, I think he had the charisma needed, while also being physical. I especially enjoyed his chemistry with Carey Lowell. The critics and fans can say Craig will play Bond like Dalton, which I take to mean tougher, more ruthless, etc. However, I have never seen any Craig performance (I have seen at least four of his movies)that leads me to believe that he can project the charisma that I feel Bond needs, while also being tougher and more ruthless. When I see Craig on screen, the word pugnacious comes to mind. I don't believe Bond should be pugnacious, he should be suave and debonair, while also being tough. IMO and I am only one single Bond fan, Craig is not capable. As evidence, one only needs to look at the final shot of the CR trailer, Craig at the gambling table, sure didn't look like the suave, debonair, gentleman agent. To me he looked more like a mob enforcer in a tuxs.
Well, you and I know we disagree on Craig for a number of reasons and on a number of points. Hopefully Daniel can prove himself to you, and if he does indeed give something of a different interpretation, hopefully you will like it.
I am sure I will Klaus, for one thing I like Caterina, seeing her on the big screen will be an enjoyment for me. Hopefully, the soundtrack will be good, hearing Bond music usually gets my blood moving just by itself. My biggest problem will be overcoming Craig's appearance, he just does not look like my vision of James Bond. Of course, I could watch the movie and change my tune, I have said all along that is a possibility. I also don't like Leiter being a black guy, Leiter was a white guy from Texas in the books, a white guy in the previous 20 (EON) Bond films, he should be a white guy. I have no problem with a black fellow agent, just don't call him Leiter.
I am sure I will Klaus, for one thing I like Caterina, seeing her on the big screen will be an enjoyment for me. Hopefully, the soundtrack will be good, hearing Bond music usually gets my blood moving just by itself. My biggest problem will be overcoming Craig's appearance, he just does not look like my vision of James Bond. Of course, I could watch the movie and change my tune, I have said all along that is a possibility. I also don't like Leiter being a black guy, Leiter was a white guy from Texas in the books, a white guy in the previous 20 (EON) Bond films, he should be a white guy. I have no problem with a black fellow agent, just don't call him Leiter.
Well, we agree 110% on Leiter. I really don't understand that casting at all.
But the Casting I am really kind of troubled by (and I have become moreso over time) is Mads as Le Chiffre, and I especially don't like the direction they've decided to go in with regards to his appearance. I always imagined Le Chiffre as a very dark, tough and full looking, imposing, shadowy figure, and with Mads, they have gone with a sickly-looking, borderline Marilyn Manson, glam-creep pedaphile. It breaks my heart that they couldn't get someone like Jean Reno on board, as I believe he could very well have turned the role into the best Bond villian on film.
And yes, Caterina is quite sexy. I know your opinion on Eva, but I like her very much. And Gianni, I believe, was masterful casting as Mathis, although I believe they should have kept him as French Intelligence.
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
edited July 2006
I'd have much preferred an older, demented 'father figure' in the role of Le Chiffre (like David Suchet), and am also troubled by Mikkelson's casting---still, in the interest of equity, I'll give him a chance. Perhaps he'll compensate for his youth with sheer, unbridled creepiness
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Completely O/T but not really deserving it's own thread:
Just came across this from another forum; it's from a user who is involved with the industry in some way. It's interesting because he read the CR script when it was first leaked and was far from complimentary. He didn't say it was bad per se, but thought it pretty ho-hum. This is what he said just a few days ago:
I was just reading the updated script for CR at lunch today and its a definite improvement..some of the cheesy Purvis& Wadeisms are gone for a start.
The action sequence near the end seems a bit " shoehorned in" but otherwise not bad at all.
He'd also been watching Craig in action this week. He's been quite forthright about thinking Craig is a bad choice for a while because of the backlash against him: these are his thoughts on the bits of his performance he has seen:
he's very athletic...throws himself into the action scenes in the same way as Lazenby or Dalton.Certainly more physical than Moore ( who isn't) and Brosnan.To be honest I think all the criticism has put a bit of a bee in his bonnet.Hasn't got Connery's presence or stature but certainly not a wimp.
Remains to be seen what he is like when he is not kicking &&*(
He's said he thinks Craig is a bit uncharasmatic, although I'm not sure if he thinks that generally or as Bond.
Quite a balanced-seeming point of view: thought it might be of interest.
Seems like a fair balanced opinion, if the fan has the knowledge he claims he has.
He claims Craig is very physical in the role, I believe that. He states Craig lacks the presense and stature of previous Bonds. Therein is the problem I have stated all along. Bond needs presense and stature and charisma and Craig lacks all of them IMO (fully understanding others see differently).
Well, he says he's not up to Connery's presence, which isn't something I really expected anyway (I'd like to hear his thoughts on a non-action scene; quite like what he says about the script, though). That's sort of the problem with this 'reboot': I think when you've got the ghosts of Sean, Roger and Pierce hanging over your shoulder you probably do need a reset in order to distance yourself from comparisons to them. They should have just cut themselves off from the previous films, with just a few hangovers like the theme and gunbarrel. Instead we get little things like the DB5, the old 007 logo, Judi Dench, Martin Campbell, David Arnold etc. coming back which show an unwillingness to stray too far from the path, and that's a bit half-hearted and leaves their bolder decisions up in the air, open to comparisons; such as Craig being compared to Connery, which in a way he shouldn't have to be.
He's really got no chance to be anything other than what some will see as a 'Dalton clone' (and who's belittling Bonds now?) because you've essentially got two extremes of playing Bond: Roger and Tim. Ultra light hearted or ultra serious. Sean was the mid point between the two and Pierce was a greatest hits package of all, veering between extremes and hitting Sean's old marks too. So if you go for a vaguely serious version of Bond you're always going to be seen as being in Tim's camp. Personally I think he's got a little more screen strength than Tim in roles I've seen him in so my guess is an impact somewhere between Tim and Sean, but if they'd actually have made a clean break we may not have needed to compare at all.
Why can't Craig be like Lazenby? ?:) Man, no love for George...:(
Heh! But then Lazenby's style was basically just to try and do a Sean impresssion. He didn't really have his own style of doing it (aside from being very good at action, which is part of Lazenby's performance that I'm sure Craig's Bond will be comparable to). And if Craig manages to be a little better in the acting stakes than George (which ain't hard!) I'm sure no-one will complain!
George had his thing, what much of it there was: in the barn with Rigg, his manly talk with Draco, even his dubbed Hilary Bray (if that can even count, lol) were all what I would consider his own Bond. I think he came off flatest when he was obviously trying to channel Connery (the incessant and just plain bad one liners, for some strange reason, leap to and pulverize the mind ). It's almost as if Hunt were telling him, "That's okay, don't worry about it, it's what the audience expects, let's just get the lighting right and move to the next setup." Lazenby trying to be witty was like watching Roger trying to be tough--a trainwreck. I've always like Lazenby's more dramatic scenes, some of the best in the series IMHO. Maybe not Oscar-worthy, but effective, made him the most vulnerable Bond IMO.
I am sure I will Klaus, for one thing I like Caterina, seeing her on the big screen will be an enjoyment for me. Hopefully, the soundtrack will be good, hearing Bond music usually gets my blood moving just by itself. My biggest problem will be overcoming Craig's appearance, he just does not look like my vision of James Bond. Of course, I could watch the movie and change my tune, I have said all along that is a possibility. I also don't like Leiter being a black guy, Leiter was a white guy from Texas in the books, a white guy in the previous 20 (EON) Bond films, he should be a white guy. I have no problem with a black fellow agent, just don't call him Leiter.
Well, we agree 110% on Leiter. I really don't understand that casting at all.
But the Casting I am really kind of troubled by (and I have become moreso over time) is Mads as Le Chiffre, and I especially don't like the direction they've decided to go in with regards to his appearance. I always imagined Le Chiffre as a very dark, tough and full looking, imposing, shadowy figure, and with Mads, they have gone with a sickly-looking, borderline Marilyn Manson, glam-creep pedaphile. It breaks my heart that they couldn't get someone like Jean Reno on board, as I believe he could very well have turned the role into the best Bond villian on film.
And yes, Caterina is quite sexy. I know your opinion on Eva, but I like her very much. And Gianni, I believe, was masterful casting as Mathis, although I believe they should have kept him as French Intelligence.
Klaus we agree on more than I would have thought. I also agree on Mads, I too think he looks like a pedephile and I agree with Loeffs that an older fatherly figure is what my mental image of Le Chiffre is. Gianni was good casting for Mathis.
I also agree on Mads, I too think he looks like a pedephile and I agree with Loeffs that an older fatherly figure is what my mental image of Le Chiffre is.
Well at least he's not fluffy and cuddly: looking like a paedophile is at least on the right end of the good/bad spectrum! You probably can't do better than Orson Welles for a father figure-type of Le Chiffre so they've aimed for something a little different but still nicely evil!
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
The one thing I do like about Mikkelson's Le Chiffre is that---in the grand Eon/Fleming tradition---they're keeping him in the realm of the grotesque...
...blood from the tear duct is a very nice touch, IMHO...
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Staying spoiler-free here, but the little I have seen/heard of Mads' Le Chiffre I like, it is evilly feeling...decent bad guys are difficult to do IMO, hope Mads' Le Chiffre turns out better than some we've had lately, seems they've either been interesting but non-lethal or the other way around (why did Renard need all that back story anyway? Just seemed a waste to me, he hardly mattered in the end...should've saved it for another film or changed the plot to make more use of him IMO, holding a hot rock doesn't really cut it for me, lol).
ben, I just think it would've been cool to figure renard more into the actual film, with all that great back story he got to hold a hot rock...I mean why even have that scene? I know he had a couple other moments, but he just seemed woefully underused for such a grand buildup. Kinda like Blofeld in YOLT, looks great but is less filling.
(Note: I tried to send you this as a PM, but I'm blocked...I was sad. )
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
I agree that they should've made much more out of Renard's 'condition' than they did; the concept was excellent---a man impervious to pain. It was under-exploited, IMHO.
On the other hand, they made good use of the fact that Renard wasn't immune to emotional pain...the moment where Bond tells him of Electra's death was a nice payoff in that regard.
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
He's said he thinks Craig is a bit uncharasmatic, although I'm not sure if he thinks that generally or as Bond.
Quite a balanced-seeming point of view: thought it might be of interest.
I suspect Craig's charisma will improve as soon as he's presented as Bond on a big screen. After all, it's our memories our Connery as Bond that gives him his aura. There are a number of actors who seem utterly ordinary until they get onscreen. I'm reminded of this story this friend of my mother's told me about a visit to Las Vegas in the late '70s. She got into a casual conversation in a casino with a young man, who she described as very nice. Just small talk. It wasn't until he had walked off that she realized he looked familiar. Then she placed him: it was Robert Redford, who was in town to film "The Electric Horseman." Who in their right mind would say the Sundance Kid lacked charisma? Apparently, he doesn't drip it from his pores in real life. That aura of the big screen and the actor's ability to present themselves as a character the audience indentifies with, admires, whatever, has a lot to do with it.
I think the same thing may happen to Craig. It is uncanny how hard and tough he looks as Bond (in the trailer for instance), wimpy and ineffectual in Enduring Love, fiery and "poetic" in Sylvia. I know there's this big debate about calling Craig a "great" actor and I won't fuel that one here. I don't know if he's a great actor, but he's certainly very talented and able to pull off whatever he needs to onscreen. If Bond needs charisma in CR, I'm sure he'll deliver it. The Bond girls seem to find him attractive, and I'm pretty sure it isn't just PR
I agree that they should've made much more out of Renard's 'condition' than they did; the concept was excellent---a man impervious to pain. It was under-exploited, IMHO.
Yeah- just like the thing in TND with Stamper who was apparently supposed to have his pleasure and pain responses mixed up (hence all the smiling when Bond kept stabbing him). But I think something got dropped at some point and all references to it were lost. I think that's why Renard's condition was so similar; but again they failed to use effectively.
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
Bond is no longer the start all or end all action/spy movie franchise out there.
You and I are certainly different kinds of Bond fans, HG.
Oh, well.."Back to the salt mines." 8-)
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Another interview from Caterina, this time in Entertainment Weekly. It's pretty much same old, same old...but it's nice to know more about her personally. I think it's the language barrier, but saying things like "I'm happy that people speak bad about Daniel", is just asking for her words taken out of context and misquoted!
Solange, It's Been Good to Know You!
Meet new Bond girl Caterina Murino:
Gary Susman chats with the former Miss Italy finalist, who's poised to seduce audiences as well as James Bond in November's ''Casino Royale''.
Usually, it's the Bond movie villains who have plans for world domination, but this time, it's Bond girl Caterina Murino who is likely to conquer the globe. You'll meet her in November's Casino Royale, where she plays Solange, wife of villain Dimitrios, who gets her revenge on her abusive husband by sleeping with a certain British spy. Echoing Dr. No, Murino does original Bond girl Ursula Andress one better, making an iconic surfside entrance wearing a skimpy green bikini and riding a white horse, a scene that promises to make moviegoers — and casting directors worldwide — take notice.
It's already been a rapid rise to stardom for the 28-year-old Murino, who might have become a doctor had she not failed her medical school entrance exam. Instead, she entered the Miss Italy contest and finished in the top five, which led to modeling, which led to commercials, which led to stage work, which led to movie stardom in Italy, Spain, and France, which led to her audition for Casino director Martin Campbell.
Of course, being a Bond girl is no guarantee of future career success. (Anyone seen Izabella Scorupco or Maryam d'Abo lately?) Still, Murino is approaching her big break like a politician: She's already in Los Angeles campaigning for roles. Last week, she was in New York, courting magazines for potential photo spreads. She visited the EW office, where she shook hands with nearly everyone on the editorial staff. She also took time to talk about the already controversial Casino, what it's done for her career and her charity work, and her own formidable casino skills.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: It's ironic that you landed the role of horsewoman Solange, since a horse almost caused you to blow your audition.
CATERINA MURINO: It was very funny because the day before, I had an accident with a horse. I was preparing for an Italian movie, and I fell down. I broke a rib on my right side. I was in the hospital. I was completely under drugs. I went there to the casting, and I couldn't walk. It was unusual; the Bond girl is so full of energy, and I can't walk! But Martin Campbell called me back to go to London and do the same scene with him. And I got the role.
When I read the script, 120 pages, there was only one f---ing horse, and it was mine. So I went back to riding horses. At first, it was just a small pony, just walking, because I am so afraid I am going to fall. I was shooting in the Bahamas for a month. For all month, I was riding a horse every day. I had a great teacher who pushed me every day to take off the fear. So everything you see is me. I don't use a stunt woman: I ride the horse on the beach with the green bikini.
What is Solange like?
Solange is not a typical Bond girl because she doesn't have an action scene. I have only the scene with the horse and the bikini on the beach. I don't try to kill James Bond. I tried to give some humanity to Solange. A lot of women have been hit by their husbands. I take revenge by sleeping with James Bond. Nice revenge! If all women who've been hit by their husbands can resolve in that way, it would be very nice.
How do you respond to criticism from fans that Daniel Craig is miscast as Bond?
I am happy that people speak bad about Daniel. They are going to be so surprised.
Before I went to the Bahamas, I saw Munich. After I came out of the theater, I was so scared. I thought, How can I play with him? How can I rise to his level? But he was such a professional, and he helped me so much. I am very glad I worked with him.
Daniel Craig is such a great actor — he was the right choice. [His] James Bond is not as much of a cartoon. There's less special effects, more stunt scenes, to make the movie more real. Daniel is playing James Bond like a real actor, not just playful, like always. When Daniel kills somebody, he's a real killer. When he kissed me, it was so sexy and so real. You will see James Bond fall in love for the first time — unfortunately, not with me. For the first time, you will see James Bond with blood in his face. I don't remember Sean Connery or Pierce Brosnan with blood in his face when he came out from a fight. He's so violent, and we never see James Bond violent. So modern. It's completely different from the 20 movies before.
Solange spends a fair amount of time in the casino. How are you at casino games?
I'm quite lucky. I went to Las Vegas for New Year's five years ago. I won a lot of money playing roulette and the slot machines. During the shoot in the Bahamas, I played a lot of poker, and I'm quite good. A lot of people told me I have a classic poker face. The crew started to play with me, and they started to be scared because at the end, I always win. I don't play all the time. We played just for fun, but in Las Vegas, I won, like, 4,000 Euros.
Are you worried about the possible career jinx of the Bond girl role?
To not kill my career as an actress after James Bond, I must make the right choice for my next movie. I'm very glad to be a Bond girl. I'm very glad to be a part of history. I'll be very glad, when I am 70 years old, to say to my child I was a Bond girl. But after the 17th of November, the page will turn, and I hope to be a normal European, international actress.
So what did you choose to do next?
In 2007, 2008, I have six movies, three Italian and three French. They are completely different, not very commercial movies. The three Italian movies, they are on my shoulders completely, and I hope to be good.
I am thankful to be a Bond girl because one of my movies — we've been working on it for two years — is about a girl in 1914 in Sicily who tries to be a priest, and she makes war against the Church. I live in Italy, it's an Italian movie, and if you go against the Vatican, it's impossible to find money. And now, because I am a Bond girl, we've found the money.
How has being a Bond girl affected your work as a goodwill ambassador for AMREF, a charity that provides medicine to the needy in Africa?
To be a Bond girl, to be an actress, to be a little more famous than before, can help something that's very important to me, like Africa. They asked me to be an ambassador three months ago. I told them I was glad to help.
I was in Kenya 10 days ago. I saw horrible things; I saw beautiful things. I saw a huge slum in Nairobi where babies live in the middle of s---, no water, no toilet. My association tries to give medical help because a lot of people have AIDS and tuberculosis. In the afternoon, I went to a camp where there are baby orphans because the parents died of AIDS. They are from 4 years old to 15 years old. They have nothing, no television, just a school. And everybody knows James Bond. I was so surprised. A 14-year-old boy asked me, ''Can you say hello for me to James?'' So I said hello for him to Daniel. [Bond producer] Barbara Broccoli was so impressed.
So you got to help people medically, even though you didn't get to become a doctor.
Exactly. That is what I felt when I was there in the middle of these babies. I believe in God. I am a Christian. Now I understand why I failed the exam. I am here and I can help the children in a different way. Life gives us different occasions to give back.
(Posted:08/08/06)
Nice pic too:
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
A lovely lady, in more ways than one. :x
Thanks, Mo. {[]
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Hey, speaking of Entertaiment Weekly... Did you guys hear they are doing 6 collectible covers of all the Bonds as they would have appeared if the old movies were released today. Obviously Craig's will coincide with CR. From the quick glimpse I got, the Lazenby one is especially cool...go figure!! Anyway, I just didn't hear when they are all coming out. Anyone know? Anyone ...anyone? MBE?
Hey, speaking of Entertaiment Weekly... Did you guys hear they are doing 6 collectible covers of all the Bonds as they would have appeared if the old movies were released today. Obviously Craig's will coincide with CR. From the quick glimpse I got, the Lazenby one is especially cool...go figure!! Anyway, I just didn't hear when they are all coming out. Anyone know? Anyone ...anyone? MBE?
Nice scoop Mo, I am sure MBE has already preordered her Brosnan copy.
As for Caterina, have I said before that she is hot, I believe I have. :x
I wish I had seen Brosnan's! I only saw Connery's, Craig's and Lazenby's. They are very cool..done in black and white. I want all of them.
Mo, this is the first I've heard of it. Do you have a link? I'd be surprised if they issued 6 different weeks of covers, and not just all versions of the covers in the same week like TV Guide does when they have multiple covers. Especially since EW is owned by WB and not SONY. WB is more prone to overtly really push their own franchises -- like Superman, Batman and *cough -- hairball* Catwoman.
Yeah, I thought that was odd too MBE. And yes, I got the impression it would be like TV Guide where they would all come out the same week. We'll have to race around finding them all. I was just walking into the room when I heard about it on Entertainment Tonight, so I missed the dates! God, I hope I didn't dream it. You know how you second guess yourself when no one else has heard what you did? )
Mo, I just saw an article on Yahoo news from Australia. It had a photo of the EW magazine with Craig on the cover for next week's Fall issue. In the right hand corner are the mock up retro covers of the other 5 Bonds and above a caption that says "Inside". So all the coves are in one magazine. It seems weird to see a mock up cover of Brosnan from '95 considering he actually was on the EW cover in Nov '95 and it was different.
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
Thanks, MBE. Yep, those guys are James Bond, all right---all six of 'em. {[]
Love the retro themes of the covers---the one with ol' Roger references the '70's show, 'Maude.' And the one with Sir Sean talks about him being JFK's favourite spy... :007)
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Comments
Yes we are...as for the see through glasses, to me that was a light comic moment as Bond sees that everyone is packing, even the ladies, and their guns weren't under their armpits.
Was someone talking about Caterina.
Did I mention we also all suffer from ADD?
Well, you and I know we disagree on Craig for a number of reasons and on a number of points. Hopefully Daniel can prove himself to you, and if he does indeed give something of a different interpretation, hopefully you will like it.
I am sure I will Klaus, for one thing I like Caterina, seeing her on the big screen will be an enjoyment for me. Hopefully, the soundtrack will be good, hearing Bond music usually gets my blood moving just by itself. My biggest problem will be overcoming Craig's appearance, he just does not look like my vision of James Bond. Of course, I could watch the movie and change my tune, I have said all along that is a possibility. I also don't like Leiter being a black guy, Leiter was a white guy from Texas in the books, a white guy in the previous 20 (EON) Bond films, he should be a white guy. I have no problem with a black fellow agent, just don't call him Leiter.
Well, we agree 110% on Leiter. I really don't understand that casting at all.
But the Casting I am really kind of troubled by (and I have become moreso over time) is Mads as Le Chiffre, and I especially don't like the direction they've decided to go in with regards to his appearance. I always imagined Le Chiffre as a very dark, tough and full looking, imposing, shadowy figure, and with Mads, they have gone with a sickly-looking, borderline Marilyn Manson, glam-creep pedaphile. It breaks my heart that they couldn't get someone like Jean Reno on board, as I believe he could very well have turned the role into the best Bond villian on film.
And yes, Caterina is quite sexy. I know your opinion on Eva, but I like her very much. And Gianni, I believe, was masterful casting as Mathis, although I believe they should have kept him as French Intelligence.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Well, he says he's not up to Connery's presence, which isn't something I really expected anyway (I'd like to hear his thoughts on a non-action scene; quite like what he says about the script, though). That's sort of the problem with this 'reboot': I think when you've got the ghosts of Sean, Roger and Pierce hanging over your shoulder you probably do need a reset in order to distance yourself from comparisons to them. They should have just cut themselves off from the previous films, with just a few hangovers like the theme and gunbarrel. Instead we get little things like the DB5, the old 007 logo, Judi Dench, Martin Campbell, David Arnold etc. coming back which show an unwillingness to stray too far from the path, and that's a bit half-hearted and leaves their bolder decisions up in the air, open to comparisons; such as Craig being compared to Connery, which in a way he shouldn't have to be.
He's really got no chance to be anything other than what some will see as a 'Dalton clone' (and who's belittling Bonds now?) because you've essentially got two extremes of playing Bond: Roger and Tim. Ultra light hearted or ultra serious. Sean was the mid point between the two and Pierce was a greatest hits package of all, veering between extremes and hitting Sean's old marks too. So if you go for a vaguely serious version of Bond you're always going to be seen as being in Tim's camp. Personally I think he's got a little more screen strength than Tim in roles I've seen him in so my guess is an impact somewhere between Tim and Sean, but if they'd actually have made a clean break we may not have needed to compare at all.
Heh!
What was Caterina talking about again...?
Klaus we agree on more than I would have thought. I also agree on Mads, I too think he looks like a pedephile and I agree with Loeffs that an older fatherly figure is what my mental image of Le Chiffre is. Gianni was good casting for Mathis.
Well at least he's not fluffy and cuddly: looking like a paedophile is at least on the right end of the good/bad spectrum!
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
(Note: I tried to send you this as a PM, but I'm blocked...I was sad.
On the other hand, they made good use of the fact that Renard wasn't immune to emotional pain...the moment where Bond tells him of Electra's death was a nice payoff in that regard.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
I suspect Craig's charisma will improve as soon as he's presented as Bond on a big screen. After all, it's our memories our Connery as Bond that gives him his aura. There are a number of actors who seem utterly ordinary until they get onscreen. I'm reminded of this story this friend of my mother's told me about a visit to Las Vegas in the late '70s. She got into a casual conversation in a casino with a young man, who she described as very nice. Just small talk. It wasn't until he had walked off that she realized he looked familiar. Then she placed him: it was Robert Redford, who was in town to film "The Electric Horseman." Who in their right mind would say the Sundance Kid lacked charisma? Apparently, he doesn't drip it from his pores in real life. That aura of the big screen and the actor's ability to present themselves as a character the audience indentifies with, admires, whatever, has a lot to do with it.
I think the same thing may happen to Craig. It is uncanny how hard and tough he looks as Bond (in the trailer for instance), wimpy and ineffectual in Enduring Love, fiery and "poetic" in Sylvia. I know there's this big debate about calling Craig a "great" actor and I won't fuel that one here. I don't know if he's a great actor, but he's certainly very talented and able to pull off whatever he needs to onscreen. If Bond needs charisma in CR, I'm sure he'll deliver it. The Bond girls seem to find him attractive, and I'm pretty sure it isn't just PR
Yeah- just like the thing in TND with Stamper who was apparently supposed to have his pleasure and pain responses mixed up (hence all the smiling when Bond kept stabbing him). But I think something got dropped at some point and all references to it were lost. I think that's why Renard's condition was so similar; but again they failed to use effectively.
You and I are certainly different kinds of Bond fans, HG.
Oh, well.."Back to the salt mines." 8-)
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,1224513_1_0_,00.html
Solange, It's Been Good to Know You!
Meet new Bond girl Caterina Murino:
Gary Susman chats with the former Miss Italy finalist, who's poised to seduce audiences as well as James Bond in November's ''Casino Royale''.
Usually, it's the Bond movie villains who have plans for world domination, but this time, it's Bond girl Caterina Murino who is likely to conquer the globe. You'll meet her in November's Casino Royale, where she plays Solange, wife of villain Dimitrios, who gets her revenge on her abusive husband by sleeping with a certain British spy. Echoing Dr. No, Murino does original Bond girl Ursula Andress one better, making an iconic surfside entrance wearing a skimpy green bikini and riding a white horse, a scene that promises to make moviegoers — and casting directors worldwide — take notice.
It's already been a rapid rise to stardom for the 28-year-old Murino, who might have become a doctor had she not failed her medical school entrance exam. Instead, she entered the Miss Italy contest and finished in the top five, which led to modeling, which led to commercials, which led to stage work, which led to movie stardom in Italy, Spain, and France, which led to her audition for Casino director Martin Campbell.
Of course, being a Bond girl is no guarantee of future career success. (Anyone seen Izabella Scorupco or Maryam d'Abo lately?) Still, Murino is approaching her big break like a politician: She's already in Los Angeles campaigning for roles. Last week, she was in New York, courting magazines for potential photo spreads. She visited the EW office, where she shook hands with nearly everyone on the editorial staff. She also took time to talk about the already controversial Casino, what it's done for her career and her charity work, and her own formidable casino skills.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: It's ironic that you landed the role of horsewoman Solange, since a horse almost caused you to blow your audition.
CATERINA MURINO: It was very funny because the day before, I had an accident with a horse. I was preparing for an Italian movie, and I fell down. I broke a rib on my right side. I was in the hospital. I was completely under drugs. I went there to the casting, and I couldn't walk. It was unusual; the Bond girl is so full of energy, and I can't walk! But Martin Campbell called me back to go to London and do the same scene with him. And I got the role.
When I read the script, 120 pages, there was only one f---ing horse, and it was mine. So I went back to riding horses. At first, it was just a small pony, just walking, because I am so afraid I am going to fall. I was shooting in the Bahamas for a month. For all month, I was riding a horse every day. I had a great teacher who pushed me every day to take off the fear. So everything you see is me. I don't use a stunt woman: I ride the horse on the beach with the green bikini.
What is Solange like?
Solange is not a typical Bond girl because she doesn't have an action scene. I have only the scene with the horse and the bikini on the beach. I don't try to kill James Bond. I tried to give some humanity to Solange. A lot of women have been hit by their husbands. I take revenge by sleeping with James Bond. Nice revenge! If all women who've been hit by their husbands can resolve in that way, it would be very nice.
How do you respond to criticism from fans that Daniel Craig is miscast as Bond?
I am happy that people speak bad about Daniel. They are going to be so surprised.
Before I went to the Bahamas, I saw Munich. After I came out of the theater, I was so scared. I thought, How can I play with him? How can I rise to his level? But he was such a professional, and he helped me so much. I am very glad I worked with him.
Daniel Craig is such a great actor — he was the right choice. [His] James Bond is not as much of a cartoon. There's less special effects, more stunt scenes, to make the movie more real. Daniel is playing James Bond like a real actor, not just playful, like always. When Daniel kills somebody, he's a real killer. When he kissed me, it was so sexy and so real. You will see James Bond fall in love for the first time — unfortunately, not with me. For the first time, you will see James Bond with blood in his face. I don't remember Sean Connery or Pierce Brosnan with blood in his face when he came out from a fight. He's so violent, and we never see James Bond violent. So modern. It's completely different from the 20 movies before.
Solange spends a fair amount of time in the casino. How are you at casino games?
I'm quite lucky. I went to Las Vegas for New Year's five years ago. I won a lot of money playing roulette and the slot machines. During the shoot in the Bahamas, I played a lot of poker, and I'm quite good. A lot of people told me I have a classic poker face. The crew started to play with me, and they started to be scared because at the end, I always win. I don't play all the time. We played just for fun, but in Las Vegas, I won, like, 4,000 Euros.
Are you worried about the possible career jinx of the Bond girl role?
To not kill my career as an actress after James Bond, I must make the right choice for my next movie. I'm very glad to be a Bond girl. I'm very glad to be a part of history. I'll be very glad, when I am 70 years old, to say to my child I was a Bond girl. But after the 17th of November, the page will turn, and I hope to be a normal European, international actress.
So what did you choose to do next?
In 2007, 2008, I have six movies, three Italian and three French. They are completely different, not very commercial movies. The three Italian movies, they are on my shoulders completely, and I hope to be good.
I am thankful to be a Bond girl because one of my movies — we've been working on it for two years — is about a girl in 1914 in Sicily who tries to be a priest, and she makes war against the Church. I live in Italy, it's an Italian movie, and if you go against the Vatican, it's impossible to find money. And now, because I am a Bond girl, we've found the money.
How has being a Bond girl affected your work as a goodwill ambassador for AMREF, a charity that provides medicine to the needy in Africa?
To be a Bond girl, to be an actress, to be a little more famous than before, can help something that's very important to me, like Africa. They asked me to be an ambassador three months ago. I told them I was glad to help.
I was in Kenya 10 days ago. I saw horrible things; I saw beautiful things. I saw a huge slum in Nairobi where babies live in the middle of s---, no water, no toilet. My association tries to give medical help because a lot of people have AIDS and tuberculosis. In the afternoon, I went to a camp where there are baby orphans because the parents died of AIDS. They are from 4 years old to 15 years old. They have nothing, no television, just a school. And everybody knows James Bond. I was so surprised. A 14-year-old boy asked me, ''Can you say hello for me to James?'' So I said hello for him to Daniel. [Bond producer] Barbara Broccoli was so impressed.
So you got to help people medically, even though you didn't get to become a doctor.
Exactly. That is what I felt when I was there in the middle of these babies. I believe in God. I am a Christian. Now I understand why I failed the exam. I am here and I can help the children in a different way. Life gives us different occasions to give back.
(Posted:08/08/06)
Nice pic too:
Thanks, Mo. {[]
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Hey, speaking of Entertaiment Weekly... Did you guys hear they are doing 6 collectible covers of all the Bonds as they would have appeared if the old movies were released today. Obviously Craig's will coincide with CR. From the quick glimpse I got, the Lazenby one is especially cool...go figure!! Anyway, I just didn't hear when they are all coming out. Anyone know? Anyone ...anyone? MBE?
Nice scoop Mo, I am sure MBE has already preordered her Brosnan copy.
As for Caterina, have I said before that she is hot, I believe I have. :x
Mo, this is the first I've heard of it. Do you have a link? I'd be surprised if they issued 6 different weeks of covers, and not just all versions of the covers in the same week like TV Guide does when they have multiple covers. Especially since EW is owned by WB and not SONY. WB is more prone to overtly really push their own franchises -- like Superman, Batman and *cough -- hairball* Catwoman.
MBE
Ah found it again. Here
MBE
Love the retro themes of the covers---the one with ol' Roger references the '70's show, 'Maude.' And the one with Sir Sean talks about him being JFK's favourite spy... :007)
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM