IMDB review of CR--SPOILER ALERT!
blueman
PDXPosts: 1,667MI6 Agent
This is getting around today, thought I'd post it here, enjoy:
I got to this past weekend and I'm sharing my thoughts with you folks. It was a test screening for "alcazar". In reality it was, as we were told the final cut of Casino Royale! It really is something else. I guess I am a Bond fan. I have seen all the 20 films and I love a good action aventure film and the Bond films are classic although aside from Goldeneye the last few film have been GODAWFUL! It was just the same old same old formula story. I have been reading alot of the posts on this forum and just had to laugh! I hate to say this but ALOT of people are going to look extreamly stupid come Novenber.
This really is a very different Bond film. At times it was hard to even think that Casino Royale is even remotly related or connected to the past films. It is just so radically different from say something like the world is not enough of Die another day. I think the best anlogy would be comparing the last 4 Bond films to the first 4 Batman films. They started out good Batman/Goldeneye but slowly degenerated into formulamatic overly campy mediocer crap Batman and Robin/Die another day. I pratically almost walked out of the cinema when I saw Brosnan's "toy car on a string" go over the side of that plastic ice cliff in Die anothe day. All saying about how this is more realistic back to the basics reboot a-la Batman Begins is true.
Casino Royale will be to Die another day as what Batman Begins is to batman and Robin. I feel so lucky that being a fan of both Batman and Bond noe both franchises are getting a much needed make-over. Now about Craig as Bond. He ain't Connery, he isn't Moore, Dalton or Brosnan. He's Craig. I wouldn't call that a bad thing though. He is definatly cool infact cooler than Brosnan I dare say. He has that badass, ruthless edge to him. He says and does things I can't see Borosnan or someone like Moore or even Dalton doing. That alone for me sets him apart. While he ain't Connery, face it no one is Connery, he does a fine job IMO. He really does do some nasty things like one villain who gets shot in his neck. I can't believe this is the final cut becuase that shot was rather graphic and there are somemore other grisly deaths in a sinking building at the climax.
When I was watching this film it seemed more than just a Bond film with some superhero character out to save the world, kill the villain and get the girl. It is almost like your not watching a normal Bond film. This one doesn't seem to let the formula get in the way of the story. Alot of things done differently. The film doesn't have the normal opening gunbarrel and the usual sequence at the start is in BLACK AND WHITE! They still got the usual titles with the dancing girls. this one has a Card motif with red almost blood look to it on top of Black and white photos of Craig and his handiwork. The theme is great also. Really rockin, makes me think of Live and let Die or A View to a Kill. I also like how they incorated it into the theme. The music isn't even the usual Bond theme. I think it's only once I heard it and that was at end where it reminded me of the how it appeared in the world is not enough and how it played over the closing credits. It's way more blaring this time and that along with the final line had the whole audenice giving standing ovation! Myself included!
The main film is interesting. It's basically Bond's first misssion and he's sent to madgascar I believe, where he has to track down and kill this terrorist who leads him on an eloborate chase through the jungles, a beachside construction site where some real intesne action takes place, and finally an embassy. The guy who plays the terrorist is damn good. He's jumping around the construction site like a monkey and leaping off cranes and jumping onto moving cars in traffic all the while Bond has to MacGuyver it to keep up. Really cool finish to that sequence and the trailer don't even reveal a tenth of the action! And guess what? there really is no cgi! At least none I could see. The story then goes to the Bahamas where Bond is traking down the guy who hired the Trerrorist. He gets the information by breaking into M's flat and taking her security info there's a nice little exchange between the two that really shows what this new Bond is all about. Gone is the cold war spy. This Bond is clearly post 9/11. In the bahamas Bond finds out that this arms dealer named Demitrios is behind things and Bond beats him at poker and wins the guys Aston Martin and beds his wife to find out what he's up to. This sequence really does feel like something you would see in the lolder Connery films. We see Bond doing some real spy and dective work as he tries to find out what's going on. The atmosphear and feel in the bahamas really is classic almost a return to the classic Bond films with that sexy, exotic, jet set vibe yet still old school in execution.
Then we got the best action sequence in any Bond film I have seen and no gadgets at all. It involves Bond trying to stop a suicide Bomber from blowing this new Jumbo jet with a tanker truck. The sequence reminds of the batmobile chase in Batman Begins. you got all these police cars trying to stop this unstoppale vehicle that goes crashing through cop cars, SUV's, a row of jetlines, buses, and whatever else crosses his path leaving an explosive trail of destruction. And it had me at the edge of my seat! Really suspenseful and real looking sequence. I'm glad they didn't spoile it in the trailer but trust me it will blow you away! And that's the first hour or so of the movie. The action really scales back for the second half. Apparently the main Villain Le Chiff was banking on that new aircraft, The Boeing 747-XXX on being blown up and he now finds himself out of $100 million. He intends to win it back at a poker game in Montegro. Guess who they send to face him! Bond mets up with Vesper Lind who is working for the treasury. She gives Bond the money to face Le Chiff. The classic Bond feel continues on and the casino is unreal. It has that classy feel and craig looks smashing in the tux. His delivery is cool. He always sounds the same but he is consistant and he has that cool badass vibe about him. He'll talk *beep* to you and never loese he cool. The main poker game is intense but it goes on too long for my liking but they got a few sequence in there to take a few breathers but the poker seems to go on for 45 minitues! I won't spoil the rest, way too many twists to keep track of and I don't to reveal anything too big, but while there is alot of action it's still all about the story. This time you won't know hats going to happen because like I said before this movie doesn't rely on the formula that much yet it still delivers what you want see.
Craig is compelling in the role. He is not the same Bond as Brosnan, Moore, Connery etc. He is not. It's almost like an entirly new character but he is still cool and suave but in a new way and above all this Bond really is dangerous. I tried watching Tommorow Never Dies and The world is not enough but I just can't get into it anymore. Casino Royale and Craig has totally killed my intrest in thoes films. It's like a whole new stadard for Bond. Be careful when you see this movie because it may totally ruin the way you look at the other films. Casino Royale is on a higher level and you just won't to watch the old films again. this is my opinion but my friend who saw it with me felt the same way, if you don't wind up totally rooting and behind Craig as Bond at the end, then maybe you are better off watching Die Another Day or Moonraker. Pitty really. Well this isn't a kids movie that's for sure! lol
I got to this past weekend and I'm sharing my thoughts with you folks. It was a test screening for "alcazar". In reality it was, as we were told the final cut of Casino Royale! It really is something else. I guess I am a Bond fan. I have seen all the 20 films and I love a good action aventure film and the Bond films are classic although aside from Goldeneye the last few film have been GODAWFUL! It was just the same old same old formula story. I have been reading alot of the posts on this forum and just had to laugh! I hate to say this but ALOT of people are going to look extreamly stupid come Novenber.
This really is a very different Bond film. At times it was hard to even think that Casino Royale is even remotly related or connected to the past films. It is just so radically different from say something like the world is not enough of Die another day. I think the best anlogy would be comparing the last 4 Bond films to the first 4 Batman films. They started out good Batman/Goldeneye but slowly degenerated into formulamatic overly campy mediocer crap Batman and Robin/Die another day. I pratically almost walked out of the cinema when I saw Brosnan's "toy car on a string" go over the side of that plastic ice cliff in Die anothe day. All saying about how this is more realistic back to the basics reboot a-la Batman Begins is true.
Casino Royale will be to Die another day as what Batman Begins is to batman and Robin. I feel so lucky that being a fan of both Batman and Bond noe both franchises are getting a much needed make-over. Now about Craig as Bond. He ain't Connery, he isn't Moore, Dalton or Brosnan. He's Craig. I wouldn't call that a bad thing though. He is definatly cool infact cooler than Brosnan I dare say. He has that badass, ruthless edge to him. He says and does things I can't see Borosnan or someone like Moore or even Dalton doing. That alone for me sets him apart. While he ain't Connery, face it no one is Connery, he does a fine job IMO. He really does do some nasty things like one villain who gets shot in his neck. I can't believe this is the final cut becuase that shot was rather graphic and there are somemore other grisly deaths in a sinking building at the climax.
When I was watching this film it seemed more than just a Bond film with some superhero character out to save the world, kill the villain and get the girl. It is almost like your not watching a normal Bond film. This one doesn't seem to let the formula get in the way of the story. Alot of things done differently. The film doesn't have the normal opening gunbarrel and the usual sequence at the start is in BLACK AND WHITE! They still got the usual titles with the dancing girls. this one has a Card motif with red almost blood look to it on top of Black and white photos of Craig and his handiwork. The theme is great also. Really rockin, makes me think of Live and let Die or A View to a Kill. I also like how they incorated it into the theme. The music isn't even the usual Bond theme. I think it's only once I heard it and that was at end where it reminded me of the how it appeared in the world is not enough and how it played over the closing credits. It's way more blaring this time and that along with the final line had the whole audenice giving standing ovation! Myself included!
The main film is interesting. It's basically Bond's first misssion and he's sent to madgascar I believe, where he has to track down and kill this terrorist who leads him on an eloborate chase through the jungles, a beachside construction site where some real intesne action takes place, and finally an embassy. The guy who plays the terrorist is damn good. He's jumping around the construction site like a monkey and leaping off cranes and jumping onto moving cars in traffic all the while Bond has to MacGuyver it to keep up. Really cool finish to that sequence and the trailer don't even reveal a tenth of the action! And guess what? there really is no cgi! At least none I could see. The story then goes to the Bahamas where Bond is traking down the guy who hired the Trerrorist. He gets the information by breaking into M's flat and taking her security info there's a nice little exchange between the two that really shows what this new Bond is all about. Gone is the cold war spy. This Bond is clearly post 9/11. In the bahamas Bond finds out that this arms dealer named Demitrios is behind things and Bond beats him at poker and wins the guys Aston Martin and beds his wife to find out what he's up to. This sequence really does feel like something you would see in the lolder Connery films. We see Bond doing some real spy and dective work as he tries to find out what's going on. The atmosphear and feel in the bahamas really is classic almost a return to the classic Bond films with that sexy, exotic, jet set vibe yet still old school in execution.
Then we got the best action sequence in any Bond film I have seen and no gadgets at all. It involves Bond trying to stop a suicide Bomber from blowing this new Jumbo jet with a tanker truck. The sequence reminds of the batmobile chase in Batman Begins. you got all these police cars trying to stop this unstoppale vehicle that goes crashing through cop cars, SUV's, a row of jetlines, buses, and whatever else crosses his path leaving an explosive trail of destruction. And it had me at the edge of my seat! Really suspenseful and real looking sequence. I'm glad they didn't spoile it in the trailer but trust me it will blow you away! And that's the first hour or so of the movie. The action really scales back for the second half. Apparently the main Villain Le Chiff was banking on that new aircraft, The Boeing 747-XXX on being blown up and he now finds himself out of $100 million. He intends to win it back at a poker game in Montegro. Guess who they send to face him! Bond mets up with Vesper Lind who is working for the treasury. She gives Bond the money to face Le Chiff. The classic Bond feel continues on and the casino is unreal. It has that classy feel and craig looks smashing in the tux. His delivery is cool. He always sounds the same but he is consistant and he has that cool badass vibe about him. He'll talk *beep* to you and never loese he cool. The main poker game is intense but it goes on too long for my liking but they got a few sequence in there to take a few breathers but the poker seems to go on for 45 minitues! I won't spoil the rest, way too many twists to keep track of and I don't to reveal anything too big, but while there is alot of action it's still all about the story. This time you won't know hats going to happen because like I said before this movie doesn't rely on the formula that much yet it still delivers what you want see.
Craig is compelling in the role. He is not the same Bond as Brosnan, Moore, Connery etc. He is not. It's almost like an entirly new character but he is still cool and suave but in a new way and above all this Bond really is dangerous. I tried watching Tommorow Never Dies and The world is not enough but I just can't get into it anymore. Casino Royale and Craig has totally killed my intrest in thoes films. It's like a whole new stadard for Bond. Be careful when you see this movie because it may totally ruin the way you look at the other films. Casino Royale is on a higher level and you just won't to watch the old films again. this is my opinion but my friend who saw it with me felt the same way, if you don't wind up totally rooting and behind Craig as Bond at the end, then maybe you are better off watching Die Another Day or Moonraker. Pitty really. Well this isn't a kids movie that's for sure! lol
Comments
LMAO. EON knows their market.
But hey, how 'bout that new guy, Craig?
Yes, but you posted it. Editorial intent. Nothing wrong with that, but I wonder if you'd readily post a review going on how ugly Craig is?
(FYI, I read about 10% of it as I'm trying to stay spoiler-free, don't know how I could even figure any "editorial intent" in there. It's the second known review of CR, I thought folks might be interested...guess not.)
According to Clint Morris (or rather Gossip Monkey) at Moviehole the screening did happen in London. He posted about it a couple of weeks ago, though he didn't see it himself and the reactions he posts about are alleged insider reactions.
MBE
Honestly folks!
My initial reaction to the article is that CR sounds exactly what I am hoping the film will be like, and it's all very encouraging. That's how everyone else should take it too, instead of looking for holes in the review, the way he writes, the way he knocks Brozza, etc.
Who cares if he knocks a previous actor!! Brozza has gone, his days are behind us, we are now in a new era - GET OVER IT!! Stop jumping for the gun every time someone does criticize the previous few films, because here is some news for you. Brozza wasn't all that in the first place, and with the exception of GE, neither were his movies. I think even Brozza fans will agree with me that no one wanted to see CR outdoing DAD for an even more OTT trashy spectacle.
Everyone's main focus should be CR itself, and if it is good enough, yet people are choosing to ignore that in a review, and can only comment on the fact that Brozza has been bashed again. It's pathetic!!
This review confirms my hopes and beliefs that we are in for one helluva great film (and dare I say it, a great Bond too!!)
For one, I can't even see any Brosnan-bashing: he didn't like the last few films- he doesn't say it was Brosnan that was the problem; says Craig might even be cooler than Brosnan- which to me infers he thought Brosnan was cool; and says Craig does things the other Bonds wouldn't. And I can't see any other mentions of Brosnan. Perhaps I've missed something.
Everybody needs to be prepared for what happens when someone gets replaced; they get compared to the new guy. It happens. I remember Brosnan being favourably compared to Dalton when GoldenEye was released; indeed many people still call him one of, if not the, best Bond. Does that mean they're calling all the other ones rubbish? Of course not. I just don't understand the knee jerk reactions whenever someone dares to mention the possibility that Brosnan wasn't perfect. For heaven's sake calm down.
There are going to be many reviews, most professional, which will likely say how Craig is a breath of fresh air after Brosnan, 'Pierce who?' etc. It's just how these things work. Previews in the Sunday Times this week and on the BBC Film website are calling the Bond series 'tired' and in need of reinvigoration etc. so you can see where this is all going. It doesn't exist in a vacuum, they will compare it to previous films and, shock horror; they might even mention Brosnan and which elements of his performance Craig may or may not improve upon. If that kind of thing upsets you then I suggest you steel yourself.
Don't tell me to shut up! Who the hell do you think you are?
It would be interesting to read your comments had this review slagged off CR and Craig instead. Would you have still focused on the way the guy writes like a 10 year old, me wonders....
And there ain't nothing precious about GE. I hated all Brozza's films, but I was just trying to be kind to the least awful film he made.
I'll say it again in case you didn't hear me the first time. Brozza's reign is over. GET OVER IT!!
If you accept that, then perhaps you will move on and start to look for the positives rather than the negatives. There must be one big black cloud hanging over your head, that's all I'll say.
The personal attacks, hot headedness and aggression stops HERE. No further.
blue, thanks for the article. Hopefully it'll receive all of the attention from now on.
The comment about the screenings taking place in London is correct. They took place a few weeks ago and general reaction was positive from the test audience.
My source suggested that the cut at that time was a little long and would in all likelihood be cut down. His reaction to the film was that it was "hard" !
I skim read the AICN review for the same reasons as Blue. Thanks for posting it however, Blue.
So far so good I think?
What another Moderator has stated - those instructions need to be followed.
And to return to topic, thank you Blueman for posting the review, though once again I couldn't resist reading it and ruining the film for myself X-( I am starting to wonder if the film is going to feel "top heavy", action wise. The sequences we've been hearing about have all been in the first half. I'm concerned that audiences will feel let down by a card game as the tense "climax". I know there's more to come, but can it compete with blowing up an airport?
@merseytart
It's pretty standard to have a big end of third act action scene in the recent Bonds, though isn't it?
That review, and the subsequent reaction to it, once again reinforces my belief that CR is a Bond movie for people who don't like Bond movies (at least none that have been made in the past 25 or 30 years).
As for the review itself and others like it on AICN, I wouldn't read too much into them either way (pro or con). These are the same people who gave Snakes on a Plane such glowing, stellar writeups and said it was the can't miss hit of the summer, that it to was a different kind of action movie, and that Samuel L. Jackson was a "badass" lead as well. But for all their praise, it only made $15 million. They also damned X-Men 3 and called for Brett Rattner's head on a platter; $400 million later we again see how little their opinions meant. Their condemnations of the Star Wars prequels are the stuff of legend and had absolutely zero impact on the box office or subsequent home video releases. The IMDB and AICN fanboys represent an infinitesmal share of the audience and their tastes (and grammar) often defy logic (and actual public opinion). Their ramblings do little more than confirm the tone and direction of the film.
Let's face it, EON's creative decisions have split Bond's fanbase right down the middle and there ain't no way that's going to be reconciled anytime soon. Maybe CR will bring in new fans, maybe it won't. Just another month to go. Then maybe all the bickering will be over, one way or the other.
But... where's the denigration? This is simply someone who didn't like the past few Bond movies; I'm sure he said that at the time. Why be upset just because someone else doesn't like the movies you liked? I liked them too, but if someone didn't like them it doesn't worry me.
And it's not as if he's even bashing Brosnan- he singles Brosnan out as the coolest of the Bonds so far.
Whenever a new model comes out it is compared to the old model; how could it not be? Are you expecting all reviewers to deny the fact that there were Bond movies before this one?
The producers have tried to address issues they have with their own films- the reviewers will notice that as this film has made some changes.
Personally, I wasn't insulted by anything he said; as I posted above, I take these IMDB and AICN reviews with big grain of salt and know better than to take the ramblings of fanboys too personally or seriously. Although I do think comparing DAD to Batman & Robin is going a bit too far. Also, some people who enjoyed TND, TWINE and DAD might take offense to the reviewer's assetion that "the last few film (sic) have been GODAWFUL".
As some people did, no doubt, when GE's supporters laid into the "failures" of the Dalton films that preceded it; when TLD's fans applauded the return to a serious Bond after the slapstick and sloppy AVTAK that came before it; when FYEO's boosters talked about MR like it was a gum disease; when TSWLM's groupies denigrated the "disappointing" TMWTGG; when DAF's cheerleaders laid into Lazenby's film as though it were a plague; or when OHMSS's acolytes bemoaned the sci-fi excesses of its predecessor.
The Bond series is a shifting beast, as the producers have always looked at what succeeded and failed in the previous film and reused it in the follow up.
@merseytart
Roger Moore 1927-2017
And thanks for the backup, M5 and others, I figured on some flack because of the Brosnan comments (I did see those when I skimmed the piece, and no I didn't post this to bait anybody), but as someone pointed out ALL Bond actors get a bit dirty when a new guy takes over, just what happens. Really can't see a studio selling their shiny new Bond film as, well, it's not so much really, just a bit of nothing with this really inappropriate and old-looking and ugly guy in the lead role...gosh, what were we thinking? I mean it's built-in: as not every Bond film will be to every fan's (much less Joe average movie-goer's) liking, making a favorable comparison to the last one is inevitable.
I really don't feel one way or the other about Brosnan, Craig, Dalton, etc. comments at this point, it's all water off the proverbial duck's back. The film will release very soon (whoopie!), and that will be that. All the prognosticating will be over with (except about Bond 22 of course
And lastly, sorry I got snippy last night Nightshooter, you were so right. M5's train wreck indeed. Can't help but wish that the focus could be on whether this new Bond film is any good or not--comparisons WILL be a part of that analysis, but not the be-all end-all, surely. If all the buzz we were getting at this point was middling to negative, then that might be the case for Craig/CR--but it's not, all buzz so far is pretty darn up there. As far as fans go, comparisons will be key, sure, and threads like these will happen (hopefully a little less wrecky). But as far as box office goes, it seems more and more like the comparisons will be footnotes.
I was just quoting the stuff that was in the first post on the thread...
@merseytart