Emotional Responses

crmr

Working on research involving audience responses to Casino Royale. Did you have any emotional/physical responses to the film (crying, laughing, getting goosebumps, etc)? Did you connect with Bond as portrayed by Daniel Craig?

Tobias

had a few laughs as bond goes the ending is a bit upsetting just like ohmss

Loeffelholz

Quite a broad range of emotional responses to CR, actually...aside from the predictable thrill of seeing the first James Bond novel---and, ironically, the final one to be adapted for film---on the Big Screen.

I connected with Daniel Craig as James Bond not because he looks like the Bond of Ian Fleming's novels---he doesn't---but because, in my opinion, he embodies the spirit and intent of Fleming's literary hero, which had been somewhat misplaced over the course of 20 prior official films (and two unoffical ones): A true tough guy, with a veneer of sophistication, who frequently pays for the success of his mission with the currency of his body, often resulting in injury and hospitalization.

It's difficult to quantify exact moments of emotional reaction; surely the ending is tragic, and while not literally taken from the novel, the end result is the same for the character: loss of faith, buttressed by a new-found focus to his career (and thus his life). I didn't actually cry, but I found the moment quite meaningful and effective.

The humour in the picture was subtle (which was welcome, compared to the broad 'Dinner Theatre'-style comedy of some previous outings), and character-based, used as a means of deconstructing previous established conceptions of the character. Perhaps the best example is when Bond, after being wiped out at the poker table, asks the barman for a vodka martini. When asked whether he wants it shaken or stirred---the answer for which is known by multiple generations of film fans!---this Bond impatiently replies: "Do I look like I give a damn?" B-) Yes, I laughed. More than once.

As for goosebumps: when Bond is tortured by the piece's villain, Le Chiffre---a moment from the novel widely considered 'taboo' for audiences of James Bond as previously established---Daniel Craig assumes complete ownership of the character. This is above and beyond the normal thrills and goosebumps one might customarily expect during an action-adventure picture.

I feel I'm rambling ;% Hope this helps!

crmr

You weren't rambling, it's very helpful

Mister White

Well, first there was the thrill that I always get when I go and see a new James Bond movie. I had deliberately not read too much about it, because always want my first impression of a movie be as unbiased about it as possible.

There was also the feeling of tension, because when I went to see it it was just out and even though I tried to avoid it, I had mostly heard bad things about DC. Then there was the moment of intense relief and joy when I realised "Oh my god, he's great!".

The action sequences, especially the Madagaskar and Miami airport scenes got me very exited, as they were some of the best action scenes that I had even seen in a movie.

I also felt satisfaction when Bond took Dimitrios'phone, as that is the mobile I have as well, and at the time I had no idea it was in there.{[]

I laughed out loud at Bond taking Solange for a drive around...:D

When I first saw Eva Green my heart nearly skipped a beat. Not only is she gorgeous, she also looks a lot like my wife...:o

I had read the book, so I knew Vesper would betray him. But I still felt gutted when it happened.

The idea of the way Bond was tortured made me wince, the same way it did in the book. I think I first read that when I was eight, but even then it struck me as pretty horrible.

That about do it?

crmr

Indeed, one of the elements of the paper is how we connect with the characters by drawing on our own experiences (the comparison of Vesper and your wife, the similar phone identification, etc.) Thanks.

i expect u2 die

Mister White wrote:

When I first saw Eva Green my heart nearly skipped a beat. Not only is she gorgeous, she also looks a lot like my wife...:o

Lucky you!

Mister White

I know....:x

Unfortunately for her, I look nothing like Daniel Craig....:#

zaphod

A real rollercoaster of emotions for me. I'd single out a few though...

(1) The Torture scene- for my money one of the most enaging and emotional scenes in the whole series (along with final scene in OHMSS). Really strong stuff, I felt his pain, and the dialouge and interplay was superb, real Hegelian Master/Slave stuff.

(2) The 'Mirror scene' with Bond shaking after his ordeal and staring at his reflection- a real 'Bondian' moment for me

(3) on a lighter note the 'Valet scene' where our man trashes the car out of badness and spite (although it does serve as a distraction) another moment of pure Bond, with that insolent rebelliousness and perfectly judged humour

(4) is a cringe- The 'no armour left' speech gtates on me and I found it a tad embarrasing (possibly because I never really 'bought' the Bond/Vesper relationship as i felt it moved to quickly from one state to another to be truly credible ) - plus Eva just did not 'do it for me'
(heresy I know but I cant help it)