CR's Biggest Surprise & Disappointment

Barry NelsonBarry Nelson ChicagoPosts: 1,508MI6 Agent
Just curious what everyones biggest positive surprise and biggest disappointments were. The movie is a good one, but no movie is perfect.

For me my biggest surprise was Craig, I really didn't think he could pull it off, but he did. I was impressed.

My biggest disappointment was the lack of screen time for Murino. She had the exotic beauty of Bond girls of old, yet received very little screen time. Even my wife thought she was gorgeous. Seemed odd to cast her, promote her and then give her little screen time.
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Comments

  • bluemanblueman PDXPosts: 1,667MI6 Agent
    Surprise: that Campbell did such a stellar job.

    Disappointment: um, can I get back to you on that one? Nothing leaps to mind just now...;)
  • HardyboyHardyboy Posts: 5,882Chief of Staff
    For me, the biggest surprise was the sense of humor Craig brought to the role; the biggest disappointment, hands down, was Jeffrey Wright's Felix Leiter. He had little screen time and he seemed smug and opportunistic--hardly the Felix from the novels. Sigh: will EON ever get that character right?
    Vox clamantis in deserto
  • ZachZach Posts: 51MI6 Agent
    I think I'd have to agree with hardy on the surprise. Craig was hilarious. I know the writing was a big part of it, but Craig delivered the lines greatly.

    My biggest disappointment was that the Aston Martin didnt get used that much. It's such a great looking car.
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,990Quartermasters
    edited November 2006
    Surprise: That Eon have actually, pretty much, 95% done the kind of justice to Fleming's CR that I have waited (and hoped) for, but honestly never considered possible (or even likely).

    Disappointment(s): A smattering of omissions---particularly dialogue---from the December '05 draft of the script I read.

    One can't have everything :D
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  • Klaus HergescheimerKlaus Hergescheimer Posts: 332MI6 Agent
    Surprise- The degree to which the filmmakers really went in injecting some fresh aspects into CR, specifically with regards to cinematography. For instance, the cinematography they used during the poisoning sequences was very reminiscent of recent indie British flicks (such as a couple of pre-CR Craig flicks, Layer Cake and Enduring Love).

    Disappointment: This is a tossup between the torture scene and the title sequence. Granted, the torture scene was my favorite scene in the entire movie, but this is more due to the acting of Craig and Mads in the scene as well as its importance in terms of firmly establishing Bond as a character and Craig's portrayal of him. However, I think they could have made the scene much more painful. One thing that really detracted from it, I thought, was the fact that Campbell would point away from Craig at some points. This takes away from the impact of it: the camera should have remained focused on Craig, and they should have made the thwacks louder. Still, it was my favorite scene in the film.

    The title sequence was just, well, weird. I'm not as opposed to it with additional viewings, but they should have gone with the concept that was reported on Latino Review that was in the script, with the dancing girls, the photos of the crime scene, etc.. And they should have used the harder mix of YKMN. Overall, though, this is a small quibble.
  • cdsdsscdsdss JakartaPosts: 144MI6 Agent
    Biggest surprise: Daniel Craig. I didn't like it when he was cast as Bond. I had some faith he could do an adequate job after I saw the trailers. I had no idea he'd carry the film so well and truly reinvent the character.

    Biggest disappointment: That Bond didn't bed Murino. I mean...good God, look at the woman! Couldn't the husband's call have come a couple hours later?
  • HardyboyHardyboy Posts: 5,882Chief of Staff
    cdsdss wrote:
    Biggest disappointment: That Bond didn't bed Murino. I mean...good God, look at the woman! Couldn't the husband's call have come a couple hours later?

    Errr, yes, Bond did get to have his way with her. Apparently in the phone call Demitrios said he wouldn't be back (he was off to see Le Chiffre), and so Solange and Bond continue their activities. The next time we see the two, Bond has an open shirt and Solange is walking away in the background. Good gosh, what do you think went on during that time?
    Vox clamantis in deserto
  • PendragonPendragon ColoradoPosts: 2,640MI6 Agent
    Biggest Surprise: Craig's humor. I LOVE sarcastic humor...so funny

    Biggest Disapointment: Felix (not the way the character is supposed to be...IMO, he should always be like David Hedison's Felix *I've got strange tastes, I know*) and the Gunbarrel (A bathroom? you've got to be kidding me...wrong, EON!)

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  • cdsdsscdsdss JakartaPosts: 144MI6 Agent
    Hardyboy wrote:
    cdsdss wrote:
    Biggest disappointment: That Bond didn't bed Murino. I mean...good God, look at the woman! Couldn't the husband's call have come a couple hours later?

    Errr, yes, Bond did get to have his way with her. Apparently in the phone call Demitrios said he wouldn't be back (he was off to see Le Chiffre), and so Solange and Bond continue their activities. The next time we see the two, Bond has an open shirt and Solange is walking away in the background. Good gosh, what do you think went on during that time?

    Nope. As soon as she tells him that Demitrios is on the last flight to Miami, Bond gets up and calls room service and tells them champagne and caviar for one. It's one scene, no cut. Next scene he's speeding to airport. He couldn't have caught that flight to Miami if he'd bedded Solange.
  • highhopeshighhopes Posts: 1,358MI6 Agent
    cdsdss wrote:
    Hardyboy wrote:
    cdsdss wrote:
    Biggest disappointment: That Bond didn't bed Murino. I mean...good God, look at the woman! Couldn't the husband's call have come a couple hours later?

    Errr, yes, Bond did get to have his way with her. Apparently in the phone call Demitrios said he wouldn't be back (he was off to see Le Chiffre), and so Solange and Bond continue their activities. The next time we see the two, Bond has an open shirt and Solange is walking away in the background. Good gosh, what do you think went on during that time?

    Nope. As soon as she tells him that Demitrios is on the last flight to Miami, Bond gets up and calls room service and tells them champagne and caviar for one. It's one scene, no cut. Next scene he's speeding to airport. He couldn't have caught that flight to Miami if he'd bedded Solange.

    Well, he could have. But then you couldn't say nobody does it better. And you know how upset people get about continuity around here. :D
  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 21,785MI6 Agent
    Biggest disapointment: How much the impact of the final line from the book had been blunted.

    Biggest surprise: The torture scene is painfull and FUNNY!
  • FightingIrishFightingIrish Posts: 31MI6 Agent
    Biggest Surprises - That EON could throw away their tired old model and make a Bond film this damned good. As for Craig, I always had faith. After seeing him in "Layer Cake", I figured he'd be good as Bond. Also surprised that some of the scenes I was initially skeptical about (the black and white PTS, gunbarrel, Bond's beginnings as a double-0, etc) turned out so good.

    Biggest Disappointment - Felix Leiter's role is pretty small here. Too bad, since he actually seemed a bit more interesting than previous Leiters (except for Jack Lord in "Dr. No").
  • down2000down2000 Santa Monica, CAPosts: 75MI6 Agent
    Suprise (Likes)- Craig was great as Bond (although I saw him in other things and suspected he may have been good). Didn't need the gadgets to have a good film.

    Disappoinments- The gun barrel was absolutley awful (in a bathroom and not at the beginning). The titles were also awful but they have been for the last few films. The reboot- awful. This would have been so much better if it was really Bond 21
  • General_OurumovGeneral_Ourumov United KingdomPosts: 861MI6 Agent
    edited November 2006
    Biggest Surprise; Eva Green. I was hopeful going into the cinema, and left absolutely stunned. She's the best Bond girl for a number of years (and by that, I mean decades).

    Biggest Disappointment; Well it's more a surprise-disappointment - Le Chiffre. I thought the character as a whole was underused, and his death (which was much too early) was ineffective and left me unsatisfied. To call him forgettable would be generous. The film's villains overall were a real disappointment.
  • bluemanblueman PDXPosts: 1,667MI6 Agent
    I bet we get a more villain-focused Bond 22, what with the love story out of the way...
  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 21,785MI6 Agent
    I agree, and I think it will. In Bond 22 he will probably be much more detached and shallow in his relations to women, much because of his experience with Vesper.
  • NightshooterNightshooter In bed with SolitairePosts: 2,917MI6 Agent
    My biggest surprise was the amount of humor. There was a lot, and all of it was funny.

    My biggest disappointment was, well, there were two things. The titles sequence was terrible, really just boring. Also, the gorgeous DBS was underused.
  • PredatorPredator Posts: 790Chief of Staff
    Biggest surprise: that a scene that I thought would be bleak and difficult (the torture scene) was made so entertaining.

    Biggest disappointment: that they couldn't have used Baccarat.
  • scottmu65scottmu65 Carlisle, Cumbria, UKPosts: 402MI6 Agent
    Biggest Suprise: The way that the gunbarrel was inroduced was fantastic! also Daniel's over all performance.

    Biggest Disappointment: I thought Felix Leiter was ging to have a bigger role, he didnt have enough screen time, hopefully in bond 22 they will incorporate him more into the story.
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  • lavabubblelavabubble Posts: 229MI6 Agent
    Biggest surprise: The credibility and effectiveness of the shower scene and the use of the softer underbelly of Bond to great effect

    Biggest disappointment: Probably the titles, like the idea but a bit poorly executed, the action and style certainly didn't suit the music at all. (and waiting till 2008 for the next one ;) )
  • Agent WadeAgent Wade Ann ArborPosts: 321MI6 Agent
    edited November 2006
    What surprised me was the method in which Vesper committed suicide. It's certainly not a quick way to go, but rather a panic-ridden horrifying death. It probably doesn't help that one of my biggest fears is drowning.

    What disappointed me was the standard use of '50s stock newspaper formatting. Countries today go to war with other countries, and even that isn't enough to garner an all-caps banner headline. I wish film directors would learn this. I took journalism and PR classes for four years, so every time I see a huge headline on a TV newspaper, my skin crawls.
  • MI-6 AGENT 003MI-6 AGENT 003 Posts: 53MI6 Agent
    Biggest suprise for me was definetely Daniel Craig. I was one of those who said no way he could be Bond. Of course I hadn't seen him in anything so I obviously judged him prematurely. Biggest disappointment to me was the villians. Someone else said they were forgetable and I have to agree. I was also disappointed there wasn't more Caterina Murino. Having said all this... I must say I was very pleased with the movie and am looking forward to Bond 22 very much.
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,702MI6 Agent
    Agent Wade wrote:
    What disappointed me was the standard use of '50s stock newspaper formatting. Countries today go to war with other countries, and even that isn't enough to garner an all-caps banner headline. I wish film directors would learn this. I took journalism and PR classes for four years, so every time I see a huge headline on a TV newspaper, my skin crawls.

    Eh? Newspapers carry caps headlines everyday. From the look of the font on M's paper I'd say it was the Daily Mail or Evening Standard- and all their front page heads are caps. Just try a Google image saearch.
  • lavabubblelavabubble Posts: 229MI6 Agent
    emtiem wrote:
    From the look of the font on M's paper I'd say it was the Daily Mail or Evening Standard

    Dear God, not the Daily Tory!! Bring back the invisible car at once and cast Bradley Walsh as Bond, anything but the Mail ;) :))
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,702MI6 Agent
    Hardyboy wrote:
    cdsdss wrote:
    Biggest disappointment: That Bond didn't bed Murino. I mean...good God, look at the woman! Couldn't the husband's call have come a couple hours later?

    Errr, yes, Bond did get to have his way with her. Apparently in the phone call Demitrios said he wouldn't be back (he was off to see Le Chiffre), and so Solange and Bond continue their activities. The next time we see the two, Bond has an open shirt and Solange is walking away in the background. Good gosh, what do you think went on during that time?

    Absolutely OT, but Bond goes home with Solange at, say 11pm (I think Bond's watch even reads that), Dimitrios and Bond catch the last plane to Miami together (getting in at, say 1am?), and after a trip to the Bodyworlds exhibition (very busy for that late!) goes back to the airport (very busy) where they're preparing to unveil a new airliner. In the early hours of the morning! And 747s are still flying in?
  • manichotlipmanichotlip Posts: 18MI6 Agent
    What surprised me the most was the fact that James was able to say 'I love you'. I think that those 3 words changed the whole story.

    I can't say that there was anything I didn't like about the CR. I liked the lot. Daniel Craig was fabulously good looking - what a body, what a lovely smile and gorgeous blue eyes and yet so brutal....

    The best scene was the opening scene with the running chase - IN-CRE-DIBLE!

    Oh and of course, being danish I have to love Mads Mikkelsen - the superskurk over all superskurks - hehe (The villain above all villains)
  • Slazenger7Slazenger7 Posts: 62MI6 Agent
    Hardyboy wrote:
    For me, the biggest surprise was the sense of humor Craig brought to the role; the biggest disappointment, hands down, was Jeffrey Wright's Felix Leiter. He had little screen time and he seemed smug and opportunistic--hardly the Felix from the novels. Sigh: will EON ever get that character right?

    Have to agree on Felix, Hardy. He was underused (which I guess was a good thing) and his lines were poorly written and cringeworthy. "A brother from Langley", and his final line "Thanks, brotha" just seemed like "token black guy lines" to me. EON was way off the mark on that one!

    Anyway, I was surprised by how great of a job Eva Green did, and how suspenseful and emotional the scene when she dies turned out.
  • Red IndianRed Indian BostonPosts: 427MI6 Agent
    edited November 2006
    The Leiter role was IMO a misfire. They should have left him out of the movie because the character was poorly written. Wright (who I normally like) was (I thought) terrible! I wish they had kept Mathis just as he is in the novel. I think the conversation with Bond when he's recovering could have been great onscreen...

    The real curse (if there is one) of the films seems to be the Leiter role! It could be so good if done correctly. Bonds' loyalty to his best (?) friend is a great aspect of the character. It's one of the only solid relationships (having no family) that he has!

    I'm really getting picky, the film was FANTASTIC!
  • Gassy ManGassy Man USAPosts: 2,972MI6 Agent
    Biggest Surprise: Martin Campbell actually directed "Casino Royale" as a film rather than a made-for-TV movie.

    Biggest Disappointment: While all of the scenes were good, a few too many seemed like reworkings of classic Bond scenes -- Professor Dent's demise and Bond's second kill; Bond's resignation and justification of it in both "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and "Casino Royale"; Fiona Volpe's public dispatch and Demetrious'; Bond visiting M on his/her home turf. They were certainly no identical, but I would have preferred something more wholly original in a film that worked so hard (and well) at reinvigorating the franchise.
  • emtiememtiem SurreyPosts: 5,702MI6 Agent
    Gassy Man wrote:
    Biggest Disappointment: While all of the scenes were good, a few too many seemed like reworkings of classic Bond scenes -- Professor Dent's demise and Bond's second kill; Bond's resignation and justification of it in both "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" and "Casino Royale"; Fiona Volpe's public dispatch and Demetrious'; Bond visiting M on his/her home turf. They were certainly no identical, but I would have preferred something more wholly original in a film that worked so hard (and well) at reinvigorating the franchise.

    After 40 years and twenty films, all in such a similar genre with only very slight variations in the basic formula to each film, I'd be amazed if you couldn't find similarities to previous scenes. Lest we forget the number of Bond fans crying out over the past year at the threat that this film was about to move away from the precious formula- they can never please all of the people all of the time.
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