Biggest Surprise/Dissapointment In Casino Royale?

[Furious Styles]

What particular aspect of Casino Royale was most surprising or dissapointing?
Were you surprised by Daniel Craig's performance or dissapointed with the use of Felix Leiter? Were you surprised by David Arnold's score or dissapointed with the pacing of the film?

Please, share your thoughts!

 

[Carmine Falcone]

I was surprised by how good the torture scene was and that the poker game wasn't boring.

I wasn't dissapointed in anything.

 

[Mr. Thing]

I was suprised how bloody good it was. I don't really like James Bond films, but this seemed like a proper thriller, not just a James Bond movie.

 

[Mr Jide]

I was surprised that Craig was being hailed as better than or equal to Connery in many newspapers..which btw is pure BS. I love craig as Bond, he's awesome but he aint no Connery, in fact no one is and no one ever will be.

 

[CLARKY]

What particular aspect of Casino Royale was most surprising or dissapointing?
Were you surprised by Daniel Craig's performance or dissapointed with the use of Felix Leiter? Were you surprised by David Arnold's score or dissapointed with the pacing of the film?
Please, share your thoughts!

My biggest surprise is how excellent was Daniel Craig. I was part of those who said he was wrong for the part (even if I was certain of his qualities as an actor) but was waiting for the movie to really have a real opinion.
I'm not saying he's the best but he's surely in the best ones, in adequation with our times, and I have to specify that Martin Campbell is a great director. I think that the best film of Pierce Brosnan as James Bond was Goldeneye, directed by Campbell too! and it was an amazing film!!! So maybe it is the director, maybe it is the actor, anyway, I think this James Bond rocks!
In the meantime I will have a true opinion in the next one, because in this film D.Craig is really J.Bond only in the last seconds of the film.
The score was great, as a film I think it work perfectly. As a James Bond I'm still waiting for the next one.
I was only deceived by how Le Chiffre was empty. Far from being as good as Alec Trevelyan, or Scaramanga, or Goldfinger, or Eliott Carver, etc ...
But maybe was it on purpose to develop more James Bond and less the villain in order to build a better one in the next film.

 

[Mr.E.Nygma]

I was only deceived by how Le Chiffre was empty. Far from being as good as Alec Trevelyan, or Scaramanga, or Goldfinger, or Eliott Carver, etc ...

Only point I disagree with you! As Scaramanga and Goldfinger are iconic Bond villains, they are not as complex as LeChiffre. He has a twisted personnality and do not act as a villain to see, being in a subtle and realistic approach, a bit like Trevelyan (But Trevelyan is probably better, I'll admit it). And Carver was cool as well, but I think Le Chiffre is better.

 

[WorthyStevens]

Not too many disappointments.

I did want to actually see and not just hear that hot blonde betch get her just desserts.

 

[Palpadious]

I was dissapointed that Eva Green didn't get naked.

 

[Golgo-13]

I was suprised that i actually enjoyed the new gun barrel sequence.

 

[Agentsands77]

I was surprised by how good it was. And I know that's rich, coming from one of the bigger CASINO ROYALE supporters on this board, but I had no idea that it would be as good as it was. It seemed like everbody turned in their best work.

Daniel Craig gives what is probably the best performance of anyone in the role of James Bond. It's amazing how well he handles all the aspects of the character while putting his own spin on it. Is he quite as iconic as Connery? Nah, and he probably won't ever be, but Connery never gave a performance like this, either.

Martin Campbell's direction is lightyears beyond the very generic, unmemorable, and sometimes dreary direction he turned in for GOLDENEYE. His direction is vivid, exciting, memorable (in no small part aided by Phil Meheux's excellent cinematography).

And I could go on and on. Daniel Kleinmann's titles, Paul Haggis' good script, Judi Dench's exciting performance (the first time her participation in the Bond franchise can be called exciting, IMO), and so forth and so on.

 

[Furious Styles]

I was surprised by how good it was. And I know that's rich, coming from one of the bigger CASINO ROYALE supporters on this board, but I had no idea that it would be as good as it was. It seemed like everbody turned in their best work.

Daniel Craig gives what is probably the best performance of anyone in the role of James Bond. It's amazing how well he handles all the aspects of the character while putting his own spin on it. Is he quite as iconic as Connery? Nah, and he probably won't ever be, but Connery never gave a performance like this, either.

Martin Campbell's direction is lightyears beyond the very generic, unmemorable, and sometimes dreary direction he turned in for GOLDENEYE. His direction is vivid, exciting, memorable (in no small part aided by Phil Meheux's excellent cinematography).

And I could go on and on. Daniel Kleinmann's titles, Paul Haggis' good script, Judi Dench's exciting performance (the first time her participation in the Bond franchise can be called exciting, IMO), and so forth and so on.

Agreed on all counts.

Suprisingly, I found my biggest delight courtesy of David Arnold. I've always considered him a hack and penciled him in with Eric Serra, but he brought a delightful elegance (Aston Montenegro) and thrilling suspense (African Rundown) to the score. An amazing divergence from the usual James Bond theme happy composer.

As a Croat, it was amazing to see the newly independent Montenegro look so vivid, so alive. Truly spectacular. I didn't think Campbell had it in him. As you said, much of it due to Phil Meheux's ability and talent. The Bond/Mollaka chase scene in Madagascar is the most exhilerating action sequence in the history of the franchise.

I was mostly dissapointed with the use of Felix Leiter. He simply dissapears halfway through the movie, and other than the stairwell scene, came across as a very underwhelming character. I didn't particularly enjoy Judi Dench's performance. Although she has more to do in the fim, she simply comes across as an angry mother. The dynamic between Brosnan and Dench seems to be lost, however I also understand they were trying to create a new dynamic between the pair in this film.

I will always consider Pierce Brosnan the Bond of my generation, but holy $hit, did Daniel Craig kick some behind!

 

[Agentsands77]

Suprisingly, I found my biggest delight courtesy of David Arnold. I've always considered him a hack and penciled him in with Eric Serra, but he brought a delightful elegance (Aston Montenegro) and thrilling suspense (African Rundown) to the score. An amazing divergence from the usual James Bond theme happy composer.

I quite agree. I was rather impressed with how suitable the score for CASINO ROYALE was - by far the best thing Arnold has ever contributed to the franchise.

I was mostly dissapointed with the use of Felix Leiter. He simply dissapears halfway through the movie, and other than the stairwell scene, came across as a very underwhelming character.

Yeah, Felix Leiter really isn't given much to do in the film - it's not like he had much at all to do in the book either (and I do think the film improves on the book as far as the role he plays), but for anyone expecting to see Bond and Leiter's friendship flourish, it wasn't there. Hopefully he'll show up again during Craig's tenure as Bond.

I didn't particularly enjoy Judi Dench's performance. Although she has more to do in the fim, she simply comes across as an angry mother. The dynamic between Brosnan and Dench seems to be lost, however I also understand they were trying to create a new dynamic between the pair in this film.

I'm interested. I loved Dench's M in this film - after years of somewhat sleepwalking through her part (she didn't have a whole lot to do in the Brosnan films), she finally showed up and gave a hell of a performance. It was the first time since GOLDENEYE that I believed that she was really strong enough to run MI6, and I liked her as a character much more in CASINO ROYALE. But to each his or her own.

 

[TheVileOne]

I was a little disappointed about the use of Mathis and the lack of his comraderie and old friendship with Bond. I'm also disappointed they didn't keep the nature of evil conversation which I was really excited about after reading Craig's interview piece in Parade magazine.

Biggest surprise was just how awesome Craig turned out to be. I was a tad skeptical long ago, but it wasn't apathy or hatred. Craig met all of my positive expectations and surpassed them.

What appeals to me about Craig is that he looks like he's been through some ****. He doesn't look like all these preening and fresh faced girly men that the fanatics were calling to play Bond. You know who I am talking about.

 

[Agentsands77]

I was a little disappointed about the use of Mathis and the lack of his comraderie and old friendship with Bond.

Yeah, it was certainly pared down (though I can understand why - that movie was pretty much crammed with material from start to finish). I know that one conversation of theirs ended up cut, and it was actually a pretty good one. At least the character's been confirmed as returning for BOND 22.

 

[Tojo]

I wasn't suprised by anything really, but i was disappointed that;

The PTS wasn't slightly longer
The car chase wasn't slightly longer
They didn't stick to the original Vesper death, or thereabouts
That Arnold's score sucked big time.

 

[Spider-Fan]

I was surprised by how good it was. I gave up on this series after DAD, but so many people I knew said it was really good, which got me interested to see it. This was a great Bond movie.

I was disappointed a little in the card game. I love poker, and I think we needed to see more of the game. Like, how did Bond go from a buy back in short stack, to getting even with Le Chiffre? Well, I know he played really good poker, but I would like to have seen him do it.

 

[Agentsands77]

The car chase wasn't slightly longer

I loved how short it was. It was a great "fake-out," as it were. They set you up for the formulaic car chase then pull the rug out from under you. Fantastic.

That Arnold's score sucked big time.

How did it suck?

 

[Tojo]

I loved how short it was. It was a great "fake-out," as it were. They set you up for the formulaic car chase then pull the rug out from under you. Fantastic.


How did it suck?

Just another 15-20 seconds for the chase, because for me anyway it was too abrupt. It didn't leave me thinking 'oh that's a great way of doing it', i just thought wow that was badly edited and pointless. It had no suspense. In the book it lasts a substantial amount of time while we read Bond's thought process. I know that is impossible for a film but it could have been slightly better executed and shot. Still, the vesper roadblock was inspired.

And all of Arnolds scores suck imo. I thought he might come up with something more interesting for this film, but alas, i found it to be the same tiresome, generic, hack material we have witnessed in the last 2 or 3 Bond movies.

 

[Agentsands77]

And all of Arnolds scores suck imo. I thought he might come up with something more interesting for this film, but alas, i found it to be the same tiresome, generic, hack material we have witnessed in the last 2 or 3 Bond movies.

I really dislike Arnold's other three scores, but I love CASINO ROYALE. I think he really upped his game - "African Rundown" is a fantastic action cue, and there's also such wonderful material as "Blunt Instrument," "Aston Montenegro," "Dinner Jackets," and so on.

 

[Darth Elektra]

I wasn't really disappointed at all.

I was suprised by how good of a bond Daniel Craig was... Could he be the best? Can't wait to see him in a few more!

 

[Dave McFly]

chalk me up to another fan of David Arnold's work on the 007 films. I think he is one of THE best guys to do a 'bond movie' since the great John Barry. I personally think he captures the 'feel' of those previous films Barry did. I have all of the soundtracks on cd except for die another day. When i found out they were gonna do a NEW 007 film I was HOPING they would bring David back in to do it, and I am GLAD he did so. his bit of using the theme song as underscore in some bits like when bond is driving the ford rental car etc, and bond in the tuxedo looking in the mirror etc.

 

[Fried Gold]

The fact that they were playing Texas Hold 'Em instead of Bacarat. I found that insulting.

 

[DorkyFresh]

for me there were quite a few surprises...

...my only disappointment was that there was no car chase.

 

[SpideyLad]

for me there were quite a few surprises...

...my only disappointment was that there was no car chase.

Well there was a slight car chase, which resulted in the Aston dying

 

[SolidSnakeMGS]

My biggest surprise was Daniel Craig. I was an ardent, unshakeable opponent of his casting. But he proved me wrong.

Can't really think of too many disappointments. Maybe that there was no Q? But I assume we'll see him in the next Bond.