'Brilliant' Bond seduces critics - bbc.co.uk

[Kevin Roegele]

Source: bbc.co.uk


"Daniel Craig's performance as James Bond has been hailed as "terrific" and "simply brilliant" in early reviews of his 007 debut in Casino Royale.

The first verdicts on Craig - who was a controversial choice to play the spy - have been gushing.

The Daily Mirror said he was seen "oozing the kind of edgy menace that recalls Sean Connery at his best".

And the Daily Telegraph wrote that he "steps with full assuredness into Sean Connery's old handmade shoes".

Connery, who appeared in seven Bond films, was recently voted the best 007 of all time.

Daniel Craig in Casino Royale
The actor has promised a tougher and grittier 007
But when Craig was picked to replace Pierce Brosnan last year, a small band of disapproving fans called for a boycott of Casino Royale.

In the new film, Bond makes a break from the super-slick, stereotyped spy of the past, the UK newspaper critics said - but all declared the end result a triumph.

"It's Bond, but not as we've known it," according to the Telegraph.

"The guns and action are there... the girls are certainly there... but the clonking double entendres of the old days are gone - in their place is a much more teasing, smartly written prospect."

'Unpredictable and vulnerable'

Daniel Craig had a face "like an Easter Island statue" and makes "a terrific debut", it added.

"He manages to exude not only danger and unpredictability and wit - but also, and this is a first, some vulnerability."

Sean Connery in 1971 James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever
Daniel Craig has earned comparisons with Sean Connery
The Times declared: "Craig is up there with the best - he combines Sean Connery's athleticism and *****ure swagger with Timothy Dalton's thrilling undercurrent of stone-cold cruelty."

Craig's impressive physique makes him "a far more plausible Bond than many of his predecessors", it added. "But his main asset quickly becomes evident. He can act."

The action was "edgy", the paper said, with stunts that were more physical and violence that was more raw.

The Mirror said the James Bond rule book had been "well and truly torn up" for the 21st official film.

'More human'

"From the start you can tell this isn't your average Bond film," its critic wrote, adding that it was "easily the best film since GoldenEye".

Based on Ian Fleming's first Bond novel, Casino Royale begins with a brutal black-and-white fight scene in a bare bathroom.

Since Craig was chosen, the actor and film-makers have promised a more human and gritty character.

Casino Royale reaches cinemas on 17 November. "

 

[ROBOCOP CPU001]

Bond is back..

can not wait.. just two weeks!!!!

 

[Agentsands77]

There have been more reviews than this. CASINO ROYALE reviews have been flooding the Bond message boards, from critics and Bond fans alike. The word: Craig rocks and so does CASINO ROYALE.

 

[TheCaretaker]

i cant wait any longer lol.... Craig is gonna rule as Bond!!!!

 

[Carmine Falcone]

Craig's impressive physique makes him "a far more plausible Bond than many of his predecessors", it added. "But his main asset quickly becomes evident. He can act."

The Mirror said the James Bond rule book had been "well and truly torn up" for the 21st official film.

Oh God yes...I can't wait to see this movie.

 

[ROBOCOP CPU001]

its going to be awesome!

 

[pointman]

This film will be awesome. I'm glad to hear the timesnewspaper approved of Craig, believe it or not that actually means something.

 

[johnsonuk]

jonathon ross here in the uk said it is great.he does the film show on bbc but on his radio show today he said it was great butr the only thing not so good was the gadgets which he thought came out of no where and were not realy needed.

 

[DCW]

can not wait.. just two weeks!!!!

*Hyperventilating*

 

[xwolverine2]

13!days!!!

 

[Kevin Roegele]

From The Mirror:

"But a word of warning - this is unlike any other Bond flick. Dark, gritty and surprisingly violent, the suave, smooth-talking secret agent of old is replaced by a steely-eyed killer with a dash of vulnerability."

Dark, gritty and violent? Licence to Kill anybody?

Steely-eyed killer with a dash of vulnerability? That's Dalton all over.

 

[Agentsands77]

The Daily Mail:

"Daniel Craig is probably the best and most serious actor to have been cast as 007 and this film makes full use of his range.

He's also the toughest and most virile leading man since Russell Crowe's Maximus in Gladiator. The numerous shots of his torso and piercing blue eyes will, I suspect, make many in the female audience extremely happy.

And he develops the character very skilfully. When he starts he is - as M (Judi Dench) tells him - 'a blunt instrument'. By the end, he's the sharpest tool in the box."

And

"This film may be about the making of Bond into a smooth, coldhearted killing machine but there's still room for humour. I especially liked the moment when he orders a vodka martini. The barman asks 'Shaken, not stirred?' And the still-rough-around-the-edges Bond pierces him with a look of contempt and remarks 'Do I look like I give a damn?'


Daniel Craig is much better at comedy than I thought he would be. But he really comes into his own when he has to choose between his job and a woman, and chooses the woman.
None of the previous Bonds could have carried this scene off with the same depth or sincerity."

 

[블라스]

I'd like to see the Craig haters' reaction right about now.

 

[neobido9999]

Ok, before there's a major rush of people to the bandwagon, I'd like to display a little quote made on these baords form the 13th October last year
(on the General Movies board)

10-13-2005, 10:39 PM
Brilliant, brilliant choice. He's got that cold, haunted look, but also a sort of, pseudo 60's Steve McQueen-ish quality. They resisited the tempatation to cast a pretty boy,. and cast someone believable as a psychopath

That's a quote form one of the, lie, 5 poeple who actually saw he was a good choice. And the quote is from...me. That's right, m'little net chums, I'm right, the majority of you were wrong!

Ok, now you may resume your pursuit of the bandwagon.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

Sound great. Can't wait to see the film.

 

[xwolverine2]

I'd like to see the Craig haters' reaction right about now.

they are cutting off their testicles

 

[Mentok]

Craig rocks as Bond because its the REAL Bond... not the Bond we have had for the last 2 decades.

 

[spittingkitty]

I wonder how Super Fan will react. He must be licking his wounds, not just from the reviews CR got in the British press, but because he was banned from M16 for being naughty.

Oh well Super Fan, there's always Happy Feet

 

[Tempest19]

I loved the screenplay.

But, just the way it's beeing handled- from opening credits design to the score. WOW!!! Feels like I'm being transported back in time to the glory days of Dr. No and the rest of the Connery Bond films.

Really amazing. God, the wait is killing me!!! Please tell me there is a midnight showing!!!!!

 

[pointman]

I'm seeing it o the 16th.

 

[pointman]

From The Mirror:

"But a word of warning - this is unlike any other Bond flick. Dark, gritty and surprisingly violent, the suave, smooth-talking secret agent of old is replaced by a steely-eyed killer with a dash of vulnerability."

Dark, gritty and violent? Licence to Kill anybody?

Steely-eyed killer with a dash of vulnerability? That's Dalton all over.

But whilst Craig makes 007 his own, he combines the qualities of Dalton and Connery, making him a very different Bond from what we've seen before.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

Ok, before there's a major rush of people to the bandwagon, I'd like to display a little quote made on these baords form the 13th October last year
(on the General Movies board)




That's a quote form one of the, lie, 5 poeple who actually saw he was a good choice. And the quote is from...me. That's right, m'little net chums, I'm right, the majority of you were wrong!

LOL. What do you mean, 'right'? Because some British tabloids praised Craig? If it means agreeing with the majority of British journalists, I'd rather be wrong.

 

[pointman]

Today's sunday mirror newspaper had another review by Mark Adams. He says, "Craig is brilliant as Bond" and CR is "one of the best 007 films ever". He also goes on to give the movie 5/5 stars.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

Today's sunday mirror newspaper had another review by Mark Adams. He says, "Craig is brilliant as Bond" and CR is "one of the best 007 films ever". He also goes on to give the movie 5/5 stars.

The Mirror also called The World is Not Enough the best Bond ever, and gave Tomorrow Never Dies a rave review. The tabloids will recommend anything with babes and explosions in it.

 

[UltimateBatman]

The Mirror also called The World is Not Enough the best Bond ever, and gave Tomorrow Never Dies a rave review. The tabloids will recommend anything with babes and explosions in it.

True.
But it's still some good publicity.