20 November 2006
Hyderabad

Thank God I watched all the old Bond movies broadcasted on Star Movies over the fortnight! It gave me an authentic reference point to validate the new Bond movie. The new Bond might not have arrived with a bang. But Daniel Craig is definitely Bond material. Have no second thoughts about it.

Coming to the movie, is it good? Well, the answer heavily depends on what type of Bond has been etched out in your mind. If you try to gauge Casino Royale in terms of the Pierce Brosnan mould of Bond movies, then this movie will leave you brutally disappointed. The movie showcases Vintage Bond, which most of us are not accustomed to watch. But, just imagine. If this was the first ever Bond movie to have been made, then what a great introduction it would have been. The mistake most of us make is trying to search a “Die Another Day” or a “The world is not enough” in “Casino Royale”. Most of us like a Pulsar or a Karizma, given its speed and performance. But there are few who literally love the Royal Enfields or the Harley Davidsons. It’s purely for their class over the years and the vintage feeling which you can never get in a modern bike. Does anyone make a mistake of comparing these bikes? No! Same is the case here too.

No wonder, the British press has already started comparisons between Daniel Craig and Sean Connory, who is considered to be (and arguably is) the best Bond till date. The movie does not have any cool gadgets to talk about (or write about). Or any hi-tech, adrenaline pumping chase sequences. Why has the director taken such a high stake risk?

The director had to establish an image to Daniel Craig. It was a huge task, specially given the fact that Pierce Brosnan was constantly making press statements that he still wants to be a Bond. So the director might have made a strong decision. That to stick to the basics. First establish Craig as an actor, then as the typical Bond. The gadgets and the stunts can wait (probably for the next movies). The movie doesn’t even have a glamorous Bond girl! Instead it has the sweet and mushy Eva Green (as Vasper) who matches the wits of the Bond to the T.

There are some loopholes in the story. The plot, by itself, is uninteresting. And the villain is relatively less sinister, when compared to his predecessors. Bond requires a strong anti-hero to build up his image. Who can forget the classical Gold Finger? The only high point being the Casino game. Definitely the story (and the screenplay) could have been tinkered better. But the winner of the movie, are the dialogues. I am tempted to compare Casino Royale with Omkaara in this regard. Omkaara has been beautifully sprinkled with words, which smell the raw soil of rural India. Similarly, Casino Royale has some of the best dialogues in recent Bond movies, which are more Urban. They have the potential to go and get listed in the top 10 list of Bond one-liners.

The following are some of these gems:

• When Vasper comes and introduces herself, as “I am the money”. (To mean that she is the treasurer). Bond just stares at her and shoots back “Worth every penny!”
• When the lift comes down in the hotel, Vasper gets in saying, “Take the next lift James. There is no room here enough for me and your big Ego.
• When bond says to Vasper “You are not my type”. She asks, “Smart?” He exclaims “Single”.
• The last dialogue of the movie.
• The graphics shown during the title song. Simply superb!

Conclusively, Daniel Craig is brilliant as Bond. He has the physique. He has the tongue to mouth a one-liner really well. I am already looking forward for the next Bond movie.

Tailpiece: Daniel Craig is the first Bond to be Blonde.

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