Bond is Back With a New Look
Matt Brucato
Issue date: 11/30/06 Section: A & E
James Bond made a triumphant return to theaters earlier this month in "Casino Royale" with a new face for 007 and a new attitude and direction for the secret agent franchise.
After over four decades of James Bond movies, 21 films and six different actors playing the character, the new Bond, Daniel Craig was met with mixed reactions from fans, although praised by critics.
Believed to be too short at 5'11 and too blonde to play Bond originally the film's success would seemingly put these worries to rest.
Last weekend "Casino Royale" brought in about $31 million, which brought the domestic total earning for two weeks since it's release to $94.2 million. The film is on its way to becoming the most successful Bond film to date after 2002's "Die Another Day."
The film is based on the first James Bond novel written by Ian Fleming of the same name and explores Bond's first mission as a double "0" agent.
Like so many Bond films before it, "Casino Royale" is a large dose of action and suspense. Yet unlike its predecessors the film focuses less on gadgets and more on Bond using his brains and brawn to thwart his enemies.
Daniel Crag is reminiscent of Sean Connery's portrayal of James Bond as he oozes with machismo and maintains his ability to turn women's heads simply by walking by.
The story follows James Bond, recently promoted by MI6, as he must stop the main villain of the story, Le Chiffre, played by Mads Mikkelsen, who funds and supports foreign terrorists.
After his plans go awry courtesy of James Bond, Le Chiffre is forced to set up a high-stakes game of poker at Casino Royal in Montenegro in order to make back the money lost because of Bond.
The main Bond girl of the film, Vesper Lynd, played by Eva Green, is a MI6 treasury agent assigned to rein Bond's funds for the high-stakes game funded by the organization.
The action in "Casino Royale" takes bond to new heights. One scene in particular finds Bond chasing a terrorist, played by Sebastien Foucan, on foot through a construction site in Madagascar and displays the French physical discipline of Parkour.
The film does run slightly long at over two and a half hours, but much of that extra time is spent delving deeper into the character of James Bond emotionally.
The untitled "Bond 22" is already in pre-production with Daniel Craig returning to reprise the role of 007 and Dame Judi Dench as "M."
After over four decades of James Bond movies, 21 films and six different actors playing the character, the new Bond, Daniel Craig was met with mixed reactions from fans, although praised by critics.
Believed to be too short at 5'11 and too blonde to play Bond originally the film's success would seemingly put these worries to rest.
Last weekend "Casino Royale" brought in about $31 million, which brought the domestic total earning for two weeks since it's release to $94.2 million. The film is on its way to becoming the most successful Bond film to date after 2002's "Die Another Day."
The film is based on the first James Bond novel written by Ian Fleming of the same name and explores Bond's first mission as a double "0" agent.
Like so many Bond films before it, "Casino Royale" is a large dose of action and suspense. Yet unlike its predecessors the film focuses less on gadgets and more on Bond using his brains and brawn to thwart his enemies.
Daniel Crag is reminiscent of Sean Connery's portrayal of James Bond as he oozes with machismo and maintains his ability to turn women's heads simply by walking by.
The story follows James Bond, recently promoted by MI6, as he must stop the main villain of the story, Le Chiffre, played by Mads Mikkelsen, who funds and supports foreign terrorists.
After his plans go awry courtesy of James Bond, Le Chiffre is forced to set up a high-stakes game of poker at Casino Royal in Montenegro in order to make back the money lost because of Bond.
The main Bond girl of the film, Vesper Lynd, played by Eva Green, is a MI6 treasury agent assigned to rein Bond's funds for the high-stakes game funded by the organization.
The action in "Casino Royale" takes bond to new heights. One scene in particular finds Bond chasing a terrorist, played by Sebastien Foucan, on foot through a construction site in Madagascar and displays the French physical discipline of Parkour.
The film does run slightly long at over two and a half hours, but much of that extra time is spent delving deeper into the character of James Bond emotionally.
The untitled "Bond 22" is already in pre-production with Daniel Craig returning to reprise the role of 007 and Dame Judi Dench as "M."
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