Bharat S. M. Karavadra

My name’s Bond… James Bond !

Sunday, November 19th, 2006

That was the last line from Daniel Craig (Bond) and the last line of Casino Royale which we went to see tonight.

I quite liked the film but on reflection it seemed like a public relations and marketing exercise to get Daniel Craig accepted as the new James Bond. I have heard a lot of people say that it’s not quite like the old Bond films and there aren’t many gadgets – that’s a definite.

For me the film seemed like a traditional lonely-tough-guy-with-a-chip-on-his-shoulder-about-something story where he found himself in life with the help of Vesper Lynd played by Eva Green (the major of the two bond girls). At this point I thought that the old Bond image was being changed and he was becoming more real but then something in me told me (probably the instilled image of Bond having a lonely life and all his relationships coming to drastic end) that the girl’s gonna die. And she did (great conditioning and self appraisal).

This brought Bond back to his senses and the toughened Bond came back with the last and traditional line; “My name’s Bond – James Bond” or something like that which seemed like words he should have said at the beginning.

Anyway, I feel that Daniel’s proved himself as the new James Bond even though it may have been confirmed at the end of the film (Good job all you PR & marketing people).

Go and watch the film – it’s good and a bit of a change from traditional Bond films. He’ll be back. Watch out Arnie!