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Casino Royale By David DiCerto Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) -- Some secret agents like their martinis shaken; others, stirred. Likewise, reactions to "Casino Royale" (Columbia/MGM) -- the newest installment in the "James Bond" franchise -- will probably differ. Some fans will applaud its harder-edged return to the grittiness of Ian Fleming's novels. Others may feel it's too dark and serious, and lacks the sense of campy fun of earlier films. Both sides, however, will agree that from its brutal prologue -- shot in stylish black and white -- this is a different kind of Bond movie. Based on Fleming's first novel (spoofed in a 1967 film of the same title starring Peter Sellers and Woody Allen), director Martin Campbell's addition to the series (the 21st overall) blends adrenaline-charged action sequences -- highlighted by a virtuoso chase scene through and above the streets of Madagascar -- and substantial character development to show the origins of the Bond mythology: how he started driving an Aston Martin and wearing tailored tuxedoes, why he treats women as "disposable pleasures" and the genesis of his signature mixed-drink preference. Making his debut as the iconic British superspy is Daniel Craig, arguably the best 007 since Sean Connery. Played with a combination of virility and vulnerability (with dashes of humor), Craig's Bond is less the sophisticated playboy -- though there is the usual womanizing -- and more a brash and brooding assassin. His mission here: infiltrate a high-stakes card game organized by the shadowy Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), a banker to international terrorists. Eva Green plays Vesper Lynd, an alluring operative from the British Treasury who accompanies Bond to the titular casino and Judi Dench returns as Bond's boss, M. While Bond exercises a "license to kill" in all his movies, the realism of the violence here is much heightened, making it more difficult, perhaps, for some to write it off as escapist entertainment. Also, whereas his more suave predecessors rarely, if ever, perspired and always had the upper hand in a pinch, Craig's rogue sweats buckets and is savagely beaten, including a scene in which Le Chiffre devises a particularly painful method of extracting information using a knotted length of rope. (Though on both scores, Campbell exhibits relative restraint.) Upon promotion to 007 status, Bond drolly quips that "Double-O's have a very short life expectancy." But one suspects Craig may remain in Her Majesty's secret service for a long time. The film contains recurring strong action violence, including an intense torture scene, adultery, partial nudity, sexual situations, and some mildly crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. - - - DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies. END Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250 |
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