James Bond Rebuilt
Craig. Daniel Craig.
The new 007 -- call him James Blonde. I wrote in an earlier post
that I was throughly disgusted with the weak Bond actors to
stink up the screen since Sean Connery. Actually, I shouldn't
say that Roger Moore was weak, but he never stood up to the
original. Connery was Bond and Bond was Connery. Everyone since
him just hasn't cut it.
But now, I'm excited about shaken martinis, Aston Martins,
atomic-blasting ballpoint pens, megalomaniacal villians and hot
women with suggestive names like "Ashlee Poundcake." Why the
sudden euphoria? Because Bond is starting over. With Brit Daniel
Craig (best known in the U.S. for "Layer Cake" (2004) and "Road
To Perdition" (2002)), we should get to see a different kind of
Bond. Younger, less gimmicky, more energetic.
Craig is talented and I think he'll bring a charisma and
toughness that Brosnan and Dalton could not muster with
consistency. And yes, I believe Daniel Craig is a more
convincing fighter than Roger Moore.
I also like the fact that they are going back to an earlier Ian
Fleming work with "Casino Royale." This movie was done as a
spoof before, but will be given the royal treatment this time.
Also, Martin Campbell directed "The Mask of Zorro" and
"Goldeneye" (the best Bond film since early "Roger Moore") so he
should know what he is doing.
I know a lot of people are criticizing the Daniel Craig choice,
but I would direct them to the fine work that Christian Bale did
in "Batman Begins." The Batman movies were below mediocre when
they were looking for "stars" to continue the Batman character
that Michael Keaton brought into the modern age so well -- Val
Kilmer was pretty bad and George Clooney was a disgrace. It was
not until they decided to "start over" with younger Bale, was
Batman born again. Now they probably have two to three good
movies left with Bale in the lead. This is also what I suspect
will happen with the new "Superman" series with its new blood.
The Batman and Bond characters are related in many ways. Both
are mysterious, lead double-lives, rely on technology, charm,
wealth and training to get their jobs done. They also appeal
both to men and women at the same time for different reasons.
This is why I like this direction and I can't wait till 2006
when "Casino Royale" opens with Daniel Craig in the title role.
Now, if we can just get the President working on that Daniel
Craig clone now before it's too late.
Just for fun, here are my top five (printable) new Bond Girl
names:
5. Poppy McButtons 4. Nina Jailbait 3. Mary Kate Ashley 2.
Serena Sweetback 1. Ari Ola