BIG MOVIE FREAK - Casino Royale reviewed by Will2K

Re-Bourned, blond Bond is da bomb
Casino Royale has a very cool black and white beginning and it managed to deliver. I was impressed by how they managed to make Bond look more deadlier and trigger happy than his previous image of 'clean cut, less violent ' character. Furthermore, they also put some twisted humour in him (reminds me of the humour they used to put for Arnold). Anyway, it worked for me!

James Bond started off with a very well action-packed chasing scene - this scene could actually put Jackie Chan out of his job! I didn't know Western movies could execute such heart pumping, death defying acts! Maybe they had some help from the much-experienced Hong Kong stunt men... but who cares? Way to go! The chase scene is something that i didn't or less expected from any James Bond movies.

Daniel Craig definitely doesn't have anything of a Bond look. However, he looked more like a cold-blooded killer that could fit into any bad guy roles for Die Hard movies and also capable of filling in roles for Hannibal sequels. This time, Bond doesn't have the old Mr. Q to introduce him with new gadgets. It's like they are going all out for something totally different from the original Bond movies. Might be because this generation is catering for the Bourne thingy.........

Bourne and Bond
The difference between Bourne and Bond is that Bourne is always being chased by the bad guys and for Bond, he's always chasing the bad guys! But there's some similarity, of course... the adrenaline pumping action scenes that never failed to deliver enough intensity for audience and hardly able to catch some breath! I remember there's a scene where Bond fought with two Africans in the hotel... awesome stuff! The bad guys are not stupid, they are just as observant as Bond himself. Therefore, i will give credit for the people who thought of these details. There's a similar scene like this in Bourne Identity. If you noticed, Bourne also took out two guys in the hotel; almost the same way ...except it's much more exaggerated! I showed middle finger when Bourne went Air-Bourned after kicking the first accomplice (with head stuck to the stair rails) which sent him flying down nothing less than 10 stories height of terror! While falling down, Bourne used this guy as his landing pad, not before shooting a second accomplice in the head (well on target!) He landed hard (the first accomplice even harder!) but only suffered slight concussion ... and still managed to walk off with some minor injuries! That's like the most illogic thing i've seen!

Anyway, coming back to Casino Royale. Although Bond managed to deliver intensive action scenes and some real wacky humour, it is still not a great movie. I would just say enough to give a thumbs-up. I didn't really like the gambling part and the last part too much. Maybe it's because i watched too many God of Gamblers movies. The last part was pretty messy, especially the building scene (before and after it collapses). I would say that Casino Royale is the mixture of Jackie Chan's Police Story 2 (bout bomb terrorists), Bourne Identity (fast pumping action scenes- especially the hotel part), Bourne Supremacy (first part where girl drowns and he tries to save her vs. Bond trying to save girl in locked elevator) and probably some other movies.

I wouldn't say Bourne is better than Bond or the other way round. Both are different, if you asked me. It's like comparing Rod Stewart with Michael Jackson. Anyway, i still think Bond is rather entertaining... way to go!