Daniel Craig and the Future of James Bond
"Daniel Craig and the Future of James Bond"
There has been a great deal of talk about how EON Productions will take the James Bond character in future movies. Many have also speculated on how Daniel Craig will approach the character – especially in the upcoming BOND 22 and BOND 23. I have no idea how the Bond character will be treated in future movies, but I do a few things to say about CASINO ROYALE and Daniel Craig as Bond.
First of all, I don't believe that CR was unique in being the only Bond film that was a slightly realistic spy thriller. Before CR, there was FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, FOR YOUR EYES ONLY and THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS. We also had movies like THUNDERBALL and OCTOPUSSY with plots that seemed very probable in the real world (nuclear threats in the name of extortion or/and political manipulation). And there was LICENSE TO KILL that was gritty, but seemed more like a revenge story than a spy thriller. But I do believe that CASINO ROYALE was one of the best movies in the franchise. Aside from one or two plot points (involving Bond's actions in Madagascar), I feel that it was a well-written thriller with complex and three-dimensional characters.
As for Daniel Craig, many have criticized his Bond for acting like a professional and experienced agent at the beginning of the movie, despite being a novice. I have to point out that in this version of CASINO ROYALE, Bond IS NOT a novice spy at the beginning of the story. He already had experience as an intelligence operative for the Royal Navy and as an agent for MI-6. At the beginning of the movie, he was promoted to the "00 Section". He had already been serving with MI6 for some time.
Although I have enjoyed the performances of all six (or should I say eight?) actors who have portrayed Bond, Daniel Craig's performance has appealed to me a lot stronger than the others. I am not saying that I believe that his Bond is the best. I simply prefer his Bond a lot more stronger than I do the others. So far, Craig's Bond is not tinged by Connery's lack of humanity, Lazenby's inexperienced background, Moore's cheeky humor, Dalton's heavy angst factor or Brosnan's bad scripts. This latest manifestation of Bond is a ruthless and athletic man with a sardonic sense of humor, a taste for good living, a penchant for taking chances and allowing his ego to go uncheck. But knowing EON Productions' reputation for sometimes screwing up a good thing, who knows what will happen?
I have heard comments that Craig's Bond had fully become the iconic figure that has become famous during the last 44 or 45 years by the end of CASINO ROYALE. But others have pointed out that the character who shot Mr. White at the end of the movie is the same man who had chased Mollaka in Madagascar. I am more inclined to believe the latter. I believe that Bond's character had regressed due to the heartache he had suffered over Vesper's betrayal and death. Somewhat. After all, Bond did manage to bring down Mr. White without allowing his emotions, ego or trigger finger to get the best of him. Hopefully, EON Productions will allow the audience to see Bond develop beyond the cold-blooded and brutal man who used women to avoid emotional attachments. I hope that by the time Craig films his last Bond film, his character will develop into a somewhat mature man who has learned to balance any emotional attachments he may have formed with the ruthless agent he has to be in order to do his job.
