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Everyone loves a good spy film, and the James Bond movies definitely scratch that itch. However, there are plenty of Bond movies, and they have changed through the years. Now we have a new trilogy with Daniel Craig that definitely split opinions among hard-core fans. The first in the trilogy is Casino Royale, while the last one is No Time To Die, but which one is better?
Since this is Daniel Craig’s last James Bond role, the character progression has been really notable since the 2006s Casino Royale. And with fifteen years of development, the Bond character underwent various changes in his personality and traits. All this had to do with the influence of the supporting characters (Vesper, Lynd, Swann, Q, etc.), and since Bond is now done for good, it is up to evaluation to see the differences between the very beginning to the end. Let’s start.
The world premiere of CASINO ROYALE took place on this day in 2006. Share your favourite moments in the comments. pic.twitter.com/4rtYgrWQiz
— James Bond (@007) November 16, 2021
A Fresh Look on Bond in Casino Royale
The first Daniel Craig James Bond movie provided us with more insight into the character. They have revealed how Bond earned his double-0 rating, and it managed to stay true to the first Casino Royale movie from the sixties, as well as to the 1953 book. And even 15 years later, this movie remains an unequivocal franchise high.
What they improved was the very character of Bond by adding a bit of physicality and vulnerability to him, and showed how betrayal and heartbreak created this persona that was a bit misogynistic in the past. Craig’s Casino Royale is an adaptation of the first Bond novel by Ian Fleming and it takes Boden back to his roots and lets us discover him with a new appreciation for the man behind the myth.
Casino Royale Nailed the Cast
Casino Royale delivered a gritty and more grounded reinvention of the beloved character. Daniel Craig definitely inhabited the role with an impish charm and brooding intensity which no one managed to predict. He portrayed Bond as a bit more flawed character than just a stoic elegant disclosed spy.
The supporting cast was also well done and it certainly helped the movie and Bond to succeed. Eva Green delivered an electric performance as a true femme fatale Vesper Lynd and she stole the show. Mads Mikkelsen and Jeffrey Wright also delivered something amazing and greatly backed Craig and Green up as their villainous counterparts Le Chiffre and CIA agent Felix Leiter.
The entire cast did an amazing job as it was one of the best casts in the recent movies. Not to forget an abundance of high-octane action sequences, suspense, and the inevitable high-stakes poker. The poker scene in this movie was so inspiring that many fans decided to try their skills in poker and other casino games, playing their own Bond character. You can easily learn more about such games on the SuperSeven blog and see what it would be like to be the legendary James Bond.
More Emotions in No Time To Die
In the last sequel of the trilogy, Craig’s Bond continues to develop and he did start out as the stoic type. He didn’t want anyone to see his emotions and the only person he opened up to was Vesper. But when M’s life was threatened, Bond became more open with his emotions. What is more, he is not bottling up his emotions anymore, which is true character development.
Another good thing in No Time To Die is seeing Bond being able to move on and mature. Bond spent the last four movies grieving Vesper, but finally, in No Time To Die, he has been able to move on from her with Madeleine.
What is more, he also made peace with Blofeld’s influence on his life. And while Casino Royale has Bond still carry a few chips on his shoulder with his need to prove himself as the ultimate spy and betrayal of Vesper, in No Time To Die he didn’t let either of these things affect him.
No Wasting Time In No Time To Die
We are used to seeing Bond butt heads with villains. Even in Casino Royale, Bond and Le Chiffre have a personal antagonism – Bond spends a great deal of time mocking Le Chiffre. However, the death of Raoul Silva changed Bond’s behavior and he chose to simply kill him with a knife to the back. So, Bond decides to waste less time on torture, and his final act was to shoot Safin without entertaining any of his threats in this last sequence of the trilogy.
What is more, Bond redefined his fighting style. In Casino Royale, he was notable for being quick and agile. But through time and sequels, the point was to show how Bond is aging, which changes his combat skills. In No Time To Die, we see him become slower but more lethal. He didn’t engage in any close combat and actually preferred firearms to quickly take down his targets without wasting time and energy. His melee also slowed down, and he relied on his partners and teamwork.
James Bond is definitely the most beloved spy ever, and in these two movies, we see him progress. He is more mature, more emotional, and both Casino Royale and No Time To Die are perfect depictions of this character developing and being more human.
Featured Image Credit: 007