Licence to Shut Them Up !

It is now only three months until the movie event of the autumn, if not the year, when the long awaited new 007 film, Casino Royale opens on November 17. Along with most of the movie going public, I was not happy with the way Pierce Brosnan was dumped from the role, when he clearly did not want to revoke his licence to kill. However, the films are bigger than one man, and I have enjoyed all the different Bonds, including the under-rated George Lazenby.

Leaving this initial controversy behind, Bond fans should be elated that the 21st film is on its way, but crazily a sizeable number of them are still harping on about Daniel Craig, not being right for the role. Some have even set up a stop Daniel Craig website which is full of personal abuse. Honestly, this sort of geek behaviour gives film fans a bad name.

It has been reported this week, that the actor himself has been shocked at the level of vitriol being flung at him and rightly so. The new James Bond should be man enough to take a few punches, but I think so called fans should have the decency to watch the film before casting judgment. After all, the fans favourite, Sean Connery was initially criticised by none other than Ian Fleming as being too "uncouth" for the role. As for Craig being the first blonde Bond, check out Roger Moore's blonde streaks in The Man With The Golden Gun, and matching safari suit. Hardly, the saville row suit wearer of Bondian lore was he.

The teaser trailer for Casino Royale is top notch and it looks like Craig will play Bond far grittier than before, more like the character of the books who is basically someone who kills for a living, not afraid to shoot first and ask questions later. The more serious Bond films, From Russia With Love, OHMSS, Licence To Kill and For Your Eyes Only are among the best in the series, and it looks like Casino Royale will join this cannon.

Daniel Craig came to fame in the Beeb's gritty drama Our Friends In The North, which also starred one Christopher Eccleston. Eccleston, years later was announced as Dr Who, much to the horror of some Dr Who fans, who did not think he was at all right for the part. They later acclaimed him as one of the best, and were left sobbing into their beer when he quit the Tardis after one series. I think Craig will equally excel as his populist character, and the same geeky fans currently behaving like fools, will be waxing lyrical about "how he is the definitive bond" etc etc.

We can all make up our own minds when Casino Royale opens on November 17th 2006.