ROTTEN TOMATOES: Bond Fans Target New 007 Daniel Craig

Bond Fans Target New 007 Daniel Craig

by Jen Yamato | February 22, 2006

"Casino Royale," the forthcoming James Bond flick (number 21, if you're counting), has generated quite the buzz among die-hard Bond fans irate over the casting of "Layer Cake" star Daniel Craig as the suave secret agent.

The vitriol is not held back at Craignotbond.com, the online headquarters for a grassroots movement to boycott "Casino Royale" on the sole basis that Daniel Craig is too short, too "rough faced," and too blond to play the beloved lethal lothario.

Fans supporting the boycott are also upset with the filmmakers for deciding the franchise needed a "reboot;" according to reports, "Casino Royale" will not carry on the chronology of the previous Bond films but will be a sort of prequel/origin story to restart the entire franchise. Thus, while Dame Judi Dench is onboard once again as Bond's boss, "M," character actor Jeffrey Wright will portray CIA agent Felix Leiter -- a recurring character previously played by numerous actors, who was killed off in 1989's "License to Kill."

But back to the Craig debate. On their comprehensive website, boycotters seem consumed first and foremost with the physicality of their new Bond; at 5'11" Craig stands inches shy of his predecessors Sean Connery (6'2"), George Lazenby (6'2 1/2"), Roger Moore (6'1"), Timothy Dalton (6'2"), and Pierce Brosnan (6'1"). He's got blond hair and blue eyes. According to the website, only "people who think that men like Mick Jagger, Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine are handsome" will find Craig attractive. To illustrate, the site juxtaposes Craig with pictures of Bill Murray, Bob Denver, and Cleveland Cavalier Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

And yet, that's not all the latest news for the "Casino Royale" production and poor Daniel Craig. Days after the casting of Eva Green as Bond girl Vesper Lynd was confirmed (yay!), Craig got two of his teeth knocked out while filming his very first fight scene in Prague (aww). Add to that rumors that Craig couldn't drive Bond' signature Aston Martin with it's manual stick shift, and this Bond's got quite the mission: impossible ahead.

"Casino Royale" is set for release on November 17, 2006. The confirmed cast so far includes international thesps Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Eva Green, Jeffrey Wright, Mads Mikkelsen, Simon Abkerian, and Caterina Murino.

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(1-20 of 30 posts) | Reply

jtown91 writes:
on Feb 22 2006 01:30 PM

I don't understand what these people are complaining about, the Bond franchise has sucked for a while now.

(Reply to this)

JnBa73 writes:
on Feb 22 2006 02:00 PM

[b]ugh[/b]
im sure he'll be a great James Bond. there would have been backlash no matter who they picked.

(Reply to this)

lpbreeze writes:
on Feb 22 2006 02:01 PM

some people just need a hobby. And they are acting like crybaby bit$hes. We all know the actor is important but it is the rest of the movie namely the story and script which decides if it is a good Bond movie.

(Reply to this)

Scott Weinberg writes:
on Feb 22 2006 02:17 PM

So these folks will crybaby about a movie they haven't even seen yet, but seem to have no problems whatsoever with the poop-storms entitled "The World Is Not Enough" and "Die Another Day."

Weird.

(Reply to this)

ArmyofJuan writes:
on Feb 22 2006 02:18 PM

I honestly don't see why these people are complaining. Im pretty confident that Craig will do wonderfully as bond just as he did wonderfully in Enduring Love and Layer Cake. Has anyone SEEN Layer Cake? You can pull off bond easily.

(Reply to this)

Senh Duong writes:
on Feb 22 2006 03:59 PM

[b]Hahaha...[/b]
...Cleveland Cavalier Zydrunas Ilgauskas...

(Reply to this)

Cindy_Lou_Who writes:
on Feb 22 2006 04:46 PM

They also complained when Roger Moore was named the new Bond. Give the guy a chance and see if he can bring the series into the 21st century. Foe all those who are complaining about Daniel Craig, all I can say is be thankful it's not Rowan Atkinson!

(Reply to this)

UselessRob writes:
on Feb 22 2006 05:23 PM

[b]Q?[/b]
Don't tell me John Cleese isn't back as Q??

(Reply to this)

sneppo writes:
on Feb 22 2006 05:52 PM

It just proves that most 007 fans are losers with way too much time!!

The last few of the movies were piss poor and I could have written better movies with my bum.

Daniel Craig is a good actor and I think its about time they did something with this crappy franchise.

(Reply to this)

r_curl04 writes:
on Feb 22 2006 07:52 PM

I do think this will be awesome. I mean the past couple Bond flicks i have seen only on cable because of one reason... They suck. It all explosion and chicks and no story... With this maybe, just maybe i will respect these movies again.

(Reply to this)

inessalenin writes:
on Feb 22 2006 08:41 PM

I don't care who play Bond, this franchise just an average, popcorn movies!

(Reply to this)

phill01 writes:
on Feb 22 2006 08:48 PM

The only reason I would have seen this film is if they had have let Quentin have a shot at directing it.

(Reply to this)

renny2077 writes:
on Feb 22 2006 09:16 PM

Though the previous Bond movies sucked, Brosnan was an excellent Bond and people have gotten used to him. Fans of the series have a right to bicker. Daniel Craig does not look like a Bond and I guess everyone is worried that this might be an George Lazenby situation. But hey, if the producers feel that Brosnan, Hugh Jackman or Clive Owen are way too expensive for them that they get a cheaper actor, they must be betting on the story and stunts to wow the audience and draw the crowd in. Guess, we'll have to wait and see.

(Reply to this)

Sinizine writes:
on Feb 22 2006 11:44 PM

So they want more of the Brosnan era Bond? The dude made one of the good ones, and 3 of the absolute worst in the series, period.

As far as the likes of Jackman and Owen, they turned down the role for reasons other than money. Bond is a typecast. Jackman already has an action franchise role (and he hasn't exactly been that successful outside of it), and Own flat out just doesn't want to be associated with it. Fans should be glad they got anyone that can even act, because their braindead selves constantly flocking to the theatre to view the crappy Brosnan flicks has made it so that no actor that's "made it" like Jackman and Owen have would even touch the role. You dug your own graves pals. You're discriminating when it comes to the looks of Bond, but not discriminating enough when it comes to plot, dialogue, etc.

(Reply to this)

drxym writes:
on Feb 23 2006 02:39 AM

[b]Blonde bond etc.[/b]
I hear people whining that Daniel Craig is blonde. So what? There is a miracle of the modern age called hair dye which turns your hair to brunette! Shocking, but true. I believe a number of actors have been known to use it. I bet even Mr Brosnan, Moore & Connery all used it too, not least to hide their greying hair.

(Reply to this)

Torgos_Pizza writes:
on Feb 23 2006 05:02 AM

[b]Felix not killed off...[/b]
Felix was not killed off in "License to Kill".

His leg was eaten by a shark, but he survived...

(Reply to this)

PhreazerBurn writes:
on Feb 23 2006 08:09 AM

[b]Confusing casting...[/b]
Felix is back. But M is still being played by Dench. But no John Cleese?

Daniel Craig, poor casting choice that he is, won't be the only confuring choice they made with this movie.

Someone previously said that the script and other technical details are the most important. They certainly are vital, but it will take something truely brilliant to save this project...which could definitely be the thing that finally kills the James Bond series.

(Reply to this)

kubrickfan writes:
on Feb 23 2006 09:48 AM

I'm excited to see Craig as bond. I have enjoyed all the bonds in some respect, I even liked Timothy Dalton, so I am far from one of these raging Sean Connery fan boys. I think it will be interesting to see a relatively unknown character actor in the role. It's also good to see good actors like Daniel Craig, and another example would be Paul Giamatti, who don't look like male models, get to anchor and entire film. Everyone also needs to remember, as far as Craig being "attractive", the whole point of Bond is that he seduces women with his attitude. The looks are there, yes, but that's just a bonus. Bond is a suave womenizer for one reason alone, his attitude. Ever seen a really hot women with a guy that doesn't look like a male model? All the time. Bond acts the part more than he looks the part when it comes to women.

(Reply to this)

kubrickfan writes:
on Feb 23 2006 09:51 AM

Also, Roger Moore's hair was extremely light comapared to everyone else's, so what?

(Reply to this)

UweBoll writes:
on Feb 23 2006 11:41 AM

How about the casting of Eva Green? She was great in a couple of French films I saw her in, she has a very unique and distinctive beauty, she will be a great Bond girl

(Reply to this)

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