Movie #36 - Munich

"The world was watching in 1972 as 11 Israeli athletes were murdered at the Munich Olympics. This is the story of what happened next."

One of the best films ever produced by Steven Spielberg, probably ranking in his top 5 on his resume. The script written by Tony Kushner and Eric Roth made this film great to watch. Spielberg surrounded this film with the very best - utilizing John Williams to create a very dramatic score and casting an incredible ensemble, not of names, but of quality actors.

I still don't understand why in 2005-06, Eric Bana didn't at least receive a Globe or Oscar nod for his role, probably one that will never be topped by his films. Bana really captures the presence of the character of Avner, one of five men chosen by the Israeli government to eliminate the men responsible for Black September at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

The graphic scenes of this film are captivating. The various murder scenes and bomb sequences are wonderfully shot and remind me of the efforts made by Spielberg in Saving Private Ryan to really set the tone of the film - dark and dramatic.

Clever castings in this film include Daniel Craig and Geoffrey Rush. Both men are known for more prominent roles in other films, but both add a unique touch of intensity in their roles for Munich. You don't equate Craig as James Bond here and that's a good thing. Rush definitely accomplishes an evil villain type of role as Ephraim.

On my lifetime "to do list," I definitely need to find the time to read the book from which this film was adapted - "Vengeance - The True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist Team" by George Jonas. I'd bet its a great book... if I ever try to read books for pleasure again, this is obviously a high priority book on my list.

Movie #16 - Casino Royale

Like any Bond film, Casino Royale starts off with a wonderfully shot action sequence, in which we get introduced to the Bond character. I haven't seen one Bond film that doesn't kick off with these gripping scenes, however, like many Bond movies before this one, the movie sets a high standard and usually falls flat by the end.

The plot of this film dates back to Bond's first mission as a MI-6 agent - his elevation to double '00' agent status. I like the current trend of many films recently, creating sequels to the famous franchises in the form of prequels. The prequel angle has allowed stories to be changed, more detail and background information to be provided, and the ability to develop the lead character into greater detail. The successful prequels that I have enjoyed include the Hannibal Lechter series, Batman, and now this new era with Daniel Craig leading the way.

Judi Dench reprises her role as M in this film. Also, in coordination of the prequel concept, there is no Q cast for this film. A good choice in plot design if you ask me. However, the film does take into account that a prequel could be cast in the past, but instead, Casino Royale is set in present time with references to 9/11 and gadgets from the current age. This is once again a good choice in plot design as a dated James Bond character would probably disappoint fans of the movie seeking out the newest spy technologies and cars.

Daniel Craig is a new-age Bond for the new-age Bond fan. He is no longer the suave, debonair, snooty British spy. This Bond is brutish, crude, and somewhat clumsy in his actions and his dealings as the famed spy. I like the shift in character paradigm as I was getting sick of the cool Bond and enjoyed the fact that they made some changes to how he conducted himself in this film.

Overall, this movie lacks the substance of a great Bond film. As with some of the more notable Bond classics, there is no great villain or cast of henchmen after the spy. Craig's character deals with obstacle after obstacle, yet doesn't really solve the problem in the end of the movie. The ending seems to be tacked on for conclusion purposes, but the film doesn't end in true Bond fashion.

Due to recent popularity of Texas Hold 'Em poker, Casino Royale seemed to be a fitting stage for this prequel. The cast includes Eva Green, who the camera seems to love on the screen whenever she is in the shot. She is quite beautiful, either in her conservative HM Treasurer outfits or as a slinky, mystical woman entering the casino floor. Even in her inevitable betrayal scenes, I find a sense of beauty in her face, something that was a bonus for this film. However, the casting of the rest of the characters such as Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre really didn't do this film justice. I know that having Craig as the new Bond became a prerequisite to cast a lesser known evil villain. In my opinion, a stronger character development of Le Chiffre would've been more appealing overall.

I cannot complain too much about this movie as it was a good attempt at allowing a franchise adapt to a new timeline. I am excited to see what else Ian Fleming has up his sleeve for this unique opportunity to revamp an old friend.

Reference: I originally published this article on www.helium.com