The lowest requirement of labour with the minimum requirement of technology.
Part One: Hey Ma, I make the rice and I lay the pipes…
It’s a little hard to make out from this photo but sadly the coffeeshop across the street from my place no longer sells sexy economical rice. If only somebody were around to bring sexy back…
They do on the other hand have a crane. Niles, is that you?
While browsing through the CD racks at one of the outlets of a popular chain of bookstores, whose CD should I find but…
Everybody give it up for Grammy award winning rapper and producer KateyeWest.
George Bush doesn’t care about cat people.
First off: I have to admit to not being a very big James Bond fan. I’ve watched a few of the movies, but never been compelled to follow the franchise. Which is fine since the films work very much on an episodic basis, previous movies might be referenced but they’re ultimately of no consequence to whatever is playing in the cinema currently.
There’s been a lot of controversy about Casino Royale and particularly in the casting of Daniel Craig, but come on, everybody hates the new Bond because he’ll never be as good as Sean Connery. That’s true of every actor who’s had the role. So I’ll say unrepetantly that Daniel Craig is a great James Bond. Put simply, Casino Royale (sadly not starring David Niven, Peter Sellers and Woody Allen) is Bond without the bullshit.
Pierce Brosnan did a good job, but (in the first of several Batman comparisons I’ll be making) like George Clooney he found himself starring in a franchise that seemed to get increasingly outlandish with every new film, and this is for a character for whom secret underwater fortresses, death rays and being fed to sharks are de rigeur.
Goldeneye, his first Bond outing was the exception in that it seemed (to me at least) to be a good balance of the different elements that made up the Bond movies over the years (espionage, intrigue, big action sequences, grit, sex,etc). Goldeneye was directed by Martin Campbell, the same man who was brought on board to direct Casino Royale.
In an age of Jack Bauers and Jason Bournes it seemed a little ridiculous for some of the excesses of the Bond franchise to continue unchanged, and a lot of Bond trademarks (Q’s gadgets, Q himself) are set aside for the sake of making a stronger movie and a far more three dimensional Bond than what I’ve seen previously. And Bond gets his ass kicked. A lot. Not by “lasers” or implausible death traps either. He gets tortured and beaten and almost dies right in the middle of the film. Right from the beginning the viewer is presented with a far more brutal Bond movie. There’s been a tonne of violence in the Bond films, but it often tended towards the cartoonish. Craig’s Bond is the first who genuinely has to deal with the consequences of his actions. The action sequences are very well done, without being over the top.
As an origin story I find it to be a bit stronger than Batman Begins was, but both approach their protagonists as believable human beings rather than the franchise characters they’d often find themselves treated as. And I kept thinking that this has to be the first time I’ve seen Bond in a t-shirt.
Oh, and the theme song “You Know My Name” by Chris Cornell feels a little lacking because Cornell doesn’t really let loose until the end of the song. I was hoping for something like Cochise.
There are flaws of course, but none I can get into without going too deep in for those unfamiliar with the plot. So in closing,
Rating: 
Pretty damn good.
Casino Royale: Official Site from Sony Pictures
IMDB: Casino Royale
Wikipedia: Casino Royale
While at Azmi’s place the other day Azmi and I went through a box containing a whole bunch of old photos, with quite a few from secondary school days. We even found the photos for the infamous lost UsDudes feature, the destruction of Farique’s flat. There’s more than enough to create a whole new UsDudes feature. When we finally sort through the pics I think we’ll be able to have at least one new feature, put together the DVD styled director’s commentary for the existing features and quite possibly update True UsDudes Stories with old photos on a weekly basis.
Peace.
Pretty cool. The piano and black and white theme reminds me of the video for John Legend’s Ordinary People more than anything else though.
Thanks to Water Cooler Convo.
DOUBLE-0-STACHUS
The UsDudes can so be so much bigger dorks than Ryan Star if only we applied ourselves. From Ryan Star’s MySpace.
The full length trailer is finally up. It doesn’t reveal too much outside of what Harry’s costume looks like, a quick sneak peek at Gwen Stacy and what I think is a little red herring of a plot twist (at least I’m hoping it is… Sam Raimi isn’t that obviously derivative). Screen caps available at CBR.
Keen. According to today’s New Paper (6th November 2006) Ryan Star of Rockstar: Supernova fame will be in Singapore on the 17th of November for a Channel [V] showcase. The event is unfortunately by invite only, but there is a phone-in contest to win tickets to the event. Twenty pairs of invites to the event, and five to a meet and greet session. Ryan Star did a tremendous job and all the videos of his solo material making the rounds on Youtube haven’t disappointed, so I’m hoping I get in.
Curiously this write up is also where I found out Jason Newsted will be replaced for Rockstar Supernova’s (hire better lawyers next time, guys) upcoming tour (by the Black Crowe’s Johnny Colt, apparently) and that Storm, Magni and the house band were taken off the tour due to financial considerations.
And if Fan Favourite winner Ryan Star isn’t enough to lure you, Channel [V] hosts Sarah Tan and Maya Karin will be there as well.
This week at Mak’s Place, Najib has an idea.
Najib: They should invent smokeless cigarettes. Wait, then can’t say “Let’s go for a smoke.” Hmm…
Najib: “Let’s go for a blow.”
Everyone bursts out laughing.
Azmi: Man, if only Zhaki were here to hear this.
Three weeks ago…
Najib: Your brother dances? Is he interested in taking part in a concert for the visually impaired?
Zhaki: What? They can’t even see the performance. It would be like the “Taunt the Blind” concert.
Najib: Hey, they can see shadows okay.
Azmi: So you could bring anybody out there and they wouldn’t know who it was.
Shah: We have Michael Jackson!
Azmi(in imitation of Michael Jackson): Hooo!
Shah: We have Hard Gay!
Azmi(in imitation of Hard Gay): Hooo!
This is Farhan’s brother. He’s cool and all. ‘Cos you know, he dances and stuff.
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