kaniagostyn *UKS Kania Gostyń

James Bond Coursework. “What similarities and differences can be found between the earliest James Bond film, ‘Dr No’ (1962) and the latest Bond film, ‘Casino Royale’ (2006)?



In this essay I will be comparing two films about James Bond. First one is called ‘Dr No’, it was made in 1962 and it is the oldest film from Bond’s series. Bond is played by Sean Connery. Second film is called ‘Casino Royale’ and it is the latest one because it was made in 2006. James Bond is played by Daniel Craig. In ‘Dr No’ whole thing is about toppling space rockets. USA’s government do not know who controls their rockets. So Bond is sent to Jamaica and his aim is to find out person who does it. Eventually Bond meets Dr No and he gets rid of him. In the latest film, ‘Casino Royale’, plot is much more complicated. Bond has worked out that guy called La Chiffre is a terrorists’ banker and he plays cards to multiply money and have a bigger profit. So Bond went to casino called ‘Casino Royale’ and beaten La Chiffre in cards. So La Chiffre has lost all of terrorists’ money. And eventually La Chiffre has been killed by rival organisation. At the end James gets money and kills guy from rival organisation, but we do not actually know who he was.
James Bond looks similar in both films. He often wears dinner suit and white shirt. He always looks stylish. In many films we can see him gambling very often in very posh places. But in ‘Dr No’ he does not look like he was fighting. He always knows what to do and he is not nervous. While in ‘Casino Royale’ Bond few times looks really beaten. Blood is all around his body and he is nervous. In ‘Casino Royale’ he James Bond looks more realistic.
In both films we can see a famous image which appears in every film about James Bond. It is a barrel view from gun pointing at Bond. In ‘Dr No’ it is on very beginning while in ‘Casino Royale’ it happens at the end of black and white sequence. This point of view from camera tells us some more about Bond. It tells us that his life is dangerous and there is a lot to do with guns and blood.
Another similarity in these films is music. In ‘Dr No’ music is played for quite long time, because it is a first film about Bond and it’s aim is to make us recognising James Bond every time we hear it. In ‘Casino Royale’ we hear it for short time at the end of film, because we already know this music and we know that it is associated with super agent 007.
Whole action of these two films is about trying to get rid of a bad character. In ‘Dr No’ it is obviously a guy called Dr No. In ‘Casino Royale’ the main enemy is Le Chiffre. The difference is that in ‘Dr No’ plot is very simple, only about Dr no who is toppling American’s rockets. While in ‘Casino Royale’ there are many, really complicated plots and even after few times of watching this film you are not really sure about few things. Perhaps people in 1962 did not expect such a complicated film. While 21st’s century audience century can not live without fast action.
James Bond is a ruthless killer and people who have been doing films about Bond show it to us very clear. This is another similarity in these films. In ‘Dr No’ Bond kills professor Dent even when he knows that there are no bullets in his gun. Bond shows no mercy to bad characters. The same thing happens in ‘Casino Royale’. At the beginning of the film, in black and white sequence, Bond is waiting for guy in office. And that does not have bullets in his gun as well. Then Bond shoots him, without even thinking about it. He looks like killing is his work.
Last similarity which I want to talk about in my essay is how Bond introduces himself in films. He says: ‘I’m Bond…….James Bond’. In ‘Dr No’ we can hear it at the beginning because we do not know him yet. In ‘Casino Royale’ it has been said right at the end, because we already know who James Bond is.
At the end, regardless all of these similarities and differences I would want to say that the latest film ‘Casino Royale’ is far better for me. I prefer it because I really like Bond played by Daniel Craig. He is really good actor and his films are great. A lot of technique has been used to make ‘Casino Royale’. Amazing equipment and guns, but the best of all is Bond’s car. Aston Martin DB9 which is incredibly expensive and stylish. Owning car like this shows, that you are wealthy. Finally, the best I enjoyed fight scenes and fast action. At the beginning when Bond is trying to catch one guy. They run very fast, they jump from very high buildings and they do amazing things. It is almost like watching someone doing ‘Parkour’, but far better. I prefer ‘Casino Royale’, but ‘Dr No’ is not so bad. Every film about James Bond has his own climate and people for and against it. I am sure of one thing; James Bond will be remembered for ever…