'Casino Royale' | Ian Fleming's First 007 Novel | Book Review
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- čas přidán 5. 09. 2024
- Here's the first video in a series I've been getting a lot of requests for, reviews of all the Ian Fleming Bond novels!
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I think the movie from 2006 does a great job modernising a book from 1953
I'm 25 and hadn't read a book in over 10 years but as a fan of Bond I figured I'd give it a go. Really enjoyed it! Just about to begin Live and Let Die
Prepare yourself for the racist passages though, good lord!
@@andrewburgemeister6684 Yes I did have to remember it was written in the 50s when reading certain parts!
@@sirpizo555 yeah, I remember reading Of Mice and Men back in Year 10 and that was pretty eye-opening as well in terms of the racist language referring to the African American stablehand.
@@andrewburgemeister6684 I do enjoy Live and Let Die but by Christ some of the stuff in it makes me raise an eyebrow as much as Moore when I re-read it! 😂
You are getting in the mind of an assassin. People who are good at killing people often are not nice people. I hate discrimination, racism, sexism etc but it is no good pretending those attitudes do not exist.
"I think his appreciation for women will develop more in the books"
I've got a bridge to sell you.
Don't feel too bad Calvin. I'm a HUGE Bondian myself and I haven't read the books either...
EntropicDecay Gaming same
I want to read them one day
Haven’t read even 25% of them but they feel worlds apart. Moonraker has nothing to do with space, it’s just a big fat missile and Hugo Drax is a Nazi ginger in desperate need of an orthodontist. Live and Let Die is sooo much fun just ignore the abhorrent racism it still has merit to me because it’s the only time Bond combats the occult.
I only just recently finished the Fleming novels even though I've been a fan most of my life.
I'm going to start reading the 007 books once I'm done re watching the movies
I actually got distracted by listening to the music. I love Arnold’s score for this movie. I think it’s use of “you know my name” throughout is spectacular
I was surprised by how different he was. I always hear how Timothy Dalton is the most accurate to book bond but honestly they are still very different. Maybe it’s just the nature of the casino setting but the lack of bond killing people and lack of gadgets really stood out. I liked it. He’s by far the most realistic feeling
I personally do believe that Dalton is the closest to the books overall - especially in terms of appearance - but like you said, they are still different. I tend to think of the literary Bond as an amalgamation of Connery's persona and attitude with Dalton's appearance and professional coldness.
I was very surprised that he doesn’t even kill anyone until the second novel and that he only kills like 4 people in that
I find it fantastic that you are reviewing the Bond novels, they are such splendid reads and act as a great way to kill time between films. Fleming was a spectacular writer and does a great job of putting us in the environment of the story. Out of all the actors I feel Dalton acted the most like the book Bond. If you’re going to keep on reviewing Bond books, once you finish with Fleming I recommend Colonel Sun and Solo to review. Fantastic review, keep it up!
Honestly the Moonraker book is phenomenal ... i want a film based on that book because the film he have is NOT the book XD
What's sad is that Die Another Day is the closest thing to an adaptation of that novel we've ever gotten.
In a sad irony, Fleming intended Moonraker to be adapted to the big screen.
Honestly, I enjoyed it maybe the most of all Fleming's novels. And Bond's love interest is handled pretty well, much better than in Casino Royale.
Bc of that, with the next James Bond they do have the opportunity to use something closer the book version of Moonraker, since it hasn’t truly been done.
So we may see that someday. & I wouldn’t mind a remake of one of the other films, depending on which film. Some are far too good to improve on
Started reading the Fleming books a couple of years ago - and it has completely made me re-assess who I thought the character of Bond was and it has deepened and enrichened my knowledge of the man.
I'm glad you pointed out that the Fleming novels have some pretty outlandish things in them like the movies, albeit to a lesser extent. Especially when you get to Dr No you'll find that the book is actually pretty freaking bonkers at times compared to the film, but in a fun way, if you ask me.
Also, I have to say that the torture scene in Casino Royale was downright terrifying to read about. I remember squirming as I imagined Bond's agony.
I actually liked Live and Let Die more than I thought I would. My absolute worst is Dr No, although You Only Live Twice is so batshit crazy I can't decide whether it's terrible or absolutely genius. I would also genuinely put Zero Minus Ten in my Top 3 Bond novels of all time; I've read it 6 times! Hope you enjoy the book series Calvin.
Zero Minus Ten is better than some Fleming titles
like The Spy Who Loved Me & Thunderball.
The Fleming novels are fantastic. CR being my favourite
Something you'll find with the novels is that much of the depth/interesting characterization was watered down/cut out for the films.
I love this book. It really does a good job in giving Bond so much depth from the start.
These are the actors I imagine for the characters:
Bond - Timothy Dalton (once again, I feel he is basically book Bond brought to life, though there are times where Connery slips in)
Vesper - Eva Green
Felix - Bernie Casey
Mathis - Giancarlo Giannini
Tanner - James Villiers
Moneypenny - Pamela Salem
M - Robert Brown (physically, it's Bernard Lee, but the voice is always Robert Brown for me in these books)
Le Chiffre - Peter Lorre
For me for some reason I picture David Henre for Felix when I was reading Casino Royale
I think Ian was basically describing himself in the opening chapter. I believe Bond was Ian’s alter ego. I remembering reading the books I was younger, then on Audio many years later. So great when watching the films you can take bits from the books. Another great review
FINALLY, Calvin. I was wondering when you'd get around to the novels. I thought they were all good and within them are some amazing set pieces (esp. Moonraker). I initially avoided The Spy Who Loved Me because it's not written in the third person; it's written in the first person from the woman character's point of view. But it's excellent. Anyway, you should do more of these and I'd tell all Bond fans that if you haven't read the novels, you're missing out.
I was lucky enough to be on a 14 hour flight and only had The Spy Who Loved Me to read. I was able to get through the whole book on that flight. I don't know if I would have finished it otherwise. That was 43 years ago. I am about to start re-reading all the Fleming novels in the coming week after I finished For Special Services, John Gardner, which I also read when it first came out.
I’ve been waiting for this forever Calvin! This review was brilliant and I probably enjoyed it more than your film reviews! Please make sure you review every book in the series
Great review Calvin, I read the books a few years back and really enjoyed them, you are in for a treat. Some of the later ones are my favourites.
Excited for you to get to Benson's books. They're easily number 2 after Fleming cos they're just so fun and engrossing too. Was emailing with him yesterday, he's a real nice guy!
I'm glad you enjoyed this and that you're going to continue the series. You're going to love the later books, Live and Let Die is very, VERY problematic but it's insanely entertaining and enjoyably macabre.
The question is: What face does the Bond of the book have in your mind?
Timothy Dalton for me.
Always see Sean Connery.
Connery always. Even for the films I loved Moore in I just couldn't see him as the character in the book it's just not even close to the same XD
A mix of Connery and Craig
Dalton mixed with Brosnan and Connery would be the closest way to describe it.
Eva Green, Diana Rigg, and Honor Blackman... the three best Bond ladies in the Eon series.
"I'm not expecting excellent female characters from Fleming, but (...) I think we'll see better Bond girls in the future. Or at least, I hope we do."
Oh Calvin, speaking as someone who's read each of Fleming's novels at least once... your first instinct is always your best one.
Excited to hear your thoughts on these novels though. After Live and Let Die, I think Fleming goes on auto-pilot for a lot of them (why Bond fans praise Moonraker the novel, I'll never understand), but the highs are very high. From Russia With Love, Thunderball and On Her Majesty's Secret Service are three of the most entertaining novels I've ever read.
I've always liked his writing for Domino in Thunderball.
The girl from Moonraker was good too.
What's wrong with Moonraker? Intrigued to know
With regards to the Bond girls, of course its not going to be PC by 21st century standards, but for their time, I was surprised to see that most of them are actually quite well developed characters.
@@SolarDragon007 I thought it was strange they didn't use her name for the movie instead of Holly Goodhead.
A great way to start the series that has become better now that Anthony Horowitz has taken Fleming's discarded originals and made the semi-canonical “Forever and a Day”. Tense as few Bond novels.
The 007 Legends review is going to be an absolute roast on the game isn't it XD
Currently at the writing stage for that and... yeah... It was NOT a great experience playing through that game again...
@@calvindyson
Isn't it just amazing that in the Aston Martin level in Die Another Day the missiles go straight through the back of the car when fired? Or the fact that you can complete the whole level without using any of the Aston's gadgets? Or that the stealth takedowns (when they decide to work...) on civilians still include takedowns that break necks?
@@calvindyson Calvin was never seen again
It's very clear 007 Legends was heavily rushed to market. A lot of the weapons and animations share the exact same models and names from Goldeneye Reloaded, so the entire thing comes off as some oddly high budget mod of that rather than a full fledged game.
A shame as I do love Nightfire and Goldeneye Reloaded (and consider both superior to Goldeneye N64, so fight me), so seeing Eurocom's swansong end up like this is kinda depressing.
@@gameragodzilla
They apparently had to build the whole thing in 6 months...
I picked this book up after seeing how much you enjoyed it, and I finished it in a couple of hours. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I actually really loved the card game stuff; it was my favorite aspect of the book. I got quite tense reading that section even though I already knew what was going to happen. Although I think that the Bond portrayals we see on screen are more fun, I think that the character as described in the book is infinitely more relatable. I can't wait to read the next one, and I'm not even the biggest Bond fan in the world. I haven't even seen all the films.
Great to hear your thoughts on the Casino Royale novel Calvin. I'm always interested to hear the impressions of long time Bond film fans who are reading the books for the first time and I'm looking forward to your reviews of the other novels. I hope Live And Let Die will prove more enjoyable than you are anticipating. I think its a really fast moving, exciting and entertaining novel.
Great to see your reviewing the novels. Casino Royale is the book everyone talks about so much so that you would swear it is the only novel Fleming wrote. True I guess it does have an inspired and original plot but I don't think it is his best novel.
Really nice to see you back on a more regular basis, man! I’ve been looking forward to your take on the literary series for a while. I was quite late reading them as well. Although I don’t necessarily agree with Flemings views I’ve always found him such a fascinating person! Really love the whole travelogue aspect that was sadly dropped from the later movies as well. Dr No is a real favourite when it comes to that. All the books set in Jamaica are fantastic. Really rich in detail and you could tell that Fleming absolutely loved the culture. Can’t wait for you to get to YOLT / TMWTGG! I’ve always found those stories would make perfect transition films for an old > new Bond actor. Hoping this is where they go with Craig, if I’m honest!
Fav bit in the book was when Fleming writes bond and Vespa going to stay at a beach resort, welcomed by a couple.. Bond slags them off as childless, spending their energies entertaining because they have no kids…. Meow’s
Ah Calvin. I was hoping you'd see what a farce the 2006 film is in comparison to it's source material. The mutual respect between Bond and M, the journey Bond goes in the film is superfluous as he still achieves the same results in the book without 'becoming Bond', Bond and Mathis' relationship isn't compromised, etc. The snobbery aspect of Bond's character is one thing that many don't pick up on when suggesting Craig's Bond is closer to the source material (i.e. Craig's Bond is dressed by Green's Vesper as if she had a hand in shaping who Bond is, and yet Bond was already Bond going into the Casino Royale mission).
"Quite literal bollocking." Hahahahahahahaha !!!
Ok it's a good book, but... in wich chapter Woody Allen kills everyone in the middle of a fight between indians and cowboys?
What's very strange is James Bond is (kinda) targeted by a suicide bomber. I mean an assassin gets close to him and sets off a bomb on his person and Bond is almost caught in the shockwave, but it turns out the assassin didn't intentionally kill himself, he was given two devices: one he was told was a bomb that he should throw at his victim and the other device was supposed to create a harmless smokescreen for him to escape. Somehow they figured out he must have activated the smokescreen first only for it to be revealed that it was a trick... both devices were bombs.
What's amusing is the right after taking out numerous enemy agents and depriving them of millions, Bond blithely drives down the road without the care in the world saying "why would anyone want to kill us?" Talking as if he just had to punch out the clock and has no other reason to be wary!
The spy story to end all spy stories is The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
Did anyone notice that the warehouse at the end of Spectre was called “Hildebrand”, which I believe is a reference to the Fleming short story titled Hildebrand Rarity? I think that’s a nice detail, but I’m also a bit disappointed by the fact that that might mean we won’t get a movie based on that story (it’s one of my favourites!)
Considering they used Milton Krest in License to Kill, I think that ship has long since sailed.
I wonder if the films will ever dive into Bond’s usage of Benzedrine pills or the Morland of Grossover Street Cigarette shop
Have you checked out the audio book version - amazing!
I read Ian Fleming when I was in high school around like 04-05. I got really into James Bond and had to read the books so I had my mom buy this boxed set they had (the books in this version didn't have pulpy covers the individual books had at the time).
I actually like the movie best. It has a climax and a cool intro, where you actually get to see Bonds two first murders rather than just hearing about them. I also like that there is actually some investigation before Bond becomes aware of Le Chiffre.
The only thing I really miss from the book is the way Vesper dies. Her drowning in an elevator is too over the top. I liked the novel version better on this bit.
Movie version has more time to flesh out every character much more (except Bond himself, which is roughly equally good in both the movie and the book) and Vesper is handled much better. Le Chiffre is more threatening villain in the movie, in the book, he is almost a gangster figure with couple of henchmen. But I like this smaller and more personal story that the book presents, how James Bond is introduced.
When they published this book, people thought SMERSH was fiction.
And they didn't know what an intelligence service was. Smersh was disbanded before Fleming died.
Will you be doing Amis, Gardner, Benson, Faulks, Boyd, Deaver, Horowitz, Higson, Cole and Westbrook as well?
Please please please……….
When will do diamonds are diver review
??
Dang it, I had a bond marathon, watch all 24 official films and all unofficial films, and I forgot Diamonds are diver
My library finally got my copy in and started reading it in the park today happy to get it. Have the next two on the way as well. Skkkrrttt
@Calvin Dyson Among the books Casino Royale in particular is excellent. Ian Fleming had a tremendous gift for finding one word every paragraph or two to twist, just a little, and it shows a face, a room, an object, a feeling, a city, in an unusual way without ever seeming pretentious or contrived.
Casino Royale is also compact and tightly plotted, at just 48,000 words when even fairly short novels today are 60,000 words long. In addition you're spared the absurd poker scenes of Craig's first film, which is really only one great foot chase, one well shot fight scene ending in the stairwell, and THAT scene, especially if you're a man. The initial dialogue between Craig and Green is ridiculously bad, chemistry free, and leaves the 'romance' beginning with the shower scene farcical.
I’m so glad you’ve started doing book reviews!!!!!!
I am in the same boat you were. I consider myself a huge fan boy of Bond but never read the original novels. About 10 years ago, I read Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Moonraker and Diamonds are Forever. Then, 9 years later I read the first 100 pages of From Russia With Love and never finished it. I just finished watching all 24 movies the other day and now I am going to finish reading the rest of the novels.
YEESSSSS! I'm so happy you're reviewing the books! I've been working through then books myself, I'm up to From Russia With Love!
I've been a Bond fan for 22 years and only now finally gotten round to reading all the Fleming books. When reading through each book, I did try to imagine the Bond actor from each book's respective film adaptation. But when getting to certain points in the books where Bond acts in a certain way, I couldn't imagine each actor's Bond that way. So I won't try that again next time I read them. Though Craig's portrayal does mostly resemble Bond in Casino Royale, save a few moments. As does Dalton as the tougher Bond in the books.
I have to disagree with you about the baccarat duel which is easily the highlight of the book, as exciting and enthralling as any action sequence. Raymond Benson has said how Fleming turned gaming contests in Moonraker and Goldfinger into thrilling sequences yet for me CR is only time I found these sequences exciting as I understood the mechanics of the game and there were real stakes. The third act honeymoon was somewhat disconcerting as the mission was over yet there's still another of the novel to go. Also when I saw Casino Royale 2006 I was surprised how much of the original novel was carried over into the film even Le Chiffre's inhaler made an appearance.
Completely agree. I think the difference is that there's actually something at stake in that game of baccarat. I may not care much for baccarat, but when I read Casino Royale I'm hanging on every word of Fleming's description of the game, because I know the mission is on the line. Meanwhile, the endless descriptions of the bridge game in Moonraker or the golf match in Goldfinger (all eighteen holes in preposterous detail!) are a complete bore because nothing at all is at stake other than Bond's pride. But sometimes I think Fleming cared more about that than the fate of the mission anyway.
i'm really happy your'e finaly reviewing this!
Do a video of James Bond actor portrayal: from worst to best
I've had to pause the video midpoint as the background music is so distracting and I want to focus on what you're saying. Can you ditch it for future reviews.
nigel4579 or just turn it down or use less actiony, more quiet music?? Still great though!!
That's cool to have background music during your review, Calvin! Good idea!
Inspiration for the Work: The book was inspired by certain incidents that took place during Ian Fleming's wartime career at the Naval Intelligence Division (NID), or by events of which he was aware. On a trip to Portugal, en route to the United States, Fleming and the NID Director, Admiral Godfrey, went to the Estoril Casino. Because of Portugal's neutral status, Estoril's population had been swelled by spies and agents from the warring regimes. Fleming claimed that while there he was cleaned out by a "chief German agent" at a table playing chemin de fer. Admiral Godfrey told a different story: that Fleming only played Portuguese businessmen, and afterwards fantasised about playing against German agents.
Like them or not, the books should be required reading for all fans. Once you have finished the Fleming books, will be you be reviewing the continuation books?
live and let die, hands down the best of the books.
Started reading CASINO ROYALE. So far I like it. I am about to start chapter 6.
When Bond first meets Vesper, she (in reference to her dress) says "if you hear me scream it's because I sat in a cane chair".
~Foreshadowing~
I’m guessing a different format will be used for the short story collections.
Also, might as well not do a book vs. movie section for The Spy Who Loved Me as the only things the two have in common is a title and a steel toothed villain.
Looking forward to these book reviews, this is the proper heart of the character
Thanks for that Calvin. I'm glad you have started to review the books. I have made a start on the too. I thoroughly enjoyed casino royale but I just admit I am currently reading live and let die and I'm finding it a bit of a slog.
Hey Calvin, have you read that James Bond novel called "Forever and a Day" yet? I believe it was written by "Anthony Horowitz", and was released back in, like, May of 2018. If I understand that correctly, it is a prequel to Casino Royale. Where Bond is assigned to investigate the death of the original "007". Yes, the man who held the number "007" before Bond(i.e., his immediate predecessor). I believe they even go so far as to say that this man was among the first men to ascend to "Double-O" status. Which I've always interpreted as "Master" spy, "Expert"- level spy, or "Professional Agent". I'd be interested to hear what you thought(or think) of this novel.
I haven't yet! Started with Casino and worked my way all through the Fleming's and now I'm just on the Authorised Biography and will be working my way through the series chronologically. So I have awhile to go until I get to Forever and a Day! Looking forward to the John Gardener books though!
Awesome. Sounds great. Take your time, and enjoy them. When you get to Raymond Benson's James Bond novel called "Doubleshot", let me know if they ever mention the name of agent "001". On Wikipedia they say that this book mentions that his name is "Edward Donne". If so, it'll be the very first, and only, mention of an agent "001". I haven't read it yet. I'll have to get my hands on that one.
Ahh I have been waiting for you to review the books!
Yes another upload!!!!
Several of us over on M16 Community are also doing a (slow) Bond Book Marathon (we're just cracking open DAF, but most of us have read these before, at least once). I hope that you don't mind my posting the link to your reviews over there.
Excited for more of these vids
Has anyone read the John Gardener Bond books? If so - are they worth reading? I read all of Fleming, and read 'Colonel Sun' and some of the more recent continuations, but have held off from moving on to Gardener. Should I give him a go? I'm willing to overlook the fact that, apparently, Bond drives a Saab during the Gardener era.
Depends on it. I'm halfway through with Gardner's series and so far they're just okay. His first book, Licensed Renewed, was fairly mediocre but entertaining as well. But his second book is complete shit, with a mind-numbing stupid plot (there's ice cream to control people's minds) and the partial destruction of Ernst Stavro Blofeld's character. After that, his books got better again, but if you did not like the dumb Roger Moore movies, you probably will not get warm with Gardner's books and the way he changes some of the characters. Fleming also had his eccentric plot elements, but Gardner pushes it to the top and his writing style saves nothing there.
I would say, they are at least worth a try, but you will have to get trough some really stupid stuff. But there are some nice action scenes, Ideas and Characters and setting them in the 80s made for some interesting Elements.
@@fqvermis8205 I have read several of the Sixteen ( As well as two novelizations !! ) John Gardener James Bond Novels . I find " SEAFIRE "to be among the very worst !! ( That is the one in which M is replaced by " Micro Globe One . " It takes Bond in an too different path !! ) However , " Nobody Lives Forever ," Is one of my favorites from Gardener . It is quite and adventure !!
They are strangely more dated than Fleming's stuff and quality kinda meanders but they are like Roger Moore's era in movie series, in good and bad.
I still have to read The Spy Who Loved Me, The Man With The Golden Gun, and finish You Only Live Twice. They're such easy and short reads when you have the time. What's interesting is that Bond, at the end of most of the books, ends up in hospital at the end.
I dont know that i could order them... but i loved reading From Russia with Love, Casino Royale, You Only Live Twice, & Doctor No
While I am disappointed by no diamonds review since that made last week bearable. I'm glad to see that you are getting into the novels. But a rushed project with flaws is worse then a delayed project with no flaws at all. So take your time with that review. Besides that keep the content coming.
Casino Royale was the last of Fleming Books that I read . I even read Fleming Non Fiction like Thrilling Cities and The Diamonds Smugglers before I read Casino Royale.
It is a well written novel but short. I read it in about 2 hours on a Trip.
I like the book.
Love the 2006 movie.
I'd be interested to know which of the actors you saw as Bond in your mind's eye. If any - maybe you saw Hoagy Carmichael like Fleming wanted you to.
Me personally, it changed a lot from book to book, even from chapter to chapter; but most of the time it was either Connery, Dalton, or Craig.
I have started to read a few of the books, but they didn't hold my attention for long, which isn't necessarily the books fault - I had to do something else. Interesting to me is that Bond is thinking a lot about so much, he almost becomes a different character as compared to his movie persona. The best portion out of all the books I've read so far is the lengthy description of Red Grant, which really contributes to the character portrayal in the movie. In any case, great review series, appreciate it so far (well, I've totally missed this review, started with Live and Let Die).
Music on this video is perfect. Well done!
Right about the 2006 film beating the book. Not only is it my favorite Bond film, it’s one of my favorite films period.
It's interesting to hear your thoughts on the books. I came from the same situation really, massive fan of the EON movies from when I was a kid, and only got around to reading the books about 4 years ago. I think what you said about the Bond girls getting less wooden is true, I think the Bond girls become a bit more interesting the further you go along. Gala Shields in Moonraker, Honey Ryder from Dr No and ofcourse Tracy from OHMSS all stick out as being quite memorable. And ofcourse, there is The Spy Who Loved Me, which is barely a Bond story, but rather a story about a woman with Bond being in it. The books definetly begin to grow more outlandish in scope and scale, the last 2 novels, You Only Live Twice and The Man with the Golden Gun definetly have things happen in them that I think would be considered to "out there" for the Craig era, Casino Royale is probably the most grounded aside from some of the short stories. I think Casino Royale holds up very well though to this day, and I think is definetly in the upper tier of Fleming Bond novels. I can understand your hesitation for Live and Let Die, how much you enjoy that novel depends on how much you can look past the dodgy race politics. Definetly more of a mixed bag.
Very interesting review; it's been years since I've read the book. A suggestion: since you've previously reviewed the Johnny English movies, how about a look at the best of the Bond spoofs, "Our Man Flint"?
Just what I've been waiting for you to review, Casino Royale was the first book I have read twice. It does perplex me that there are so many Bond fans who have not read the Ian Fleming novels or haven't at least tried to read them.
Wait until you get up to Thunderball where you'll never see or think of Blofeld in the same way again.
I have just started reading the Fleming novels. I rarely read books at all, I am just too lazy.
@@Marklovesdrama I understand, books aren't for everyone. However, I'm pleased you have started to at least try to read the Ian Fleming Bond novels.
@@JReed1985 I have just finished Casino Royale and will be shortly reading Live and Let Die.
@@Marklovesdrama Live and Let Die I wouldn't consider one of the best Bond books, but you might enjoy it.
@@JReed1985 I am reading through the books in order and Live and Let Die was the second book that Fleming published.
Calvin: in addition to my below long-winded comment, I suggest you pick up a copy of the graphic novel to Casino. It's a good companion to the novel.
I like this! Looking forward to more book reviews. :)
(And yes, I’d also love to see your reaction to Diamonds Are Forever... that’s one odd duck in the series)
I think the late Denholm Elliot could have been a good "M".
I'm in the same predicament. I'm up to the last short story in the For Your Eyes Only short story collection.
In closing I will be after every month be having a closing party of each book by watching each film and watching your reviews after I read the novel
Thanks for the review! Looking forward to picking up the book from the library. Subscribed. Keep up the great vids. -R
Hi Calvin! Can you please do some more Top 10s? Would love to know your top 10 favorite scenes!
Hi Calvin, just writing to say that Part 2 of your Skyfall review has been removed. Any chance we can get that back up? It's one of my favorite reviews and one that I rewatch on a regular basis.
Also, when are we going to get that reranking of all the Bond films?
Thanks!
No more delays. Please review Diamonds Are Forever.
Cheers from the biggest Bond fan from Texas, USA
Looking forward to your re ranking of the bond films.
Is the gunbarrel at the beginning?
No! It’s a book!
Do you really think it’s going to describe: bond walked across a plain white background being followed by a gunbarrel of a gun with an unseen assassin, Bond then turned around and shot it with his own gun. Of course not! That only makes sense in a visual medium!
Elijah Ford r/whoosh
No. in literature that would be a prologue, which the book doesn’t have. The events of the pre title sequence are film only.
I don't think anyone here understands sarcasm
I have only read the John Gardner continuation novels, Fleming's books are a bit odd to me.
It's ok Calvin, I only read Casino Royale ad Live and Let Die too 😂. Totally get where you come from. Both were great novels. Hoping to get back into the game soon :D Great vid, love your channel :) Keep up the good work mate!
Cavin i'am reading Bond books right now aswell. Right now i'am reading Diamonds Are Forever and i'am do hyped for Blofeld trilogy. I was waiting for your opinions about books so loong. :D And which actor do you imaginening as Bond?
Good book, the tension is there just for a card game, and the movie did a great job to modernize the book (even if half the movie doesn't exist in the book but they didn't have a choice) , I thought it was a bit awkward how Bond fell for Vesper pretty fast, he's naive and some scenes were embarassing to read when they're together with her being there, then cold , there but then cold again .
Good review, and good book! For a first effort, IF hits the ground running, I think. There are, like the movies, some parts that stretch credulity, but overall very satisfying. I agree that Vesper is not that well written in the book: sure she is beautiful, but her dialogue is hardly sparkling. Bonds infatuation with her towards the end is a bit of a head scratcher.
I enjoyed this one a lot too! I read this book a year or two ago, and now I'm almost done with Thunderball. The novels have definitely changed.
Any chance you will look into other properties that are clearly inspired by Bond but are their own original thing?
I would recommend Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater (Subsistence version is the best, that or the modern re-releases), The VR Game "I Expect You To Die", The Velvet Comics and if you still want to stick close to the Bond-Universe the fan made Goldeneye: Source might be your thing.
Calvin you look to be either in your mid or late twenties and I'm wondering whether you've heard of a man named Hoagy Carmichel; the man who James Bond looks like. I'm seventy and it took me quite a while to find a picture of Mr. Carmichel.
Finished it a few days ago, loved it.