Oh James…
The upstairs neighbors had a party tonight. First my friend Brian told me about it, he was invited, and assured me that they’d said they were going to invite me too. I smiled at him happily. Sure enough, when I got home there was a sweet little note inviting me to a little get-together in the apartment above mine. I took this as more of a warning than an invitation. I really like my neighbors, but I don’t know them very well. So I assumed they were being nice and letting me know that they were going to party-up so that I could either make other plans, or face the onslaught of ceiling stomping with fair, and pleasant warnings in place.
Band on the Run by sir Paul McCartney
Stuck inside these four walls, sent inside forever,
Never seeing no one nice again like you,
Mama you, mama you.
If I ever get out of here,
Thought of giving it all away
To a registered charity.
All I need is a pint a day
If I ever get out of here.
Well, the rain exploded with a mighty crash as we fell into the sun,
And the first one said to the second one there I hope you’re having fun.
Band on the run.
And the jailer man and sailor sam were searching every one
For the band on the run
Well, the undertaker drew a heavy sigh seeing no one else had come,
And a bell was ringing in the village square for the rabbits on the run.
Band on the run.
And the jailer man and sailor sam, were searching every one
For the band on the run
Well, the night was falling as the desert world began to settle down.
In the town they’re searching for us every where, but we never w ill be found.
Band on the run
And the county judge, who held a grudge
Will search for evermore
For the band on the run
Instead of going to the party, or staying in, I went to dinner with my friend Bob, and we hung out with friends until the 11:45 showing of Casino Royale at a brand new theater, thoughtfully opened in the floors above San Francisco’s new Bloomingdale’s Department Store.
I was skeptical about this film from the moment the teaser posters appeared, without hub-bub in the halls of the theaters. I pointed it out to friends and we shook our heads. How could it be good? Bond hasn’t been worth anything whatsoever since the last of the original Sean Connery pictures. Even then it was the music, the amazing opening credits, the mod style of it, the smoothness of Bond’s cars, suits, and exquisite taste. The stories were cheesy, the jokes were sexist, decidedly not funny at all, and more or less had a seen one – seen ‘em all quality to them.
George Lazenby made a great bond, following Connery, he may have been the best and most accurate Bond of all, but it was just too soon for him. Sean was Bond so deeply personified that he just didn’t stand a chance.
Roger Moore hit the screen in ‘Live and let die’ with a splash of excitement. I remember when this came out in the theaters, everyone was wild about it. I kinda liked the song, but that was mainly because Paul McCartney songs were always hits, but they were never really about anything (think about it: consider the lyrics to ‘Band on the run’ or even ‘Live and let die.’ What the hell is Paul going on about?) but the movie stunk. Bad action, even more sexist jokes, and sub-television action. From there I tuned out. Dalton, Brosnan, whatever…
Casino Royale is a great movie. From the Kubrick-esque camera angles in black and white at the start to the over the top, but exhillerating leaping from crane to rooftop and springing through the streets, Bond gets fucked up, poisoned, beaten back, outsmarted, and the whole thing swirls and twirls into a really wonderful story that is only spoiled (a little) by some schmultz at the end.
I fell in love with the girl (Eva Green,) I really, really hated the bad guy (Mads Mikkelsen,) I was impressed with Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright,) down for the cause, and best of all, I wanted to be James Bond (Daniel Craig) when I grew up.
This is the best Bond film in years and years and years. It may be the best Bond film ever.
Good-Times!
So it’s 3:34 am now, I’m home and back to work, worried about money and the details fo the month’s end. I’ve got my first real gig in San Francisco on the first (next friday,) the masters for my domestic album are somehow distorted and need to be recut, I’ve got a poster and a flyer to deliver by wednesday for the AltMaker’s Ball, and a remix in progress that just won’t behave. The neighbors are still stomping around, but it’s the dregs now, those pesky boys who still believe that if they sit on the couch long enough and just keep talking that one of the women who live there will select them for some last minute sex.
Does that ever work? What must their hostesses think of them? I swear, if it were me I’d put them to work doing the dishes and putting the house in order. And when they were done, or I got really tired (whichever came first) I’d clap my hands, open the door and say goodnight.
3 Comments
Yeah! I saw this the night it came out and f-ing loved it!
I think it is the best Bond film. I love that he’s rough around the edges and less suave than his predecessors. He’s still rad, but he’s more human. You can understand why he does what he does…A+
Man I want to see this movie… Hmmm, gonna have to go see it this coming weekend for sure.
You sound busy BTW… Good times!
loved this movie! the last bond flick sucked so bad it was fantastic to see the genre get good again! daniel craig made a great bond – very hot, I mean, smart and strong and tough and all that stuff… ;)