LEWM: "CASINO ROYALE" ESL LESSON

 ARCENAL STUDIOS presents LEARNING ENGLISH WITH MOVIES: "CASINO ROYALE" 007 (2006) - JAMES BOND - a video lesson for ESL students who would like to improve their English skills by using MOVIES as the main topic.

 

CASINO ROYALE

The Film NO TIME TO DIE, The latest James Bond film and 25^th in the franchise will finally be released theatrically later this year after many Covid-related delays.

 

Not only that, but the film will be Daniel Craig’s last stint as the world famous secret agent.

 

A STINT is a fixed or limited period of time spent doing a particular job or activity.

 

As we eagerly wait for 007’s latest action-packed adventure, it would be a great opportunity to revisit the film that started the Daniel Craig-James Bond era, CASINO ROYALE.

 

EAGERLY means having or showing desire or interest.

 

After Pierce Brosnan announced that DIE ANOTHER DAY would be his last film as James Bond, the producers worked very hard not only finding a new actor to play Bond, but also to reboot the franchise with new talent and a new direction.

 

Ian Fleming’s 1952 novel CASINO ROYALE was the perfect choice to restart the franchise.

 

It’s not only one of the most successful adventures featuring British Secret Agent James Bond, but it was also Fleming’s first 007 novel.

 

Back in 1967, Columbia pictures had released CASINO ROYALE, a James Bond spoof that loosely based on the novel.

 

A SPOOF is a mocking imitation of someone or something, usually light and good-humored, like a lampoon or parody.

 

Producer Albert R. Broccoli and his production company EON Productions, had purchased the rights to Ian Fleming’s novels which they started with the film Dr. NO, starring Sean Connery.

 

After their huge success with the film, they were able to continue the franchise with 24 more films starring James Bond. Many actors have filled the shoes of Bond, including Roger Moore, George Laizenbee, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan.

 

Another Bond film was made, 1986’s NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN, again starring Sean Connery, which was produced by another production company, which had the rights to only one Ian Fleming Novel, THUNDERBALL.

 

After choosing CASINO ROYALE as the source material, the next challenge was finding a new actor to play the iconic secret agent.

 

Several actors were considered, including Christian Bale, Karl Urban and even Henry Cavill.

 

However, Daniel Craig’s performance in 2005’s LAYER CAKE left the producers no doubt that the had found their new Bond.

 

EON Productions hired acclaimed director Martin Campbell, who has previously directed their hugely successful film GOLDENEYE.

 

The Producers hoped that Campbell could breath new life to the franchise the same way he did back on GOLDENEYE.

 

CASINO ROYALE was a more faithful adaptation of the novel while at the same time, adding edgy action set pieces inspired by the most successful spy films of the time, such as Mission Impossible, and The Bourne Identity.

 

EDGY means having a bold, provocative, or unconventional quality.

 

However, one of the biggest influences for the action came from an unlikely source. A low budget French action film titled DISTRICT 13.

 

The movie featured jaw-dropping action scenes and Park our-inspired stunts that were so incredible that the producers even hired one of the actors from the film.

 

Besides the thrilling action, what really set CASINO ROYALE apart from the previous Bond films was a depth of character sorely missing from previous incarnations.

 

INCARNATION means the human form of a spirit, or the human representation of a principle or idea. In this case, a fictional character.

 

His doomed relationship with VESPER LYND would be integral to the development of the BOND character, shaping the man who would become 007.

 

In fact, EVA GREEN, a talented French actress, played Vesper unlike any Bond girl had before. She was strong, smart, resourceful and in everyway an equal to Bond.

 

Mads Mikkelsen was cast as the villainous Le Chiffre, Jeffery Wright as CIA Operative Felix Leiter, and Dame Judy Dench returned as M, the head of MI6.

 

The movie deals Le Chiffre’s plans to launder millions of dollars for illegal arms dealers and criminals.

 

TO LAUNDER MONEY or Money Laudering is the illegal process of concealing the origins of money obtained illegally.

 

Once Bond stops his plan to manipulate the stock market, Le Chiffre loses millions of dollars from his arm leader investors.

 

In order to cover his loses he goes to the CASINO ROYALE in Montenegro for a high stakes game of Poker. 

 

HIGH STAKES is used to describe a situation that has a lot of risk, in this case, the risk of losing a lot of money.

 

Since Bond is considered to the MI6’s best Poker player, he is sent to play against Le Chiffre in order to stop his money laundering operation.

 

In his mission he is assisted by another MI6 Agent, the beautiful and mysterious Vesper Lynd.

 

Together they would try to not only win the game of Poker but also to stay alive long enough to do it.

 

The film was a huge critical and financial success, which cemented Daniel Craig as the new Bond and insured follow up sequels.

 

TO CEMENT means to make a relationship, idea etc stronger or more certain.

 

However, unlike previous Bond films, which had little to no connection to each other, Daniel Craig’s films have a continuity which started with CASINO ROYALE and will conclude with 2021’s NO TIME TO DIE.