While Casino Royale as a whole functions like a creation myth which explains the birth of James Bond as Bond, there are certain elements which really stand out. It’s especially compelling to witness certain character traits of your hero “come into being.”
Let’s take a look: Spy Screenwriting Tip #1: Include elements of a creation mythĬreation myths are a very popular form of storytelling, which describe how a certain culture/world began. What screenwriting tricks can you borrow from the film which launched Daniel Craig as James Bond? Much like JJ Abrams’s reboot of Star Trek, the film benefited greatly from existing in its own world, not bound by story rules predicated by the string of Bond films which preceded it, but still honoring the trademarks we know and love. Written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Paul Haggis, it is marked by a string of smart, sophisticated, and sometimes even bold choices. Thankfully, Casino Royale did a 180 and focused more on the man than on his gadgets.Įvery screenwriter attempting to write a spy movie would benefit from studying Casino Royale. I hadn’t gone into the theater with high expectations because my faith in the James Bond franchise had withered after watching The World Is Not Enough, which seemed to be a giant advertisement for Bond’s tricked-out car. I remember walking out of the theater after seeing Casino Royale and thinking, “wow, this is how it should be done.”
