When I first read that the James Bond producers had chosen Daniel Craig to play the British secret service agent, I was pessimistic. Too ugly (especially after Pierce Brosnan), too much of a jock…he just didn’t come across as someone who could carry the role. The fact that he could act (wonderful performance in The Road to Perdition) didn’t really seem to count for much since the role of James Bond doesn’t really require extraordinary acting skills.
Well, we finally saw Casino Royale last Sunday and I shouldn’t have underestimated the guy. My mistake. He more than gave justice to the role — he humanized James Bond. Of course, it wasn’t all his doing. The producers and the director clearly intended a turnaround from the previous gadget-heavy flicks from the last decade and a half. Perhaps, the better way of putting it is that the producers made the right decision in casting Daniel Craig as James Bond.
The film is rated PG-13 so we thought it was okay to bring the kids. In fact, because they have enjoyed previous Bond films on DVDs, they were looking forward to seeing Casino Royale although both delivered the usual Yuck! Yucky! lines when they first found out that Daniel Craig would be playing the part. They had seen him in Tomb Raider and thought he was a sissy. So, anyway, we brought them to see Casino Royale.
I was watching for reactions all throughout the film. Some were expected. They were visibly excited to discover that Vesper Lynd had the same cell phone as mine. When 12-year-old Alex saw James Bond’s phone, she told her dad right there and then that she wanted one just like that which, of course, just made her father laugh (that translates to “Dream on, baby”).
I was particularly worried about how they would react to the torture scene. In the past, my husband and I would see a film first then assess if it was okay to let the kids see it. But we have seen far too many PG-13 films where we felt that a G rating would have been more proper so we had no qualms about taking them to see Casino Royale.
When no one said anything, I brought it up with Alex the next day. Of course, the scene upset her. Despite the gore she sees in CSI (which are explainable in scientific terms), torture was a rather new visual concept for her. I mean, of course, she has read about wars in her history books and she knows about atrocities that men are capable of. But to actually see someone being tortured, in such a graphic way, was upsetting for her.
So, I had to explain the scene as best as I could — that it wasn’t just for cinematic purposes. I told her that in real life, it happens especially in war when prisoners are taken and tortured for information. I mentioned the Iraq War and Abu Ghraib although I think it’s too early to show her actual photos. She’s “young” in that sense, far younger than her 14-year-old sister who, I know, would be able to handle the reality in a more mature way. I didn’t want to shock her further but I did let her know that men are capable of far worse acts of violence than what she saw in Casino Royale.
It was an unsettling conversation. And I felt guilty, in a way, because she might not be emotionally prepared to watch such a violent scene. Still, there was a part of me that said I shouldn’t consciously prevent her from seeing violence because it is part of how the world is — that it has always been part of man’s history.
I felt sad that I had to tell her that life is much more than the life she has known so far — that there are people who live under very different circumstances; that, for many, a hard life doesn’t just mean living in the slums. It was so hard finding the right balance to make her aware without unnerving her. I don’t know if that makes sense. The only way I can explain it is by saying that I wanted her to know that some people live very violent lives, that there are children out there, many much younger than they are, who live amid the violence that they may not even comprehend. At the same time, I wanted her to know that all of that should not make her view the world from the perspective of violence alone — that there is also good in man. Nor should she feel guilty that she lives a better life than others do.
Ah, the things that one scene from one movie can elicit… Ang hirap maging nanay.
im downloading that movie now. hehe. i also didn't know daniel craig back then, but appearance-wise, he looked bad-ass enough unlike the pretty mr. brosnan.
my sister (8) closes her eyes pag may kissing scene. i just noticed that she does it without being told and we're not sure where she learned it. there was even this time while watching grey's anatomy sa pc, the noun for a man's organ was mention. the she asked, "what's a p____?" i didn't know how to react. i just told her, "dun mo sisipain pag may nangaway sa 'yo na boy." then end of discussion. hehe. i think i haddled that poorly.
naisip ko, the idea of protecting our kids from such realities (as far as how media presents them) doesn't always mean covering their eyes – literally or figuratively. their bound to be exposed to them anyway, but i think it's always better that the clarifications come from us, the family, rather than friends or school or tv.
My mother was like your mother. That's why I promised myself it will never be like that between my daughters and I.
LOL I'm sure she did, Al.
when i was younger, my lola would automatically cover my eyes whenever a kissing scene came on screen
but i don't think i ever watched a torture scene when i was a kid though, the earliest was probably around alex's age and i do remember being troubled at the infliction of pain.
yeah, life isn't all fun times and love scenes.
hi sassy, haven't seen the movie yet. have no time pa. i really, really enjoyed reading your site. everyday, i look forward to opening my computer..before i used to start with phil star and inquirer. now, the sassy lawyer…the news after, hehe. like you, am a mother (kids aged 9, 5,4 & 3), have tv on my room where they usually bum around. they sometimes catch adult movies on cable with kissing scenes or love scenes, i don't know what to do…cant switch off the tube right away or ask them to cover their eyes…i just wait for reactions or endless questions, but there's none. how would you handle that?
hi elaine, it's a great film. impressive.
glad you enjoy the blogs. seen the food blogs yet?
that's my bestseller hehehehe
you know, i've learned that when there is no reaction, it either means they feel competent enough to understand or hindi nag-register at all. with my kids the most effective style is "kwentuhan" para hindi intrisuve or prying. actually, kids' perspectives on "adult" issues can sometimes be so enlightening. fresh approach to everything. and they can be so opinionated hehehe
to jillsabs: Can you imagine my dad still cover my eyes whenever objectionable scenes (in his opinion) come up on screen up until I was 16 years old? Of course, I would protest. I just didn't have the courage to tell him that I already knew about things like that because we studied it in reproductive health in school. Hehe. He still even thinks I'm still his baby up to now. Can't blame him, though. I'm his only child (as far as I know, hehe).
jillsabs, when i was about 7 (baka younger pa), my parents brought me to see a movie called Krakatoa, East of Java. It was a double screening and the second movie had nudity. As in full nudity. I think we left the moviehouse before the movie ended.
tess, at 16? LOL
I know a lot of parents who squirm at the thought of explaining sex to their kids. As though it is something shameful.
I am glad you think Daniel Craig humanized Bond. I thought so too. While I enjoyed the role played by the other Bond actors, Craig came closest to Connery. They did what we thought James Bond would have done realistically as a spy.
My company purchased all the shows for this film in a cinema for a day and gave out free tickets to all our clients, associates and staff and the show and Daniel Craig was the most discussed topic in my company for days. Most opinions were similar to what you have posted.
Bayi, the absence of all those impossible gadgets really helped a lot. Craig's 007 was no Power Puff Girls.
Yeah, I also thought Daniel Craig wouldn’t fit in as James Bond. But he was all right. I think you’re a cool mom, talking to your daughter about things that she needed some guidance. It isn’t like that with other moms. My mom isn’t like that. I just follow her instructions and everything is quiet. No bonding moments like that.
“Ang hirap maging nanay.” Ah, now life has come full circle! You may not be exactly what your mother was but am sure, she must have uttered those same words to herself….(wala pang blogs nun!)