In today’s media rich world, films are produced on a frequent basis with consumers expecting a new blockbuster hit to be available on a monthly basis. While there are an abundance of these new films in the cinema, it’s rare that one comes out that goes down in time as a classic.
Few directors possess the talent to make these kinds of films, but one in particular who has mastered this art is Martin Campbell. Born in New Zealand in 1943, Campbell began his career creating sex comedies, where few would have thought he’d build the reputation or legacy he has today.
Yet, legendary film series like the Mask of Zoro and James Bond have been directed by Campbell, helping them to become the legendary titles they are today. His most notable titles include Golden Eye (1995), Casino Royale (2006), and The Mask of Zoro (1998).
To this day, Campbell is still a legend in his field, working on a number of tv series in addition to film. Below, we’ll take a look at some of Martin Campbell’s best movie scenes and explore how the legendary titles he directed have become such a hit.
Green Lantern (2011)
Entering movie theaters in 2011, Green Lantern was one of a few superhero movies to come out that year, in which it starred the legendary Ryan Reynolds and other well known actors including Blake Lively and Peter Sarsgaard. Surprisingly, the film did not go down well with critics at all, with many commenting that it was overproduced, noisy, and squanders an impressive budget and decades of the comic’s mythology.
However, there are some showstopping scenes that calmed the critics, including the action scene where Reynolds destroys a plane, featuring some impressive action scenes. Critics have also complemented the soundtrack to the film which was created by James Newton Howard and adds the perfect undertone.
Overall, Green Lantern received an audience score of 45% on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as a Tomatometer score of 26%. While the CGI has been called messy, we still think it’s worth a watch as Green Lantern is a superhero classic and this film features some of the best cast going.
Casino Royale
In Campbell’s second reboot of the James Bond series, he directed one of the best known poker scenes in movie history. Described by critics as a scene as elaborate as a James Bond stunt itself, the scene depicts a showdown between 007 and the villain Le Chiffre around a quiet poker table. The pair battled it out over a game of Texas Hold’em; a game that requires a lot of skill and can have incredibly high stakes.
The scene has been praised for having tough and grimy realism, relying less on CGI effects. Bond was portrayed as a vulnerable hero, one that was emotionally charged, reckless, and made mistakes but looked good while making them. The scene lasts roughly 30 minutes and has its own narrative arc and flaunts Bond’s mental prowess more than anything.
For those Bond fans who want to get a little closer to the action when reliving one of the best Bond films from home, why not check out Monopoly Casino and put your own mental prowess to the test. While the stakes may not be as high as a Bond film, there are a variety of games to choose from with varying stakes levels to suit every level of player.
Memory (2022)
Memory of one of Campbell’s latest creations and is based on the book ‘De Zaak Alzheimer’ by Carl Joos. It is also a remake of the Belgian film ‘The Memory of a Killer’, based on the same novel. Memory stars the legendary Liam Neeson, alongside Guy Pearce and Taj Atwal.
In the film, Liam Neeson brings his lively spirit from the Taken films as he plays an expert assassin. However, Neeson, who plays Alex Lewis, gets caught in a moral dilemma where he is forced to turn down a job because it goes against his moral code. In a race against the FBI, Neeson tries to hunt down the people that hired him for the job before the FBI get to him first.
The opening scene of Memory describes Campbell’s gritty and action packed style perfectly. The scene opens by introducing Neeson as a cold blooded killer for hire, playing the anti hero as he also holds an incredible amount of internal guilt for his actions.
Critics have so far highly rated the film, commenting that while Memory does not reinvent the wheel, it’s incredibly entertaining nevertheless and provides a fun filled and thrilling ride for viewers.
Overall, Martin Campbell certainly knows how to entertain an audience. With a number of Academy Awards and Golden Globe nominations, some of the legendary titles directed by Campbell indicate his raw talent and ability to keep producing quality films that have viewers gripping the edge of their seat throughout.
While Campbell is now into the latter stages of his career, it’s hoped that he will have a few more titles up his sleeve before we’re graced with the last of Campbell’s works of art.