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''The name's Bond. James Bond.''
In his first mission, James Bond must stop Le Chiffre, a banker to the world's terrorist organizations, from winning a high-stakes poker tournament at Casino Royale in Montenegro.
Daniel Craig: James Bond
''I'm sorry. That last hand... nearly killed me.''
The character of Bond presented in Casino Royale may disappoint followers of the original films, but the news is, this is Fleming's Bond.
An orphan, uncertain of his own identity, a disillusioned romantic trying hard to pretend he's incapable of emotions, a middle class, middle-brow, middle-level management type who just happens to kill people for a living. But he does it extremely well.
The other problem some general viewers may have is the level of violence in the film; having determined to film the novel realistically, director Martin Campbell has decided to ditch the 'B-movie' violence of most of the earlier films, and present us the violence with a hard British neo-noir spark to it. Given the romantic plot twist toward the end, this would be a perfect date movie also. Except that the violence left some of the female viewers in the Cinema I attended clearly scared. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it just is part of the roller-coaster of the film's antics.
''Arrogance and self-awareness seldom go hand in hand.''
Cambell's direction is very good, the writing is crisp and clinical, production values are an all time high; the photography is beyond excellence. Some of the stunt work is truly remarkable and jaw dropping. The acting is rock-solid and believable for these characters. There is plenty of muscle for the action-film fan, and some real brains for the more intellectual viewer to ponder in the ensuing plot contrivances.
Casino Royale is best viewed with minimal reliance on knowledge of the previous installments. In fact, it functions perfectly well as a one-off, a film without a series.
It's The Bourne of Bond pretty much and it takes ideas from that series and uses them for it's own inspirational means.
''Why is it that people who can't take advice always insist on giving it?''
The real ace here is Craig. He doesn't have Connery's raw star quality, but he's easily the best actor to have played the part for ages.
I don't know if the film was shot in sequence but for the only time since Majesty's Secret Service you get a sense of Bond evolving throughout the film as his cockiness becomes confidence and his brutality becomes cold icy efficiency. He starts off unlikeable but human and gradually picks up the Bond traits we know and love, until he becomes more likable but just a little less human. It's an interesting journey and Craig is up to the task in hand. It's not just his delivery, it's also his body language and dedication to the mission. Even his fighting style changes as he adapts.
''I'm sorry I'm not sorry.''
Physically he's the most in your face Bond since Lazenby and the action scenes look brutal and effective with a gritty realism long forgotten or unseen. Even the not very likely free running chase is spectacular but believable because you get the idea that this really is kill or be killed antics. It's got a real feel of danger to it that hasn't been seen in the series in years. Only the torture scene feels like it's holding back but that's probably fear of the censors.
You'll come out of this one not just thinking that Daniel Craig IS James Bond, that no-one has ever played him before. Let's all hope they don't lose their nerve with Bond 22 and bring back the sci-fi crap and unrealistic gadgetry, because this could be a real new habit to emphasis...Roll on Quantum Of Solace!
''I have no armour left. You've stripped it from me. Whatever is left of me - whatever is left of me - whatever I am - I'm yours.''
8/10
