MOVIE REVIEW ONLY

~ ~ I can happily report that all Bond fans need have no further fears. The Bond role is in safe hands! The film was by far the best Bond adventure in years, and actor Craig by far the best actor in the role since Sean Connery himself. In fact, I consider it a little unfair to even be comparing him with Connery, as Connery’s Bond was a hero for the 1960’s and 1970’s era, whereas the new Bond is most decidedly a 21st century hero. Craig adds a certain gravitas to the Bond part which has been somewhat lacking in the somewhat tongue in cheek offerings in the past, and is much more of the serious “anti-hero” as depicted so well in the original Bond books by author Ian Fleming.

~ ~ Bond’s main romantic interest is a French actress called Eva Green, who plays a MI6 financial advisor. Here we see a new facet of the Bond character, as true to the original Ian Fleming book, Bond actually falls head over heels in love with her. (A tender Bond; who’d have thought it?) As eye candy for the male audience is concerned, Ms. Green is more than an equal to any past Bond girls. Of course, the ladies in the audience have the man himself to ogle, and there are a number of scenes in the movie where he gets his kit off to reveal a very well-toned and muscular torso. One scene in particular is worth noting, where Bond emerges from the surf onto a beach in the Bahamas wearing a revealing cossie, which is very reminiscent of the now famous Ursula Andress scene in Dr. No!
No Bond movie would be complete without a classy, fast motor, and motoring buffs (myself included) are not let down in Casino Royale. Bond’s main motor is a top-of-the-range Aston Martin DBS, which he spectacularly crashes at one point. Once again, there’s a reference to the older Bond movies, when in an early sequence Bond wins a vintage Aston Martin (a la Sean Connery) during a poker game.
Another scene worth mentioning is a torture sequence towards the end of the movie where Bond is at the mercy of the merciless Le Chiffre. Stripped naked and lashed to a bamboo chair, the intrepid Bond is forced to show all of his resolve as the sadistic baddie attempts to extract information from him through the simple tactic of beating him around the goolies with a wet, knotted rope. Not for the fainthearted, and a scene that all men in the audience will never forget! (Ouch!!!!)

~ ~ Make no mistake though. The director Martin Campbell, who makes his return to Bond after directing the excellent Goldeneye back in 1995, and the new 007 Daniel Craig, have made an excellent debut movie together in Casino Royale, and indelibly stamped their own style on this new look Bond movie. Gone are many of the Bond trademarks and old reliables, such as the almost obligatory scene with “Q”, where Bond picks up his new car and gadgets galore. It’s almost a pity, as I thought John Cleese was ideal for the role, but who knows, perhaps he’ll make a comeback at some point in the future. Instead of the futuristic weapons and gadgets which have abounded in Bond movies in the past, Craig instead relies on sheer acting ability, athleticism, and his broody, sultry good looks, and does so with both style and panache. Craig’s Bond is a new creature; cunning, bloodthirsty, ruthless, and with a sexual appetite for married women. In short, a real bastard in his own right, which is exactly the way he was portrayed in the original books by Fleming.