I love it when a project comes together. This is the best Bond that I have ever seen on the big screen; of course I had only seen the Brosnan ones prior to this. I remember when it was announced that Daniel Craig was going to take up the mantle of Bond, there was much discussion about him being a worthy successor. Much of that discussion focused on him being a blonde, and possessor of a more rugged exterior than the suave smoothness of past outings. Personally, I have no stake one way or the other, but after seeing Craig's great turn in Munich and the very good Layer Cake, he seemed more and more like a good choice.
Following the Craig announcement, the director was announced. Martin Campbell was returning to the franchise, previously helming the inaugural Brosnan outing, Goldeneye. This all came on the heels of talk that Quentin Tarantino was working up the project with Brosnan returning for one more go around. As much as I would have liked seeing what Tarantino could have done with the spy franchise, I cannot argue with the end result that has just made its appearance at the local multiplexes.
Casino Royale takes the character back to its roots. It is based on the original James Bond novel by creator Ian Fleming, and is the first to be based on a Fleming original since The Living Daylights in 1987. It is also the last Fleming story to be produced by EON Productions and entered into the official Bond film series. It has previously been made for television in 1954 and as a spoof with Peter Sellers and Woody Allen in 1967.
This movie delivers everything you would want from a James Bond film and then some. It has gadgets, action, suspense, gorgeous women, and an Aston Martin. There is something that sets this apart from many of the recent outings — it is grounded within a definite sense of the real world. As the Brosnan films reveled in a higher level of the ludicrous, this one brings a darker edge and gritty feel to the series.
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