Movie Review: Casino Royale

As the saying goes: "they don't make them like they used to". And while that's a line as cliched as the Bond franchise has itself become, it's quite often true. That's not to say that "they" aren't trying; franchise re-imaginings and revivals seem to be all the rage these days, particularly with the superhero fraternity. There's the sense of a conscious effort being made to recapture past glories.

It doesn't always work; it's difficult to describe Superman Returns as capturing the true spirit of its origin, and most attempts at rebooting horror franchises just go horribly wrong. So the prospect of giving Bond a fresh new outlook evoked mixed feelings in me. It could have gone so terribly wrong, but it gives me great pleasure to say that Casino Royale gets things right. Mostly.

The plot revolves around Le Chiffre, banker to terrorists the world over. In order to bring him down, causing financial distress throughout the world's terror organisations, Bond must enter a high stakes card game at the titular Casino Royale. This central element is bookended by the usual Bond set pieces and exposition.

The "usual Bond" set pieces? Isn't this new Bond? It's not accurate to say that the Bond franchise has had a lick of paint; a more accurate description would be that it sports something of a distressed look. Things feel somewhat darker and more dangerous than the series has felt in recent times. There's an undercurrent of tension running through most of the proceedings, even if the scenery and women look as delightful as ever; this is still very much a Bond movie. At times, it feels like the early days, eons - if you'll pardon the pun - from Moore's raised eyebrow, and Brosnan's recent high-tech shenanigans.

There's been much talk of dispensing with the gadgets - there's no Q in this movie - and making Bond more serious. If anyone had any fears over whether Bond's latest outing would remain faithful to its cinematic origins, worry not - fans should find much to like here. From the outset, it's apparent that this is still the James we all know and love. The insane set pieces, occasional wisecrack,  and love for the ladies remain. And yet there's a seriousness, an intensity, to this new Bond that only serves to enhance the character.

Article Author: Daniel Woolstencroft

Daniel Woolstencroft is the brains behind Is There Food? - containing topics as diverse as zombies, Apple, technology, film, and other assorted strangeness. Also follow him on Twitter.

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