The best Bond since the Connery Classics 'From Russia with Love' & 'Goldfinger'

Rating: 9/10 (20 November 2006)

Casino Royale succeeds on many different levels. It gives us a fresh new face, a prequel-type story, and the superb action we've all come to expect from the franchise. The action scenes are superlative with some of the best stunt-work I've seen in recent years. Craig's bond is more realistic..athletic. For the first time, Bond's womanizing, training, and his cold-blooded nature are given true substance, instead of being an assumption(or at least the first time since On Her Majesty's Secret Service). We go on an emotional roller-coaster with Bond, feeling his pain, mourning his loss, finally realizing who he really is...
The lack of gadgets is more than made up for in beautiful women, fast cars, and truly incredible action. The cinematography and overall look of the film is superb. I like the opening song, but the credit design could have been a little better. One of the few weaknesses. Better credit design and more gadgets and this would be my first 10/10 Bond film. Craigs one liners are sharp and witty, yet Bond seems to have outgrown the silliness and CGI, and graduated to the big time. 'Casino Royale' has solidified Craig's hold on 'Bond' for quite some time, and rejuvenated the franchise. This is easily the best Bond in over 20-30?-40? years and ranks up there with the top two or three in the entire series. I'm sure that may not sit well with some of the Bond ''traditionalist"..but IT IS that good.
last thought....with the suspect acting we've seen from the female leads over the last six or seven films, Green is a breath of fresh air. 90/100 Bravo!