My personal favorite Bond film of all time!

Rating: 10/10 (13 November 2012)

After the Bond films had went everywhere they could, it started to become a little cliché, and the last Bond films began to be boring and over the top. Especially Die Another Day tried to capture the essence of the previous and better Bond films, and failed so dramatically. Maybe that is why EON and the producers went and waited 4 years to decide where the next Bond film should go, and who should be the next James Bond. Over 200 names on a list was considered to play the part, and eventually Daniel Craig was cast. Martin Campbell returned as a director, after previously having directed the masterpiece GoldenEye. EON and the producers eventually decided take Bond the only place where he hadn't gone... back to his roots. The producers had only recently acquired the rights to Ian Fleming's first novel "Casino Royale" from 1953. This novel should have been the inspiration for the first Bond film, if the producers had the rights at the time. They eventually went with Dr. No. The idea was a delightful refreshment to the Bond series, and the film proved to be a hit. It grossed 596,4 million dollars worldwide which was the highest for any Bond film ever, was one of the most critically acclaimed Bond films in years and it won a BAFTA Award for best sound. The fans however were divided into those who think it ruined the Bond series, and those who think it saved it. I'm 100 percent with the latter. The old Bond movies were gone and would never resurface, so why make more dumb movies trying to be as good as the first Bond movies. Okay, here goes:
The movie stays expertly close to the novel, with some other fascinating sub-plots, as international arms dealing and terrorist organizations. One of the best things about this movie is the plot. It's so intense and interesting, that you'll never be bored. The poker scenes are one of the most interesting and well shot scenes i have ever seen. I also love the plot because it doesn't include over the top villains hell bent on world dominance, invisible cars, laser watches, cheap jokes or lame visual effects. It's a straight up cold, spy thriller which brings back the essence of Dalton's films and the first Bond movies. I love it, and I think it's what the Bond films have been missing. The film also have one of the best action sequences i have ever seen. One of the best free-running chases ensues with Bond and a bomb maker named Mollaka and the film also includes a masterfully shot car chase scene in an airport. The choreography of all the fist and gun fights is top notch and one of the best action scenes I have ever seen. The world record for a car rolling over also features in this movie. The incredible thing about the movie is that all the stunts have actually been done. No lame visual effects. The movie found a pretty good balance between action and plotting.
Daniel Craig as Bond is the best and coolest James Bond ever put on the screen, in my opinion. He's the first since Dalton to approach James Bond as a human, and not a super hero with quick jokes. And while Dalton was good, Craig is better. He gives Bond more emotion and depth than ever before, and he earned a BAFTA Award nomination for his performance. Overall, Craig is in my opinion the best and coolest Bond ever, and that includes Sean Connery. Eva Green is a great Bond girl, and if you stay to the continuity, she is the first REAL Bond girl. I liked her as she is beautiful, a great actress and has great chemistry with Craig. Her character is also given much depth and emotion. One of the greatest Bond girls ever. Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre! Now I'm from Denmark, so I remember all the attention that Casino Royale got because of two danish actors portraying villains: Mikkelsen and Jesper Christensen. Much were made about if Mikkelsen could make a decent Bond villain, and it turned out he could. I'm not just saying this because I'm from Denmark, but he is one of my favorite Bond villains. He created a character that was creepy, greedy and realistic, beating out the previous actors, that had played Le Chiffre. This for me defines him as one of the best Bond villains ever. Jeffrey Wright plays Felix Leiter in this movie, and while he's not my favorite, he sure as hell did a good job. Giancarlo Gianinni plays Bond's contact René Mathis. Gianninni is a great actor, and could read a phone book loud, and still make is sound charming and cool. He's a lot of fun. Jesper Christensen as the mystical middleman Mr. White. I love this character because he's so mysterious and memorable. He isn't given much screen time, but that suits the character. Isaach De Bankolé has an appearance as the leader of the Lords Resistance Army. He also creates a scary and memorable villain. Judi Dench returns as M for the fifth time and does a fantastic job.
Martin Campbell's direction is flawless and brilliant. For me he creates the greatest Bond film ever. The cinematography and sound is also brilliant.
Overall, this film is for me the best Bond film ever. If you want to watch a Bond film with the same feeling as From Russia With Love, this is the film with you. However, if you liked Die another Day this probably isn't the movie for you.
10/10