I didn't think Daniel Craig would cut it as Bond...

Rating: 8/10 (9 October 2013)

...but his portrayal in this movie made me a believer. He's more rough-hewn than pretty boy Pierce Brosnan and more akin to Timothy Dalton, albeit without the smirk. In any event, Craig has the gravitas to pull-off the role with zero doubt, unlike Brosnan, who was cool, but he sometimes seemed to struggle in the role; Craig, by contrast, is utterly convincing.
Let's face it, James Bond movies are not deep films. They may have convoluted plots, but there's little character depth and no heavy subtext commenting on the human condition. They're spy thrillers with an ultra-cool protagonist, beautiful women, spectacular locations, amazing gadgets, intrigue and action. That's it. Yet they're very entertaining, which is why the series has been such a hit since 1962 when "Dr. No" was released.
But, again, with the exception of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (1969), there's very little, if any, character depth. Take James himself: Women to him are only meaningful as (1.) a sexual dalliance or (2.) a means to fulfill his mission. I mention this to point out that "Casino Royale" (2006) boldly changes this. The film has character depth and shows why Bond is the way he is. For instance, there are a couple amazing conversations between James and his potential babe in the story, Vesper (Eva Green), and they're full of insights. The dialog is snappy & intriguing and the performances are right-on.
By the way, someone complained that all the women in Bond flicks are loose and willing to sleep with any man at the drop of a hat. No, they're just willing to sleep with James Bond at the drop of a hat, lol. I'm not saying it's right, but it does reflect the exciting charisma of Mr. Bond.
There are some cool action sequences, like the long, unrelenting chase after the title credits, but there are also some quality dramatic stretches. For instance, the main poker match at the casino is excellently staged and suspenseful.
"Casino Royale" strikes me as a mixture of the first half of "Goldfinger" with the serious tone of "The Living Daylights" & "Licence to Kill". Don't expect the comic booky approach of "You Only Live Twice" or the outlandish (and sometimes goofy) elements of "Moonraker".
The film was shot in the Czech Republic, Venice, Bahamas and England and runs 144 minutes.
GRADE: A-