The Blonde Non-Brosnan Bond.

Rating: 8/10 (19 December 2006)

Well, I have finally lived down the shame. I was one of the vast minority who had never seen a Bond movie. Until now. No, I can't participate in your arguments on how the 'blonde Bond', Daniel Craig compares to the previous actors like Connery, Brosnan or Moore. And I like that because I can view Casino Royale objectively, and without any basis of comparison
The movie is great. Daniel Craig is suave, stylish and has a sense of humour drier than a summer drought. His partnership with the stunning Vesper Lynd - played by Eva Green - is played out nicely, starting with civil disdain and moving from there with a nice little twist at the end. Le Chiffre, the odd-eyed bad guy is a beautifully cold villain, and all the other supporting characters are perfectly constructed.
Characters aside, the locations are breathtaking. The movie brings you exotic locations from the Bahamas to Venice, Italy. The architecture is great, and plays a crucial part in the ending.
The movie moves at a good pace, though bits are hard to follow at times. Like for example, how exactly are all the villains are connected? That question, for me, required a bit of thinking and some research. Besides that, every scene is as fast or as suspenseful as needed, and nothing gets boring. The car chase is a bit mundane as car chases go, yet the final roll is spectacular and, I think, record-breaking in the film industry.
All in all, this is an excellent movie and a must-see for any Bond fan, and even if you're like me and just wanted to see one of them, to see what the fuss is about. If that's the case, then it may even whet your appetite for more.....