New Bond in a good action flick

Rating: 7/10 (21 November 2006)

I can't say I'm a fan of James Bond films - I've seen them all (except the original spoof 'Casino Royale'), and Goldfinger is the only film that I rate highly; but I was interested in seeing this one for the fact that there's a new Bond, and he's so different from all those who have gone before. Director Martin Campbell is no stranger to making Bond films with a new lead as he was the man that helmed the well-received Pierce Brosnan debut Goldeneye back in 1995. This one, however, is wildly different from the rest for reasons other than just the new Bond - as we have an unfortunate lack of gadgets, as well as an overall darker and more serious tone. The plot line isn't the most megalomaniacal of the series, and simply focuses on Le Chiffre; a terrorist accountant with a talent for playing poker. He decides to set up a high stakes poker game in Montenegro after his other plan was thwarted by MI6's newest agent, James Bond. Coincidentally, Bond happens to be the best poker player in the organisation and so the government funds his ten million dollar entrance fee...but he has to win, otherwise Britain will be directly funding terrorism!
Being a talented poker player myself, I was a little worried that the film may focus on the turgid 'stud' form of poker; but fortunately, it's the more exciting Texas Hold'Em that takes centre stage. The film doesn't focus too much on poker, but what we do get is completely overblown; along with the rest of the film. Of course, I'd be complaining more if it wasn't; and Martin Campbell provides a good mix of big stunts and smaller one on one fights. The real star of the show is, of course, the new Bond; and Daniel Craig does a really good job in the central role. The James Bond series really needed some new life injected into it, and Craig adequately provides that. He is joined by the stunningly sexy Eva Green who takes the 'Bond Girl' role, while Mads Mikkelsen is a distinctive baddie and the film is rounded off by Judy Dench and Italian actor Giancarlo Giannini, who starred in the classic Giallo 'Black Belly of the Tarantula' with no less than three Bond girls! Overall, Casino Royale is certainly an enjoyable slice of celluloid, but despite its overblown emotional scenes - that's all it is. But even so, it would be difficult to get bored during this film, and it gets a thumbs up for that reason.