Oh Danny Boy!

Rating: 8/10 (20 November 2006)

Thoughtful writing and focused direction have made "Casino Royale" a good Bond film. However, what makes "Casino Royale" easily the best film of the long-running series is quite simply the fact that it is the only Bond film to contain James Bond.
Why are so many people shouting Bond is Back? Bond, cinematically, has never been anywhere to come back from! He's never existed!
The Rubicon has been crossed; the character has been drawn
Where do we go from here? The sequel of course! .. And Danny Boy throws in another stupendous performance. Then, just as he knows (and just as we know), he announces that he is far too good an actor for this sort of work. He may win an award or two for something meaningful in the meantime. He may (If he feels like it) do a third . he may not. The problem is quite simple ... as the character is drawn we suddenly find him impossible to replace.
The Bond films are now in the hospice; though don't be alarmed, Danny Boy will ensure that the ending is nothing short of spectacular.