Daniel Craig enters in dominating fashion

Rating: 9/10 (19 November 2006)

As another reviewer wrote, Daniel Craig is here to stay! You can always tell how the Bond franchise will do when a new actor enters as Bond. The list for good opening portrayals as Bond was only Connery and Brosnan, that is until Daniel Craig came in for the 21st film of the franchise. Craig blew me away from the beginning.
The film opens with the origins of Bond. How he became a double-O and what his first mission really was. The story starts right after Bond has made his first confirmed kills. Bond is then sent on his next assignment, to stop the blood-weeping Le Chiffre, a banker who funds terrorists, from winning a high stakes card game in Montenegro so that he'll go broke and will have to surrender to MI6. Accoompanying Bond is the HM Treasury agent Vesper Lynd who is to handle money transactions for the high paying card game.
When one looks at the story line, he or she would probably think, what a stupid idea for a film, a card game is the central plot? Come on. It turned out to be one of the best plotted films, from start to finish. The card game, when played, is enthralling and enjoyable. It was one of the best parts of the film seeing Bond use his brain and not his gun. In fact, the film shows us an entirely different side of Bond, a more believable and an easily acceptable side.
What Connery and Brosnan were able to do to the Bond character was give him a personality of sorts. The films they acted in showed his psychological side more than just none stop action. Where Connery and Brosnan left off, Craig picks up. He shows the human side to Bond, the easy going yet determined agent. A man who can be overcome by his job. The film explores a lot with murder and how it affects a person, especially Vesper. THe film also has a lot more darker side to it, the torture scene being one of the darkest moments in a Bond film.
Ion Productions has made a masterful work with Casino Royale. The problems are very minor and I can not reveal them for they may just be me. Martin Campbell proves yet again why he should be directing every Bond film from here on out. He has directed the two best Bond films since Goldfinger, GoldenEye and Casino Royale. Daniel Craig will blow you away with his acting and charisma. You will not want to move when the movie is running. Make sure you go to the bathroom and have your popcorn ready before the movie begins, cause once it starts, you won't leave that seat.
4.5/5 Stars