Revamped 007 plays a winning hand

Rating: 10/10 (1 December 2006)

Come 2002, when the world's favourite martini-sipping British secret agent was found driving an invisible car and racing to defeat a madman attempting to fry Korea with a giant magnifying glass, it had become clear that the immortalized Bond, James Bond had strayed a bit from the mark. Fortunately, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson had a ready solution to save their beloved franchise from going belly up  take the Batman Begins route, ditch the franchise and start from the beginning once again by showing exactly how Bond earned his double-oh stripes, and morphed into the suave killing machine we all know and love.
The rest, as they say, is history, with the addition of director Martin Campbell, veteran of the Zorro movies, who performed a similar revival of the Bond character with 1995's superb Goldeneye. Campbell shows a similar flair for bringing 007 to life here, as Casino Royale, adapted from author Ian Fleming's first novel proves to be one of the most powerful and intense Bond movies to date, allowing us as an audience to finally get behind Bond's skin a bit, and learn what drives him, why he is who he is. But don't be fooled into thinking this new Bond is strictly a character piece  Campbell shows no restraint in instilling the film with enough action to keep even the most sated Bond fans more than satisfied. Despite this, Campbell manages to make the title game of poker, where Bond must triumph to bankrupt a fleeing arms dealer, almost as tense and suspenseful as any action sequence; where the film might have lagged terribly is instead a high point.
When re-igniting a franchise as iconic as 007, the casting of a suitable Bond was essential. Understandably, star Daniel Craig had more than a bit of pressure bestowed upon him, and more than a few naysayers. Fortunately, all those who knocked Craig as Bond are likely choking on their martinis at this very moment, as Craig shows the ideal mix of suave charisma and an intense dangerous streak, proving to be the most faithful on-screen adaptation of Fleming's beloved character. But be warned  while he still is without a doubt still Bond, James Bond, this Bond has an edge unseen since the Connery era. In the slick black and white pre-credits sequence, Bond describes his first kill, shown in flashback with Bond attempting to dispatch his target in a bathroom by fist, feet, mirror, sink and water. When asked how his target died, Craig simply deadpans "Not well", a throwback to the dark, edgy one-liners which established the Bond spirit in the first place. This intense yet classy sequence sets the tone beautifully for the rest of the movie  Bond is back, but the gadget bloated days of invisible cars and satellites are gone  this Bond is down, dirty and dangerous.
While the film without a doubt belongs to Craig, he is aptly backed by a superb supporting cast. Eva Green's Vesper Lynd proves to be one of the most interesting and well developed women ever seen in Bond's life, and Green brings a distinct edge, yet affability to her essential character. Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen makes a more than suitable villain as arms dealer Le Chiffre. Mikkelsen shows he doesn't need plans to take over the world to be one of the most menacing foes seen in years. Watch for a particularly disturbing torture scene, bringing a deadly streak to a series usually so full of fantasy escapes. Character actor Jeffrey Wright makes a welcome appearance as Bond's American counterpart, Felix Leiter, and Dame Judi Dench produces what is without question her strongest performance as MI6 head M. Dench bestows M with a hard as nails front (her "God I miss the Cold War" line is one of the most memorable moments of the film) yet with a deeply concealed compassionate streak. Dench brings out every potential subtlety to her character in a masterfully layered and highly enjoyable performance.
All in all, Casino Royale should prove enough to sate the needs of any 007 enthusiast, while also showing something new, sure to connect with any who may have felt the Bond series had strayed too far off track into the realm of fantasy. Director Martin Campbell and star Daniel Craig have brought both the character and franchise back to life in a fashion better than anyone could have predicted. Bond is back, and better than ever  don't pass this one by.
-10/10