Raw, edgy and racy... thumping good entertainment

Rating: 10/10 (18 November 2006)

I've been one of those patient fans who waited in earnest for Casino Royale, believing the hype that was spun out about it being edgier and racier than any Bond film before. Having finally seen the latest Bond flick, I can tell you two things - first, Casino Royale delivers the goods alright. Its a bloody good spectacle. You can expect it to hold your attention unwaveringly till the titles roll in the end. Second, don't believe everything they tell you.
True, Daniel Craig brings a hungry, wild-animal-on-a-leash appeal to the legendary flamboyant spy. This Bond is not just stylish, he's also as agile as a cat. Craig also manages to pack in a believable vulnerability to the Bond persona that none of the previous Bonds with the possible exception of Timothy Dalton managed to give - Pierce Brosnan skimmed the surface to some effect. But here, Craig makes Bond's unerring effectiveness seem the result of his steely nerves, and not a given, thus making him very human indeed. In fact, Craig gets battered and beaten and thrashed almost every twenty winks in Casino Royale. Its almost like watching a Jackie Chan flick. Only, its much more serious.
The villains all bring the traditional Bond flick flamboyance and yet manage to look raw and repulsive, again very believable. Production values matter here I guess, and this one is the best yet in that sense. The stunts are truly mind-boggling - read all about them on the eternal hype machine that is the entertainment press.
The Bond girls, especially Eva Green bring the glamor quotient and raise temperatures considerably. Eva Green's lovely behind rustling off her dress (drew appreciative whistles all round) was, I must admit sexier than whatever she did in the non-stop orgy that was The Dreamers. They didn't have to kill her though, did they? In any case, the film scores on all those counts - casting, characterization, production values... you name it. But technical details aside, its thumping good entertainment. A bit overwhelming the first time around. But it could grow on you. Craig especially demands a second viewing, perhaps in the intimacy of home, this time with many scenes enjoyed over and over in slow motion to boot.