Bond must stop terror financier Le Chiffre's continued banking operations.

Rating: 10/10 (18 November 2006)

I have long held From Russia With Love and For Your Eyes Only as my two favorites. Both are lean films with true espionage plots, balance of power issues, and (relatively) little interference from Q Branch.
Casino Royale puts them, along with the rest of the series (and I have them all) to shame. I am a fan, but I have never before felt a rush like this one provides, repeatedly. Better, Bond's wit is drier than his drinks, and darker than ever before.
What truly sets Casino Royale apart, however, is that Martin Campbell has created a film. It happened to be a Bond film, of course, but first and foremost it is a story told on the big screen, and on deserving (as some before have not been) of that large canvas.