The verdict is in. Bond is dead, long live James Bond

Rating: 4/10 (8 August 2007)

I stand alone in this. But Casino Royale sucked! The very first sequence went on waaaay too long even for two superb human specimen. They couldn't have lasted. At first I thought I was watching Terminator 2 what with James Bond running like the metalic robot then just as I thought that I'd seen it all I thought wouldn't it be hilarious if Bond burst through on of these walls and presto a pure imitation of Arnold Shawarzenegger, then finally the absurd tip toeing across the beams high up in the air. I thought, if this is how this movie is going to be I'm in for a looong a bumpy night. And it was. But surprises of surprises Judy Dench summed it all up quite quickly when she said "any thug can do that." How right she was. The Casino scene with the cards only reminded me of a teen flix I once saw called If Looks Could Kill. It was done much better. I have all the James Bond movies including Never Say Never Again and although I bought this travesty it was only to include all! the James Bonds. As noted by most posters this James Bond is most certainly a winner even if the whole movie was an ordeal for me. I wondered if Barbara Broccoli has heard of the Clive Cussler NUMA books it seems that if she really wanted to make tons of money that would be the way to go. Sure, the NUMA books require a hugebudget and top notch production but if I were to invest in a franchise that's what I'd do. Forget SAHARA, a real mistake but remember that the Bond series went through several changes before becoming the most successful series in movie history. For me, well, I have all the James Bonds movies I want and will close the book on the the series. I see where Craig has made a movie outside of his bond role, that would never have happened before. Perhaps it's telling us something. Goodby Bond. It was a great ride.