Daniel Craig Assumes the Position

Rating: 5/10 (24 December 2010)

When negotiations failed to produce Pierce Brosnan, after his fourth appearance as James Bond in "Die Another Day" (2002), the franchise owners decided upon a new approach. So, while the title "Casino Royale" suggests familiar ground, it is quite different than what has gone before. There is still a lot of action, but it's more "realistic" and less gimmickry; gone too is the famed cache of Bond gadgets. The new actor signed to play Bond, rugged blond Daniel Craig, is more bone-crunching than dashing. When asked if he'd like his martini shaken or stirred, Mr. Craig answers, "Do I look like I give a damn?" Well, no...
All if this is claimed, with the filmmakers' blessing, to be a return to creator Ian Fleming's original intent for the character.
Fine, but without the forty year-plus tradition of gadgets and gimmickry, this Bond seems more ordinary than original. And, the character lacks his predecessors suave appeal; he's more of a traditional action hero, and humorless. The bosomy "Bond girl" is Eva Green (as Vesper Lynd), who revealed all of herself in "The Dreamers" (2003); she's sexy with her clothes on, but these films should, by now, be showing at least as much as an old "Playboy" magazine. Scar-faced Mads Mikkelsen (as Le Chiffre) leads a pack of perfect villains. A change was needed for the Bond series, but with more of the distinctive style intact.
***** Casino Royale (11/14/06) Martin Campbell ~ Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Judi Dench