Good spy film but what about Bond?!!!

Rating: 7/10 (17 November 2006)

We've all been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Casino Royale, the first James Bond movie after a four year gap since Die Another Day, especially without Pierce Brosnan and the excitement of a new 007.
The creators behind the film have tried so hard to make this Bond film different they have effectively removed what we all loved about Bond in the first place; the way he says "Shaken not stirred", the car chases, the theme tune and the girls (there simply aren't enough).
Firstly, the plot is a mess; it is over complicated and unclear; names are not properly presented so by the end of the film I found myself unsure as to who Vesper really was (luckily the credits cleared that up). The villain is not properly developed and the beloved theme tune is not used until the end credits? Furthermore, where is our beloved Q and his gadgets? Where is Moneypenny? Nowhere to be seen is the answer.
However, some credit must go to Daniel Craig who does give a far better performance as Bond than Pierce Brosnan could ever have hoped to. He is more sinister, more mysterious and arrogant; quite frankly better and more entertaining. There are gripping action sequences as well as some impressive stunts but I could not help feeling that I had been short-changed: yes it's a good spy film but it's not the Bond we have all grown to love.