A Bond "Re-Boot" that earns its "00" Licence to Thrill

Rating: 9/10 (24 November 2006)

After numerous so-called re-interpretations for a grittier Bond, at last we get one that puts its money where its mouth is. All the elements that were wearing thin in this incredibly long running franchise- over the top gadgets (invisible Aston Martin), CGI replacing great stunt work and silly "I am going to take over the world" Bond villains- have gone (for now at least).
A Lotus Esprit that turns into a submarine-from "The Spy Who Loved Me"- was great back in the 70's, but the World and his mother joined in to out do Bond at its own game- OTT action set pieces. 15 to 20 years on, audiences wanted something else from their Action thrillers-something grounded in reality, such as The Bourne movies. It was time for real change.
The Bond producers have not only gone back to basics, but made Bond human again (like Connery did)and given Craig a very good story and script.
The characters are much fuller and Bond is starting out- a good idea given the Ian Fleming source material is now exhausted. Time to re-visit the origins of Bond and really give him a much needed make-over.
The film feels unlike any Bond film I have seen. Some may feel its too removed from the usual- but then Bond is starting afresh, earning his "00" Licence to Kill in the (brutal & messy) pre-title sequence. Daniel Craig is a great acting talent and I am sure he is leaving a little in the tank to gradually shift the character closer to what we know.
All in all, this Bond enterprise has no telegraphed structure like its predecessors. The stunt work and "new" set pieces are fantastic- although its slightly disappointing that the best are loaded into the front of the film. Bond chasing the "free-running" terrorist over a building site and two cranes is breath-taking.
Despite this slight imbalance of action- its necessary for the story to settle somewhat to focus on the quiet tension of the multi-million dollar Poker game that Bond must try to win to bankrupt the villain, Le Chiffre and leave him with no option but to turn terrorist "snitch" thereby gaining Government protection.
The film also benefits from Bonds relationship with the HM Treasury officer, Vesper Lynd- a woman with a razor sharp tongue-just like him. Their chemistry is red hot and the banter- with its sexual subtext- is great without resorting to the totally silly innuendos of the past.
GO see this- enjoy a brilliant new Bond!