Love it or hate it.

Rating: Null/10 (15 November 2006)

CAVEAT: It really depends on what you're expecting in this new Bond flick that will determine whether you'll love the reboot of the franchise or whether you'll hate it. If You are the type who has stereotyped the Bond franchise as the over-the-top, larger-than-life action spree (as best depicted in the Roger Moore Era), or if you are one who simply wishes to witness a sense of the invincible, ultra-cool, and debonair secret agent that always saves the world and gets all the women (the ultimate fantasy as they say), chances are, you won't like this film. But if you are one who has an open mind for a more realistic and less glamorous approach, Casino Royale is definitely a satisfying treat. This is the Bond movie where 007 is sometimes flawed, a person who also makes mistakes from time-to-time. This is a 007 who is troubled and tormented deep down and hence causes him to be vulnerable. His impression of confidence, and his manifestation of a somewhat cool and callous personality towards those around him becomes more of a facade of his short-comings rather than traits that define him as the epitome of masculinity. This 007 bleeds, regrets, feels pain and even cries. In short, this 007 is a man, a person rather than a super hero. Some may find the approach too heavy for an action flick and hence be turned off. But to those who have no qualms with the characterization that is more faithful to the original Fleming novels, this new approach becomes an avenue for excellent character development and interesting story telling. Casino Royale made me sympathize on the main characters (Bond and Lynd most notably) more than any other Bond movie. One gets to see real people on screen rather than just mere fictional characters. Cinematography is also excellent since the mood of the movie is not dependent on the dialogue. Despite the fact that a large portion of the movie takes place in the casino, the movie never becomes dragging. In fact, the casino scenes are very suspenseful despite the lack of mobility and action in the part of the characters. Extreme close-ups of the character's faces/eyes, as well as shots that emphasize the nuances of character movements effectively convey what is happening on screen. one does not need to know poker to understand the events that take place. There is still humor that highlights Bond's sarcasm but it is still in the context of the realistic feel of the film. The torture sequence for instance sees Bond making humorous remarks that are funny in a dark way rather than tongue-in-cheek. All in all, Casino Royale is a gritty, down-to-earth depiction of Bond. It still remains faithful to the basic elements of 007 but not in the fantastic, outrageous and glamorous manner that audiences in the 60's demanded. It really depends on the particular viewer if that is a good thing or a bad thing. But personally, Casino Royale is the movie that brings Bond back to the mainstream culture of the 21st century rather than just appealing to the aficionado of the previous films.