We now have a new and different Bond

Rating: 8/10 (17 November 2006)

(Synopsis) If you have ever wondered how James Bond (Daniel Craig) got his "007" status, and what happened on his first mission for the British Secret Service? Casino Royale tells all. The Service has identified Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) to be a terrorist's moneyman and banker. After losing over $100 million of the terrorist's money in the stock market, Le Chiffre must replace the money by entering a high-stakes poker game. MI6 (Judi Dench) sends James Bond to Montenegro to enter the game at the Casino Royale and play against Le Chiffre to take him down. Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) is a Treasury accountant assigned to deliver the government's money to James and to watch over him during the game. Soon James must survive many attempts on his life because Le Chiffre knows that James is out to get him. With the help of the local field agent, Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini), and the CIA agent Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright), James might survive this assignment.
(My Comment) This is the first movie for Daniel Craig as James Bond. When I first saw the Casino Royale movie trailer, I thought that he didn't look like a James Bond, but I have changed my mind. Not only is Daniel Craig a Bond, but he brings a new style to the role different from all the other Bonds. He is charming when he needs to be, and totally convincing in the action scenes, because he actually has the physical capability to play the part. The storyline has its share of action and character development and depends little on incredible gadgets. The movie has a different feel to it from the other Bond movies. Bond is learning to be the Bond that we know today. The poker game at the Casino Royale is the longest and most absorbing scene, realistic and entertaining in itself. And of course, the classic chase scenes and shootouts are all part of a James Bond movie. The foot chase scene of the two men at the beginning is outstanding. There is one scene at the end where, especially, the men in the audience will actually feel the pain that Bond is feeling. This is a different remake that is better than the first. We now have a new Bond. (Sony Pictures, Run time 2:24, Rated PG-13)(8/10)