Craig IS Bond, bravo!

Rating: 8/10 (23 November 2006)

It is always with some trepidation that one approaches a new Bond film. Lately they have degenerated into facile acting, cheap gimmicks and crazy plots.
However, Casino Royale reboots the Bond series in style. Though overly long at points, Craig puts his stamp on the role early and shows great ruthlessness and a cool aplomb as well. However, he is not perfect as his arrogance and emotion get the best of him many times.
Mads Mikkelsen is excellent as Le Chiffre and makes a poker game stand out and be an interesting setting even for non-adepts of the game. Eva Green shines as Vesper Lynd, more than Bond's intellectual equal though she proves as so many women in this series, disposable.
Caterina Murino is incredibly sensual and it's with women like her in Bond series that you wish some could have recurring roles as love interests and active partners.
The tone of the movie is quite gritty and refers to terrorism and the post 9-11 world more than once. Gone are the SMERSH agents, Blofeld and conspiracies of the past; now it's Bond against subversive elements and it works.
Gave it only a 8 out of 10 because I missed Q and it was overly long.