Bond re-imagined ends up being the greatest Bond movie ever made!

Rating: 10/10 (28 March 2019)

When I saw this movie back in 2006 I hadn't really seen many of the Bond movies. I was a kid when Brosnan was Bond, so I saw all of those and enjoyed them as dumb action movies. I had only seen a few of the rest randomly throughout my life.
After seeing this I ended up watching most of the rest of the Bond movies and I can safely say this is THE BEST movie of them all. He has his ups and downs, most of the high points being early on with Connery, a few good ones scattered throughout the next 40 years, and a lot of mediocre to abysmal. This one starts Craig's tenure off in the biggest fashion possible, the best Bond movie ever made.
It's such a well made package all around. It's shot beautifully, the cinematography is like no other. The action is well choreographed and not shaky cam like most of the movies of the 2000's were. It's got the best ensemble cast of any Bond and secondary characters that you care about and have more depth than the usual stereotypes. It's got the best Bond girl ever, his first love. Craig might not be the "best" Bond, but him within the confines of the movie is pretty spectacular.
We're just all so damn lucky that the "reboot" or Bond ended being such a perfectly made package. There are some who criticize it's length as it sits at 2 hours and 20 mins, but I never felt it at all. After the main plot is resolved there is a secret that adds a bit on to the end, but it's so well done that you don't even care that it's another 30 mins added to the plot.
It's a shame that this banger was followed up with probably the WORST Bond movie. But it's redeemed thanks to Skyfall, but then again falters with Spectre. Here's hoping the whole every other movie is brilliant factor holds up and Craig's final movie is at least up to snuff with Skyfall and this.
I'll be interested to see what they do with Bond after Craig. He had two of the best movies during his time and it will be hard to see them making a movie that will ever top Casino Royale.