It hit's you like a supped up Astin Martin.

Rating: 8/10 (19 November 2006)

Films are broken up into 3 Acts. The introduction, the body and the closing. This movie works fairly well in all aspects, except for the latter. First let me state, Daniel Craig is maybe the finest actor to play Bond in the whole franchise. Not to elude the great talent of Sean Connery (who will always be the person I think of when Bond comes to mind) of course. The story is a fine tribute to the early days of 007, and comes clean on explaining his character, and his intimacy issues. Not to mention why he likes his martini, slightly shaken and not stirred, in a very painful scene for men to watch. The action is top of the line, trading in all the gadgets the story usually falls upon, for actual hard hitting entertainment. The story is a bit flawed and lacking, given previous story lines, et Tue "Goldfinger" y "Goldeneye". However makes an encouraging and unexpected turn, in going post 9/11, which not only gives a new actor to the franchise, but reinvents it completely, while keeping true to the previous installments. The villain, was not the best, although, I should be fair and say his subtlety and calmness, made him seem extremely dastardly. We may have been without the usual array of weapons, but without fail, the Bond women were extremely beautiful as always. Taking place in various locals around the world, made it visibly enjoyable, the action, was more rough and sloppy, which gave humanity to the film. The opening was non stop entertainment. The actual game that the story revolves around, was predictable, and hokey (being a huge fan of Texas Hold Em) but still, very suave and cool. The acting from Craig, made him prove that even with the blonde, he was very much BOND! The only qualm I have with the film is he last hour or so, that felt like I was watching a mix of "From Here to Eternity" and "Casablanca". It may have been needed to exemplify the character of the 007, and the story it self, but it Over-exemplified, and simply bored me to death. The last 15 minutes of the movie however kicked it up into high octane action, and a beautifully done sequence in Venice. Basically for me it all came down to the point where Craig end's the movie, telling us who he is. After 2 and a half hours of sheer fun, and reinvention of a great screen persona, Daniel Craig tells us "The name is Bond, James Bond". I couldn't agree more.