For the first time in years, the Bond series is heading in a promising direction...easily one of the years top films.

Rating: 10/10 (8 December 2006)

Casino Royale is the Bond film many have been praying for for years. A Bond film not stuffed with special effects. A Bond film not filled with ridiculous gadgets. A Bond film without Brosnan. Their time has come.
Casino Royale is, without a doubt, one of the years greatest films, if not, the best (though I haven't seen The Departed yet)films this year. Casino Royale is, very much, back to basics. In a good way. Daniel Craig has outdone himself as Bond, despite all the scrutiny surrounding his appointment as Bond. He is a worthy Bond and he acts well. The villains etc are picked very well, and a quick cameo from Richard Branson went down well with me. Some very memorable moments, ie when bad guys are chasing Bond at an airport when a landing jet raises the throttle, and in doing so completely blows the bad guys car flying off the runway. The poker game is a tense and memorable sequence, along with the start and finish.
As for the Bond girl, she was much better than expected. Mysterious, and an all new take on the Bond girl.
The theme song is surprisingly catchy and very much suits the movie and the opening sequence, which is a great opening sequence, and an ending that will blow you away, and have you leaving the cinema thinking: "Truly, James Bond has been born again". Hopefully it stays this way. No more stupid gadgets. I know I've said it before but, the end was an absolute beauty. Perfect. The whole cinema was roaring with delight. Bond is born again.
Great film, great action, great...everything. Some moments that had you gaping, and had you smiling. A promising look for the Bond films to come in time. Go see it. You won't be disappointed.
10/10