Good, Very Good

Rating: 8/10 (16 December 2006)

I do have to give the latest Bond release the royale or should I say the royal treatment. It was popcorn entertainment at its apex. Daniel Craig plays all the right cards in "Casino Royale" as the new James Bond. This blonde Bond will bond with many Bond films aficionados which prefer a more rugged, menacing Bond. The film is based on the Ian Fleming novel that focuses on 007's early days. Jimmy boy's nemesis this time is Le Chiffre played by Mads Mikkelsen; Chiffre is a corrupt banker, who like most antagonists in Bond films or in all action films for that matter, do their malevolence stuff to collect a whole bunch of mula. Le Chiffre's obscure peculiarity is that he cries blood. Yes, he is Le Chief of the "bloodshot eyes" and contrary to popular belief not Mel Gibson. James and Le Chiffre duel it out in a cerebral casino card match and eventually in more hands-on type of matches. Eva Green plays Vesper Lend, a feminist accountant who lends her wisdom to James but initially not her body. Green is incandescent and has to be one of the most beautiful women in the world. "Casino Royale" stirs it up with plenty of classic Bond action sequences that are gripping and exhilarating. Director Martin Campbell's "soup"er dexterity in constructing "Casino Royale" was commending. The only misfire in "Casino Royale" was its semi-droning screenplay. In summary, I hope you feel that my film review for "Casino Royale" was naught shaky and immensely stirring. **** Good