Excellent Bond Entry...

Rating: 10/10 (19 November 2006)

Well, for those who doubted that Daniel Craig could do the job, doubt no more, for Bond lives again! Mind you, I'm a big Bond fan and love all the films (although some a little less than others) and, having seen Craig in a few films, felt he had the chops for Bond. But still, seeing is believing in the case of Bond and I must say that Craig is the toughest, most brutal James Bond yet. I didn't say best, because I'll always have my favorite, but Craig does the series, and Ian Fleming great justice in this outing.
Despite earlier reports, there are a few gadgets, although not in-your-face. Still, no Q, no double entendre female names (although Bond does tease the leading lady with a possible alias), but plenty of action and intrigue which are the hallmarks of the Bond series. Also you've got to have the mysterious bad guy, which this film does in Le Chiffre, played by Mads Mikkelsen with creepy intensity. The guy even has a weird eye affliction where he sometimes weeps a bloody tear. There's the Aston Martin--a Bond classic, even CIA counterpart Felix Leiter putting in an appearance.
The leading lady is played by Eva Green, and she is beautiful and beguiles Bond most effectively.
This movie is almost like a reboot of the series, but by now we've become accustomed to most of the particulars. In a way, it's like Dr. No, except much more action-filled, with Bond being one tough monkey you just don't mess with. Without giving away too much, there's a scene towards the end where Bond endures a form of torture that would have a lesser man crying like a schoolgirl, yet Bond laughs---laughs! in the face of his tormentor. Give me more of Craig. And this from a fan who wasn't ready for Brosnan to leave the series. Go see this, you won't be sorry. A must-buy when it's released on DVD.