The Beginning Of Bond

Rating: 10/10 (10 March 2017)

The James Bond franchise has always been a bit of a mystery to me. Though I've seen them all and enjoyed most of them, I'm always amazed that the formulaic elements that comprised EVERY SINGLE Bond film (theme, girl, gadgets, suit, quips, etc.) never seem to get old. Studios could keep pumping them out for decades and still have a core audience. With "Casino Royale", however, that formula is turned on its head a bit in telling an "early Bond" story chronologically before all the others. This new convention, and the subtleties (instead of over-the-top antics) seem to completely refresh the series and make this installment my personal favorite.
For a basic plot summary, "Casino Royale" sees a newly-minted 007 (Daniel Craig) on his first assignment from M (Judi Dench). In trying to expose terrorist banker Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), Bond meets up with Felix (Jeffrey Wright) and falls for the beautiful Vesper Lynd (Eva Green).
What makes "Casino Royale" ultimately so successful is that it actually DOES contain most of the usual "Bond cannon" material that we are all so used to seeing. Instead of being overt and flaunting such material, like the last few Brosnan flicks, this one takes a much more subtle tone. For example, Craig's Bond is (at first) taken aback by his new "fitted dinner jacket", doesn't quite know how he wants his martini, and actually falls for a woman for her overall personality and not...well, you know. Seeing this "beginning of Bond" after so many "throw it in your face films" was refreshing.
About the only thing missing from "Casino Royale" was Q and his many nifty gadgets. Other than that, the action lives up to the Bond name and this one even has a semi-intriguing plot with a few twists (yay!).
Basically, although I would have probably gone on seeing Bond movies forever, the franchise had gotten a bit stale towards the end of Brosnan's run (e.g. Die Another Day). Thus, going back in time (with a new Bond actor) to tell a different type of story (more grit than flash) was a welcome diversion that put the "juice" back into my Bond fan-ship once again.
Unless you are a very nit-picky Bond fan or one that thoroughly enjoys the old conventions exactly as they were, "Casino Royale" will shoot straight to the top of your "Best Bond Film Ever" list.