An Imperfect James Bond

Rating: 10/10 (8 November 2008)

As you can derive from my 10/10 rating above, I'm referring to Casino Royale's portrayal of the 007 character; I'm not referring to the actor or the movie itself. In this prequel chapter of James Bond the audience is finally presented with a 007 that has signs of emotional vulnerability, faltering competence, and even errant judgment. It's those ever so miniscule flaws that composed a more credible hero and that in turn amplified the amount passion involved with his short-comings and eventual climatic triumphs.
As I mentioned the acting quality is NOT imperfect. Daniel Craig did an impeccable job depicting a 007 that was original but still somehow nostalgically parallel to the chronological Bond predecessors. Daniel added an extra flavor for the character by adding some comedic element with his constant use of cliché but clever pick-up lines to the numerous beautiful women that he encounters.
Don't get me wrong, this film still has its fill of spectacular special effects and over the top action sequences with Bond conquering insurmountable odds emerging from the dust covered fray. Casino Royale utilized an extravagant budget. The hand-to-hand combat and acrobatic scenes were brilliantly choreographed (with Daniel Craig legitimately performing a good portion of his own stunts). In both the mental and physical aspects of Daniel's character he displays an interesting learning curve in a hero that added an epic edge to his struggle against his adversaries.
Bottom Line: Normally I turn to Bond Movies for satisfying my basic entertainment urges involving a mediocre plot line, extravagant super-villains with unforgettable quirks (such as the steel teeth of Jaws), and a highly budgeted repertoire of cars, explosions, and unique gadgets. Casino Royale has all of that and so much more owing to its immaculate execution of acting, writing and character psychology. So whether you're a James Bond guru or not I feel that Casino Royale is a must see.