mixed feelings...

Rating: 6/10 (30 August 2010)

I preferred the step back to realism, which I didn't think I would... in some ways, the other Bonds had become far too much about the gadgets, which lost the essence of the stories. Daniel Craig's Bond is a hard man. Suave, but tough enough to take the knocks that his profession is going to bring him. He gives Bond back his edge, and his cynicism.
That said, I did find it a little difficult to accept Daniel Craig as Bond, chiefly because his portrayal is somewhat humourless by comparison. A humourless Bond would be easier to accept if the story itself did not contain a fairly sickening level of violence which seemed somewhat over the top.
On the whole a great effort, and a very worthy entrant; materially improved by a taut script, tight direction and excellent action sequences which were not just flash and dash but actually advanced the story. After some of the excesses in the seventies and early eighties, I was starting to wonder if Bond had shot his bolt... this was a very welcome return to form.