Pretty good first half, OK 2nd - not really Bondish though

Rating: 6/10 (18 November 2006)

James Bond movies have been around for ages, and as long as I can remember, I've enjoyed watching their repetitive silliness and story lines. Part of what makes it fun is the Bond character himself. With almost a half dozen Bond actors people have their favorites - usually Connery or Moore. I myself liked Moore as the most cheeky and chauvinistic. Pierce Brosnan was not far behind with his suave ways. Now comes the next Bond actor - Daniel Craig. How does he do and how is Casino Royale? - both OK. As Bond he's a bit stoic and athletic and not as mouthy or suave. He seems very earnest and serious, a lot like Timothy Dalton was in his The Living Daylights. The movie opens well and holds the fort down about until the action switches to Montenegro, from there on in it's a bit by the numbers swimming in familiar territory (spoiler) with a really tasteless torture scene. As a film I'd rank it as a bit above OK about a B-. As a Bond movie it doesn't have the campiness or playfulness as much; it's better than some, but still behind many of them. I'd rank it similar to Die Another Day, above World is not Enough, way above Golden Eye, and below Tomorrow Never Dies of the newer ones. Is it worth seeing in the theater - probably not unless you're a Bond fan. A little disappointed overall, but not too much. Daniel Craig should make for promising future Bond movies.