Bond goes back to basics

Rating: 8/10 (15 September 2014)

"Casino Royale" was the twenty-first movie in the James Bond series and the first with Daniel Craig. The filmmakers took Bond back to his roots and, in the process, reinvigorated the franchise.
In this movie we see Bond at the beginning of his career as a double-0 agent. His first mission finds him matched against Le Chiffre, a financier with ties to terrorist organizations. Bond travels to Montenegro to take part in a high stakes poker tournament with the hopes of bankrupting his target and forcing him to co-operate with the British government in exchange for protection from his creditors.
Daniel Craig marks something of a departure from previous Bonds. He may not be quite as debonair as others but he makes up for that with increased toughness. All things considered, he is perhaps the best Bond since Sean Connery. As for the villain of the piece, the memorable Le Chiffre, he is played with effortless menace by Mads Mikkelsen. Meanwhile, the requisite 'Bond girl' role is admirably filled by Eva Green. Other welcome faces in supporting roles are Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright & Giancarlo Giannini.
Director Martin Campbell helmed the best of the Pierce Brosnan Bond movies ("Goldeneye") and here he lent his expertise to the series once again. The black & white intro effectively sets the mood and the Madagascar-set chase scene that follows is arguably the film's high point. For the remainder of the film, Campbell ably handles both the film's action set-pieces and its more restrained moments.
As for the story, it's a compelling one though the movie is perhaps just a bit long at 144 minutes. That being said, while the pace flags a bit in the late stages it nevertheless sets the stage for a memorable and satisfying finale that leaves the viewer wanting more. Unfortunately, "Quantum of Solace" (which continues this storyline) didn't deliver on that potential.
All in all, "Casino Royale" marked a return to form for James Bond and did an excellent job of rebooting the franchise. Both respectful to the source material and free from the series' sillier tendencies, this is a Bond for the new millennium. As I see it, this entry is neck and neck with "Skyfall" as the best of the Daniel Craig Bond movies (which also ranks it among the best Bond movies, period).