
Click poster to enlarge
Director: Martin Campbell
Genre: Action / Adventure / Thriller
Runtime: 144 min
Country: USA / UK / Czech Republic
Language: English
Color: Black and White / Color
SoundMix: DTS / SDDS / Dolby Digital
Certification: Belgium:KT / USA:PG-13 / Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) / Netherlands:16 / Sweden:15 / UK:12A / Canada:14A / Norway:15 / Singapore:PG / Australia:M / Ireland:15A / Finland:K-15
- Cast:
- Daniel Craig ....... James Bond
- Eva Green ....... Vesper Lynd
- Mads Mikkelsen ....... Le Chiffre
- Judi Dench ....... M
- Jeffrey Wright ....... Felix Leiter
- Giancarlo Giannini ....... Mathis
- Caterina Murino ....... Solange
- Simon Abkarian ....... Alex Dimitrios
- Isaach De Bankolé ....... Steven Obanno
- Jesper Christensen ....... Mr White
- Ivana Milicevic ....... Valenka
- Tobias Menzies ....... Villiers
- Claudio Santamaria ....... Carlos
- Sebastien Foucan ....... Mollaka
- Malcolm Sinclair ....... Dryden
(more)

I saw the new James Bond movie this weekend. I have to admit that I thought that Daniel Craig was a bad choice for James Bond when I first heard the announcement, but he pulled it off. I am now a convert, and I think he did a great job.


Though this movie shared the same title, some of the same characters, and a couple of plot points as the 1967 comedic spoof of James Bond, this was by no means a remake. The original Casino Royal (1967) was a comedy and featured an aging James Bond ready for retirement. The new Casino Royale is set at a time when James Bond is first receiving his 00 status. It is very early in his career when he is at his wildest and most impulsive. Despite this apparent leap in time, it is modern day. This is nothing new to the James Bond movies. His legend is constantly being reborn as a modern tale.
I thought the action was more intense and faster than the previous James Bond movies, though I felt that Daniel Craig was a little more lacking in the charm department. It was a little harder to believe that women would fall for him so easily than it was with Roger Moore, Sean Connery, or Pierce Brosnan.
French actress Eva Green was very pretty, but I didn't think she really lived up to the standard that we have grown to expect of a Bond girl. On the other hand, her acting was quite a bit better than the average Bond girl so we can call that a push. Plus, I believe that the villain is more important than the girl in a Bond movie.


On the other hand, Caterina Murino more than filled the role of Bond girl despite her short appearance in the movie.


Mads Mikkelsen was an excellent Bond villain. He was cruel, ruthless, and had a physical peculiarity that really stood out. He seemed to be in considerable pain both physically and mentally throughout the movie.


It's definitely a must see movie and a must buy DVD!!
5/6