James Bond 21: Casino Royale
Daniel Craig stars as "007" James Bond, the smoothest, sexiest, most lethal agent on Her Majesty's Secret Service in Casino Royale. Based on the first Bond book written by Ian Fleming, the story, which has never been told on film until now, recounts the making of the world's greatest secret agent. James Bond's first "007" mission leads him to Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), banker to the world's terrorists. In order to stop him, and bring down the terrorist network, Bond must beat Le Chiffre in a high-stakes poker game at Casino Royale. Bond is initially annoyed when a beautiful British Treasury official, Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), is assigned to deliver his stake for the game and watch over the government's money. But, as Bond and Vesper survive a series of lethal attacks by Le Chiffre and his henchmen, a mutual attraction develops leading them both into further danger and events that will shape Bond's life forever.
Member Reviews
Best Bond I Have Seen - DaxKP
I am not really into the whole James Bond thing, but this one was really good. It told the tale of how James Bond came to be, so he was more then just some spy-robot-action hero. The story was great, the action was great, and Daniel Craig was a great Bond. This is a great film, even if you don't like James Bond movies!Tightly Crafted and Worth Multiple Viewings - Bodybag109
It's hard to put your finger on just what makes this James Bond installment so worthwhile: the script, the directing, the action, or the top-notch acting.
The script is fantastic. It plays to the heritage of James Bond, but gives us so many new things. All the familiar and endearing elements are there, yet shifted and tweaked for a fresh appeal.
Martin Campbell delivers a fresh, highly kinetic directorial effort. Lively and smooth, the movie clips along and never bogs with unnecessary footage.
The action is amazing. On my first viewing, the lead-in construction zone action piece was enough to sell me on the movie. Subsequent viewings and done nothing to erode this feeling.
Finally, the acting is stellar. Daniel Craig as a barely-restrained Bond with vaguely rookie overtones is stunning. Judi Dench as a coy, somewhat ruthless and demanding "M". Even Eva Green brings something new to the table as a not-quite Bond girl.
How can you go wrong?Bond isn't just back, he's at the top of his game - tlefrancois
James Bond is back and he is alive and well. Any questions about Daniel Craig's worthiness are thrown out almost immediately as we are handed a film filled to the brim with exquisite action and explosive emotion. I squirmed in my seat with delight as I have not done since I was a child. What "Batman Begins" did for that franchise, "Casino Royale" does, and more, for Bond. For a while it seemed that he might not be able to well exist outside the confines of the cold war, but here we are given an entirely modern Bond with enough nods to the original that we can't be too upset. Maybe it's because this is the last novel yet to be filmed in the traditional Bond manner and it is Ian Fleming who has stolen our hearts not this incarnation of the super spy. However I like to think that someone actually just got their act together and concentrated on the film itself as opposed to who they could get the most product placement money out of. Congratulations. James Bond will live on for at least one more generation, and maybe forever. Great set pieces and one of the best chase sequences not involving cars ever put on screen, blended with beautiful locations and even more lovely women add up to the perfect cocktail with the twisting story line acting as the lemon peel in the martini, holding it all together. Many will come out saying that this is the best Bond film ever and I can not rightly say they are wrong at this point. Only time will tell that tale. However every fan can be assured that this ranks amongst the very upper crust of Bond movies, and Craig is no Lazenby. He lends a harsh wit and a thuggish charm to the character and by the end he's no longer the new guy, he is Bond, James Bond. A masterpiece of popular film-making and the movie we have been waiting for all year. See it early and often as it is sure not to diminish upon reviewing.
Member Reviews
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Best Bond I Have Seen - DaxKP
I am not really into the whole James Bond thing, but this one was really good. It told the tale of how James Bond came to be, so he was more then just some spy-robot-action hero. The story was great, the action was great, and Daniel Craig was a great Bond. ...Tightly Crafted and Worth Multiple Viewings - Bodybag109
It's hard to put your finger on just what makes this James Bond installment so worthwhile: the script, the directing, the action, or the top-notch acting.
The script is fantastic. It plays to the heritage of James Bond, but gives us so many new things. ...Bond isn't just back, he's at the top of his game - tlefrancois
James Bond is back and he is alive and well. Any questions about Daniel Craig's worthiness are thrown out almost immediately as we are handed a film filled to the brim with exquisite action and explosive emotion. I squirmed in my seat with delight as I have ...