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Genre: Action/Thriller

Director: Martin Campbell

Certificate: Casino Royale was rated 15A by the Irish Film Censor's Office (www.ifco.ie) i.e. suitable for those of 15 years of age or upwards.  Persons under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.

Violence = strong. Drugs = none. Sex/Nudity = mild. Language = mild.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Casino Royale

The awful treatment Daniel Craig initially received - not only from the geeky Bond obsessive brigade (we STAR WARS and LOTR freaks are a much more accepting class of loon) but from various "established" cinematic quarters - was a disgrace. The unanimously positive reaction to CASINO ROYALE shows that despite spin and counter-spin the movie going public still have the capacity to make up their own minds, and that trigger happy critics can at times be heard munching quite loudly on humble pie.

So, what makes this Bond better than the rest?  Well, in my opinion, it’s all down to making some very brave and challenging decisions.  In particular the resolve to overhaul and clean out.  The last Bond movie DIE ANOTHER DAY made a truckload of money.  The franchise was as commercially healthy as it's ever been.  Pierce Brosnan - settled and quite cosy in the role he had initially given much spark to - was quite happy to carry on with it all, as were the franchise’s fans.  So, why try fix a thing if it's not broken?  My guess is that the brilliant foresight of at least one person in the Broccolli production camp pointed out that the only way for a continuance of this template to go was on an inevitably lazy, bloated downward curve – finally reduced to lampooning itself as most of the vile 80s Bond offerings had.  Another theory is that someone watched last years magnificent BATMAN BEGINS and mused “Hmmm… now there’s an idea!”

So, the “Aging, misogynist dinosaur”  Bond leaves us on a relative high – in it’s place we get a Jason Bourne - esque entity, demonstrating that the world is ready for a much darker, harder 007 – one rooted in realism.  This is Bond before he cared for the preparation of dry Martinis or the delivery of dry quips.  One must remember that the decision to remake Ian Fleming’s 1950s introductory affair was not a light one.  For this is where and when 007 starts out.  This is "Bond Begins", a concept so revisionist that gone are the likes of wacky inventor Q and repressed nympho secretary Miss Moneypenny.  Gone too are most traces of double entendre, along with the long standing tradition of a high powered pre-title sequence.  Instead, at the very beginning we get an edgy, sinister, messy mix of double cross, intrigue and a erm… very awkward strangulation.  Soon after the titles fold, we are treated to an absolutely mesmerizing on-foot chase scene involving high, narrow surfaces and shot with epic, vertigo inducing camera-work. The director is New Zealand-born action maestro Martin Campbell, he first refreshed the 007 franchise with GOLDENEYE(1995), Pierce Brosnan's debut.

There have been no mishaps with the casting either.  Mads Mikkelsen brings creepily sinister determination to the role of the principal villain, Le Chiffre.  He is not a conventional megalomaniac nemesis for Bond, but an asthmatic Albanian and former chess prodigy, now a private banker to a network of international terrorists. The sublime Judi Dench, effortlessly exuding gravitas, is more prominent than ever before as M (we even see her in bed with Mr M).

CASINO ROYALE's  ace card, however, is Daniel Craig.  His 007 is a flawed and complex character.  Volatile, over-confident, sardonic, emotionally vulnerable, yet tough as nails, Craig has reinvented the role with a passion and presence that affirms his gifted range.  With his super cool speaking voice he excels and in fact revels in the radical shifts inherent in this movie.  We have no underdressed bikini squeeze emerging from the sea in this one, rather Bond himself, stocky, brooding and intense in his stride.  Later, in another inversion of the sexism that's been a staple of the series, a woman comments on Bond's "perfectly formed arse" to which he replies “Oh so you noticed?”  Like what’s the world coming to?!

I am happy for Craig because I thought he ruled in the excellent LAYER CAKE and he took a hell of a lot of stick when he signed on for this project.  I admit I was cautious in the beginning too, but I am quite glad my reservations have been proven completely wrong! (He is also James Blonde, which means there is hope for me yet!).

On the down side, the title song is absolutely wretched (though the sequence itself is quite creative), and the latter quarter is a little too protracted and self conscious.  It could be about 20mins shorter, but overall it’s a truly great experience.

Reviewed by Trooper, Premier Movie Reviews 2007

RELATED MOVIE REVIEWS:  MARTIN CAMPBELL: The Legend of Zorro,  Vertical Limit.  DANIEL CRAIG: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,  Layer Cake,  Munich,  Road To Perdition.  EVA GREEN: Kingdom Of Heaven.   MADS MIKKELSEN: Kingdom Of Heaven.  JEFFREY WRIGHT: Lady in the Water,  Syriana,  The Manchurian Candidate. GIANCARLO GIANNINI: Hannibal,  Man On Fire.

Daniel Craig

Eva Green

Mads Mikkelsen

Judi Dench

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