Casino Royale (2006)

Director: Martin Campbell
Screenplay: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Paul Haggis (based on the book by Ian Fleming)
Cast: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Judi Dench 
Music: David Arnold
Time: 140 minutes
Bottom-line: Craig and Campbell revitalise the Bond series in grand fashion

Daniel Craig became heir to the James Bond throne in 2006, succeeding Pierce Brosnan. The third adaptation of Ian Fleming’s first 007 novel, Casino Royale, revives the James Bond series – which was having a bad run – in a spectacular manner. The film stars Eva Green and Mads Mikkelsen in the supporting roles, with Judi Dench playing M.

Daniel Craig as 007

After killing a traitor within MI6, James Bond (Craig) gets his double-0 status, with his number as 007. He then goes to Miami, following a terrorist, who plans to destroy a prototype airliner. Bond successfully foils the plan of Le Chiffre (Mikkelsen), a brilliant mathematician who funds the world’s terrorists. Desperate to earn back his money, Le Chiffre sets up a high stakes poker game at Casino Royale in Montenegro. MI6 enters Bond into the tournament. En route, Bond meets Vesper Lynd (Green), a person from the treasury whose job is to protect the 10 million buy-in; a bond develops between them. But as the story goes on, Bond realises that he is up against much more, than just a game of poker.

Eva Green as Vesper

The story is set in the modern day timeline, so that the writers had an opportunity to create a new Bond. The film has no connection with any of the previous films. Though the book focuses more on the actual game, the film concentrates more on action and drama. During the game you have no idea what is going on... but anyway, the poker game forms only a small part of the film. The introduction sequence perfectly shows the character sketch of the new Bond. But of course, the action sequences in the beginning were way too super-heroic for me to believe. The romance between Bond and Vesper is at times irritating, but it is known that Bond films cannot run without romance.

Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre

Daniel Craig is how I have always imagined Bond – strong, stylish and at times brutally violent. I find Sean Connery to be a good match, but Roger Moore was a misfit for the character, and Pierce Brosnan wasn’t that good either. Craig has lots of catch phrases too. The scene where Bond is tortured by Le Chiffre brings out some great bits of acting from Craig. Mads Mikkelsen performance is also brilliant, especially in that torture scene. He plays a convincing villain, even if he has a short screen time. Eva Green takes on the role of the Bond girl, but I think her performance was overshadowed by both Craig and Mikkelsen. Judi Dench plays the first female M, and somehow this seemed like a mismatch to me. For the first time in the Bond series, the character of Miss Moneypenny is completely absent.

And Judi Dench as M

The camera work is good, especially during the stunts and the chase in Madagascar, and during the climax in the sinking house. The score was also good. The visuals during the opening credits were also impressive.

So, 46 years after the inception of the Bond franchise in 1962, Daniel Craig is the sixth actor to play 007. To me, he is the strongest, the coolest, the most violent and the most super-heroic Bond so far. But, is he the best? That is up to you to decide...

My Rating: 4/5
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 95%