Casino Royale

OK, I had to go on opening weekend to see 007. Casino Royale is typical of most Bond films, BUT this one promises more grit and intensity in areas. Daniel Craig does a good job as 007. He rarely cracks a grin. There were times when Bond was with a lady and he grinned. Hey, if I was with Eva Green, aka Vesper Lynd character, I'd be all smiles too. However, Craig brings us back to the first Connery outings, where while he is dapper, he was serious and intense. Also, he was NOT AFRAID to fight. And in this film, Bond bleeds, and is tortured, but he lives. I don't wanna say too much more, except that Casino Royale was a worthy intro for Daniel Craig. There's action, there's some romance, and some tragedy. We get to discover all kinds of things:

When 007 made his first kill and how it went.

Why M and 007 are forever butting heads and M has to put her foot down. Judi Dench is back as M and does a great job as the longsuffering MI6 Director.

Why 007 is close to some women, but decides to keep some at arm's length.

Why and when 007 became more callous/hardened to using violence and seeing death.

When 007 ordered his first vodka martini, as far as the novels go, this was the beginning.

And how 007 got good at gambling, in this case Texas Hold Em, to keep with the recent times.

And 007 and his love hate relationship with autos. Loves some, destroys others, and even destroys vehicles he really liked.

The film earned its PG-13, and was borderline R for a few intense moments of violence. The sex, is implied. Innuendo is there, duh, it's Bond. But this time we see when Bond was truly behaving like a kid with a school boy crush. Then he learned the school of hard knocks.

Casino Royale is good. Although, don't expect Q Branch and off the wall gadgets. Nor do we expect Moneypenny and the usual Bond advances on her. Actually, that's good for this film, as we focus solely on 007 and his second career mission to stop terrorists and fundraising. Casino is intense as Bond does not go through the film, tux or suit intact. Nope, he gets injured or roughed up, his wardrobe shows it. We see where 007 meets and forms a professional relationship with CIA Agent Felix Leiter, played by Jeffrey Wright.

CR may have come in a close 2nd, in the US, to Happy Feet, but it was close. Casino Royale is worth the money for a weekend of intense action and the good old days of 007.

Enjoy.