Casino Royale

Casino Royale
There's been a lot of talk that this is "The best Bond ever". I'll go ahead and clear this up: Sean Connery is, was, and always will be "The best Bond ever". Daniel Craig would be second (sorry, Pierce). I can honestly say that I reacted like a lot of people did when I saw the new James Bond ---

"He's blonde?!? James Bond is not blonde!"

But a few minutes into the film, you easily forget about this small detail. This movie rocks.

The villain is rather understated, especially when compared to the over-the-top bad guys in Bond's past. Or is it future? This is a prequel after all.

There is one part towards the beginning that's very unrealistic: a man climbs quickly up a steel girder in a way that can only be achieved by a monkey, or possibly that alien guy from Men in Black, (you know, the one who ran up the side of the building?). I can buy pretty much everything else, but I almost laughed out loud at that one.

~ Minor spoiler ahead ~

I hope I don't ruin this for anyone, but I knew right away that Bond's lady love would be dead before that end of the movie. I guess everyone knows that. Why? Simple: "Bond Girls" always die. Except for Halle Barry's character in Die Another Day. The only reason they let "Jinx" live was because they were planning a spin-off movie for that character. I'd like to point out that no one has mentioned this supposed movie since the disaster know as Catwoman. Oh well... Every actor is allowed to make one crappy movie in their career. It's like a rite of passage.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

James Bond's first 007 mission takes him to Madagascar, where he is to spy on a terrorist Mollaka. Not everything goes as planned and Bond decides to investigate, independently of the MI6 agency, in order to track down the rest of the terrorist cell. Following a lead to the Bahamas, he encounters Dimitrios and his girlfriend, Solange. He learns that Dimitrios is involved with Le Chiffre, banker to the world's terrorist organizations. Secret Service intelligence reveals that Le Chiffre is planning to raise money in a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro at Le Casino Royale. MI6 assigns 007 to play against him, knowing that if Le Chiffre loses, it will destroy his organization.

The marathon game proceeds with dirty tricks and violence, raising the stakes beyond blood money and reaching a terrifying climax.
(From Yahoo! Movies)

Casino Royale is the 21st film in the James Bond series and the first to star Daniel Craig as MI6 agent James Bond. Based on the 1953 novel Casino Royale by Ian Fleming, it was adapted by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and Academy Award-winning screenwriter Paul Haggis and was directed by Martin Campbell, director of the 1995 Bond film GoldenEye. The film is a reboot of the Bond franchise, establishing a new timeline and narrative framework not meant to precede Dr. No or any previous films. The film is set at the beginning of James Bond's career as a 00-agent, having earned his license to kill.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars. ****

Currently Listening to... "Fair"- Remy Zero