Casino Royale is the first James Bond story and is now the 21st movie of the franchise. Although this is not the first film with the title. In 1967 a spoof version was released.
Since the announcement of lead actor Daniel Craig, Bond fans the world over have voiced opinions of excitement and also disdain at the choice. Daniel Craig as an actor has starred in many movies and television shows over the last few years, notably Layer Cake. That’s when I knew a worthy member to the most esteemed position of the Double O had been found. Besides, I have to support a fellow Cestrian.
From the outset you realise as a participator in the Bond experience that this one is different. The movie opens with a black and white scene, though current it is made to have the look of a 1950s scene and thus hinting at the lineage of the original story and yet proving that the character is timeless.
What makes this an important movie in the collection is that this is the first and Bond starts out as simply an agent, aspiring to become a fully fledged Double O. The role is not yet established and neither are the things associated with what is James Bond. We have no recognisable signature theme and he is not even a one drink man.
Set in modern time without over the top futuristic gadgets this Bond has to make do with brains, brawn and balls to defeat his enemy. Going with gut instinct and pure ego it becomes obvious why Bond rubs his head of service up the wrong way.
Stunts are plentiful and big with the scenes running long and hard. The free running opens the pursuit action with the subtlety of a bull in a china shop, while the use of the Ford while not the prime choice of motor car for a secret agent, certainly gives the average British viewer something to smile about.
All Bond movies have bad guys but this has one without the usual limitless cash reserves and megalomaniac tendencies, though he is still very dangerous for many other reasons.
The women are stunning as expected but in true chauvinistic style it is all about the man of the moment, his Aston Martin and his ability to win.
The climax of the story introduces some of the things we were expecting to see and hear and when they come you realise very quickly that the story writers had been keeping you hanging on for it for over two hours.
Casino Royale is without doubt one of the best Bond movies ever and certainly Daniel Craig is far greater as Bond than the last few actors to have played the character. Although Casino Royal didn’t take the top spot in USA when it opened it did in the UK, James Bond’s home.