Casino Royale

Casino Royale, directed by Martin Campbell

Casino Royale is the latest James Bond adventure starring Daniel Craig as the new 007, and I would have to say that Bond is definitely back!. I was adamant at first about Daniel Craig being cast, as I thought his image did not fit the role of Bond but that still did not stop me from giving him a chance and watching it at the Aberystwyth students union.

The opening sequence was in pure black and white which immediately established the enigma as to how the visual style of the film would branch out. We see James Bond sat opposite a villain, who are both playing mind games with each other whilst tension builds as to who would outsmart the other. At the same time Bond is recollecting what had previously happened to one of the villain's henchmen whereby there is an action sequence. But this action sequence is arguably like no other because 007 is using brute, animalistic force upon the bad guy, not the smooth suave style that is usually associated with Bond.

So the film is firmly established and the plot centres around one of his early missions as 007. The main villain is Le Chiffre, who is in service to the world's leading terrorist organisations, whereby he plans to go to Montenegro to raise money by playing poker at Le Casino Royale. So Bond's mission is to go to that poker game, defeat him and bring him down. Along the way he travels to Uganda and the Bahamas before finally ending up at the main location where there are some memorable scenes and most notably the rather personal torture scene inflicted upon Bond which undoubtedly made the entire male audience cringe as they could not bare to watch it.

Still, the audience is set upon a clever, high action, smooth stylistic film with the handsome and cool presence of Daniel Craig and the most notable sequence whereby he gets out of the sea in his trunks which is definitely one for the ladies. This is an example of how this new Bond film has subtly changed its formula, providing for both women and men. But the male viewers will not be disappointed with the introduction of two new Bond girls Eva Green and Caterina Murino who are both stunning, Bond however takes a fancy to Eva Green who plays Vesper Lynd who is arguably a definite match for Bond. These two fall in love which is another new mix to a different formula and with the heartbreaking ending, allows the audience to understand why he does not get too close to women emotionally because they will be put in danger.

To sum it up, this is one of the best James Bond films as it has everything, action, suspense, romance, drama and subtle comedy one liners to keep the audience enriched in this cool, stylistic film. To top it all off Daniel Craig is amazing as 007, he has definitley got the presence on screen, the way he moves makes guys want to be him and for women to want him.