Casino Royale
Columbia Pictures | Release Date: November 17, 2006
8.5
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Universal acclaim based on 1637 Ratings
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1,451
Mixed:
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Negative:
104
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9
WiesyJan 18, 2013
This is the best bond film i've seen so far. Well acting by Mad Mikkelsen and Daniël Craig.Everything is good on this movie. This is an awesome Bond movie
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9
christhebeast42May 17, 2013
There is really nothing wrong with this movie. I just like it for a nine. The only thing I didn't like about this movie is the ending, which led into the awful Quantum of Solace. But that's mainly a complaint about that movie.
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9
LoRevisorJan 16, 2015
É um Bom filme mas é um pouco superestimado,não é as mil maravilhas mas tem a capacidade de prender o telespectador,tem boas cenas de ação se bem que metade do filme é Bond num cassino. Com certeza não é as mil maravilhas. Um filme bom masÉ um Bom filme mas é um pouco superestimado,não é as mil maravilhas mas tem a capacidade de prender o telespectador,tem boas cenas de ação se bem que metade do filme é Bond num cassino. Com certeza não é as mil maravilhas. Um filme bom mas muito superestimado.… Expand
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9
gracjanskiSep 29, 2021
Almost a perfect Bond movie. Daniel Craig is excellent. The action scenes are not over the top.
Only the long poker part was a bit boring.
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9
ThatCooperGuySep 18, 2015
Non-stop action with amazing stunts mixed with some great & often funny performances by the cast. This being my first Bond film, I loved it. Great way to introduce Daniel Craig to the series.
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9
eagleeyevikingDec 13, 2013
Casino Royale rejuvenates the Bond franchise with a beautifully crafted film complete with wit, emotion, plot and of course, enthralling action sequences.
3 of 3 users found this helpful30
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9
JorjiCostavaApr 20, 2014
Perhaps the best Bond film ever, and one of the best action films I've ever seen. It's grittier and more violent than the previous films, but it is purely entertaining.
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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9
vikesh2206Nov 9, 2014
Casino Royale rejuvenates the Bond franchise with a beautifully crafted film complete with wit, emotion, plot and of course, enthralling action sequences.
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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9
papeadojhonNov 29, 2015
Casino Royale is a thrilling action-Bond movie that gave a new fresh air of life to the franchise. Casino Royale made for Bond what no other Bond Film had made in a very long time, it gives a suspenseful, intriguing, breathless action picCasino Royale is a thrilling action-Bond movie that gave a new fresh air of life to the franchise. Casino Royale made for Bond what no other Bond Film had made in a very long time, it gives a suspenseful, intriguing, breathless action pic that succeeds not only as a Bond Movie, but as a Movie itself. And let's not forget about Craig, his interpretation as the new serious, caustic Bond is pure gold, not a doubt, best Bond in years (If not the best Bond).… Expand
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9
FilmMasterEdJan 5, 2016
There's one whopper of a reason why Casino Royale is the hippest, highest-octane Bond film in ages, and his name is Daniel Craig. This rugged, jug-eared Brit, whose irregular features improbably radiate a megawatt star charisma, gets the lastThere's one whopper of a reason why Casino Royale is the hippest, highest-octane Bond film in ages, and his name is Daniel Craig. This rugged, jug-eared Brit, whose irregular features improbably radiate a megawatt star charisma, gets the last laugh on the Internet buzz killers who've been ragging on him at craignotbond.com for being blond and blue-eyed and too short (five-eleven) for Bond duty. Not only is Craig, 38, the best Bond since Sean Connery, he's the first of the Bonds (great Scot Connery, one-shot George Lazenby, charmer Roger Moore, stuff-shirt Timothy Dalton and smoothie Pierce Brosnan) to lose the condescension and take the role seriously.

Craig reinvigorates a **** franchise that's been laying on bigger stunts and sillier gadgets to disguise the fact that it's run out of ideas. And he does it with an actor's skill, an athlete's grace and a dangerous glint that puts you on notice that Bond, James Bond, is back in business.

Sad to say, Casino Royale is also weighed down by action-business-as-usual. Craig's a live wire, closer to the blunt instrument Ian Fleming imagined when he created the character in 1953, but he can't mess too much with the winning formula begun with 1962's Dr. No. Bond producer Albert "Cubby" Broccoli, who died in 1996, left the golden goose in the care of his daughter Barbara Broccoli and his stepson Michael Wilson, who fully grasp that the four stunt-loaded Bond flicks with Brosnan are the most lucrative in the twenty-film series and that they can't spend $150 million to produce a 007 art film.

Still, the producers deserve credit for busting Bond at least partly out of the box. The film opens promisingly with a scene - strikingly shot in black-and-white - that sets up Bond as an MI6 agent who may be too much of a hothead to earn double-0 status and a license to kill. Then come the familiar credits, and the typical song ("You Know My Name," by Chris Cornell), followed by a full-bore, full-color foot chase across rooftops in Africa. Though efficiently directed by GoldenEye's Martin Campbell, the chase stalls the movie and, worse, delays getting us up close and personal with Craig. Seeing him run and sweat isn't half as much fun as seeing him act.

After that, everything gets better. Casino Royale, heavier on character than action, was the first book in Fleming's Bond series, making it the ideal place to start the wheel spinning anew. That's right, Casino Royale acts like the other Bond movies never existed. We're back at square one, only the time is now, the fantasy is limited and the story is anchored in reality. Q, with his gadgets and invisible cars, is nowhere to be seen. The tone is set when Bond orders a martini. "Shaken or stirred?" asks the bartender. Craig delivers the answer straight-up and bone-dry: "Do I look like I give a damn?">And we're off, with even the stock elements getting a fresh twist. Take the villain: He's Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), a banker who launders money for terrorists. It's a bit of a Dr. Evil parody that Le Chiffre cries tears of blood, but Mikkelsen, a star in his native Denmark, gives off a genuine eww vibe, especially when he tortures Bond with a testicle squeeze and pauses to leer at his naked body. Hero and villain go at it most excitingly over a poker table at Montenegro's Casino Royale, where a test of character, not strength, will determine the eventual winner.

What about the Bond girls? The gorgeous Caterina Murino sizzles as Solange, a babe he takes back to his hotel room for a roll on the floor that causes serious rug burns. But it's Eva Green as Vesper Lynd, a British treasury operative sent to stake Bond at the poker tables, who lifts her role to class-act status. Oscar winner Paul Haggis (Crash) contributes sly dialogue to a script that goes far beyond kiss-kiss/bang-bang. A scene in which Bond and Vesper attempt to guess each other's past histories trumps its comic zing with romantic gravity.

It also helps that Craig is mixing it up with a first-rate cast, including Jeffrey Wright as CIA agent Felix Leiter, Giancarlo Giannini as MI6 contact Mathis, and most especially Judi Dench, back in the game as M, Bond's boss. Dame Judi put her power on hold in the lightweight Brosnan films, but with Craig she comes out blazing, knowing she's found an actor who can give as good as he gets.

As the plot globe-trots from Prague, London, Miami and the Bahamas to an overblown climax in the canals of Venice, Casino Royale uncovers something unique in the 007 dossier: an unformed secret-agent man, lacking polish, vulnerable to violence and helplessly lost in love. Craig gives us James Bond in the fascinating act of inventing himself. This you do not want to miss.… Expand
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9
AgentVenom117Feb 22, 2016
Easily my favorite Bond film as Daniel Craig gives his best performance yet,and gives us our most intense and character driven James Bond film to date. I don't want to go into to much detail all i can say is it's a must watch to anyoneEasily my favorite Bond film as Daniel Craig gives his best performance yet,and gives us our most intense and character driven James Bond film to date. I don't want to go into to much detail all i can say is it's a must watch to anyone interested in James Bond or wanting to watch a awesome action film.… Expand
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9
AbeMCOct 16, 2016
Plenty of action, beautiful locations, beautiful people, great direction, great cinematography - and great acting. If there is a drawback, it's that the pauses between the action are too long; if you're a fan of classic poker movies (like ThePlenty of action, beautiful locations, beautiful people, great direction, great cinematography - and great acting. If there is a drawback, it's that the pauses between the action are too long; if you're a fan of classic poker movies (like The Cincinnati Kid), you probably won't mind the extended poker sequences. And the traditional Bond flippancy / repartee is present, but usually half-mumbled and understated. Whether a fan of Craig's Bond or not, this is easily his best turn as the MI6 agent. And for Vesper to break Bond's heart, Eva Green as Vesper had to break OUR hearts. And she does. A solid supporting cast (includes Judi Dench, Mads Mikkelson, and Giancarlo Giannini) and the assured direction of Martin Campbell (Goldeneye) add even more panache. The icing on the cake is the quality of the writing, which is far superior to many other films these days (not just other Bond films).

Docked a point for dragging a little in the middle of the film, but otherwise the strongest 9 out of 10 that I can give.… Expand
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9
EpsilonSigmaMuMay 14, 2017
A refocusing away from the campy, gadget-ridden past and more on characters, tension and class, Casino Royale thrives in it's set pieces, varying from as big as the island of Madagascar to as simple as a poker table in Montenegro. CasinoA refocusing away from the campy, gadget-ridden past and more on characters, tension and class, Casino Royale thrives in it's set pieces, varying from as big as the island of Madagascar to as simple as a poker table in Montenegro. Casino Royale turns Bond from silly to suave in one swift stroke.… Expand
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9
alejandro970Apr 23, 2022
A 007 for a new generation; what makes it interesting and believable is that now he is more human, and vulnerable. What follows instead are those elements that are essential to the James Bond saga: the women, the villains, and all theA 007 for a new generation; what makes it interesting and believable is that now he is more human, and vulnerable. What follows instead are those elements that are essential to the James Bond saga: the women, the villains, and all the intrigue and action. Not in vain Daniel Craig has endorsed why he was the best option for that role.… Expand
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9
DominArsenOct 28, 2019
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The movie with are impressive street scene prosecution on Grus. In 2019 I still remember .. In college and everywhere we discuss the renewal of James Bond. Darker, more raw and not gadget. Without gadget no dream. No dream, no dream. It's a shame to see "Q" disappear ... The means are bigger, the ambitions too!

Le film avec sont impressionnante scène de street poursuite sur les Grus. En 2019 je m'en souviens encore.. Au collège et partout on discuter du renouveau de James bond. Plus sombre, plus brute et pas gadget. Sans gadget pas de rêve. Pas de rêve, pas de rêve. Il est dommage de voir "Q" disparaitre.. Les moyens sont plus grands, les ambitions aussi !… Expand
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9
mouseypoo13Jun 11, 2017
Best Craig Bond movie. It is also one of the best Bond films of all time. Brilliant. It's great for a Bond movie. Also, Bond is a Borderline stalker. Yes!
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9
NBFCJan 9, 2018
After the embarrassing fiasco of Brosnan’s final entry Die Another Day, Bond was thankfully given a much deserved reboot that went back to the Ian Fleming source material. In this case, it was adapting the first novel to feature theAfter the embarrassing fiasco of Brosnan’s final entry Die Another Day, Bond was thankfully given a much deserved reboot that went back to the Ian Fleming source material. In this case, it was adapting the first novel to feature the character, Casino Royale.

Moving the character into the post-9/11 era and taking notes from the Bourne franchise, CR follows a younger, more vulnerable, and less experienced Bond as we see him develop into the badass spy we know and love. Previous unknown and blonde Daniel Craig proved to be the right person to portray a much more gritty and hitman-like interpretation of the character.

It also helps that the narrative adds unique twists and subversions to the typical “Bond formula” (having most of the second act be taken up by a slow-burn poker game was a gutsy move on the part of the filmmakers) while also having some refreshing emotional weight.

It should also be mentioned how great the cinematography and action are, provided by none other than Goldeneye’s Martin Campell. From the parkour chase in Africa to the chase sequence in Venice, Italy, the action has just the right amount of over-the-top escapism and realism. The fact that Bond sweats and gets hurt multiple times throughout was also a much needed change of pace after Brosnan’s Bond was made out to be too much of an untouchable Superman.… Expand
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9
spacebear1Dec 7, 2017
Martin Campell's Casino Royale is a fantastic film with amazing acting performances and really intense fights. The story isn't a mess and the villain, Le Chiffre, is amazing. This film is easily one of the best films I have ever seen.
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9
FilipeNetoFeb 19, 2018
Dirigido por Martin Campbell e produzido por Barbara Broccoli e Michael G. Wilson, tem roteiro de Robert Wade, Neal Purvis e Paul Haggis. Este é o vigésimo primeiro filme da franquia e o primeiro filme na nova era de James Bond, encarnadoDirigido por Martin Campbell e produzido por Barbara Broccoli e Michael G. Wilson, tem roteiro de Robert Wade, Neal Purvis e Paul Haggis. Este é o vigésimo primeiro filme da franquia e o primeiro filme na nova era de James Bond, encarnado pela participação de Daniel Craig, que sucede a Pierce Brosnan no papel do famoso 007. Judi Dench permaneceu no papel de M Jeffrey Wright ressuscita o espião americano Felix Leiter, Giancarlo Giannini dá vida a Rene Mathis, Eva Green jogou a boneca Vesper e Mads Mikkelsen deu vida ao vilão, Le Chiffre.

Neste filme, um novo James Bond, recentemente elevado ao status de 00 agente, tentará pegar um banqueiro de gangland que ajuda a financiar traficantes de armas e terroristas em todo o mundo. Para isso, ele precisará participar de um jogo de poker arriscado, onde o vilão procurará multiplicar seu dinheiro.

Este é um dos melhores filmes do Bond até à data e marca o relançamento da franquia, após o rotundo fracasso de "Die Another Day". Daniel Craig é bastante diferente de qualquer outro ator que tenha desempenhado o papel: duro, extremamente violento, mais assassino do que um cavalheiro, ele consegue atualizar seu personagem para o novo milênio. Mas essa nova abordagem não apenas a atualiza, mas também lhe deu mais credibilidade e plausibilidade. Na opinião do público, é realmente possível que, se houver espiões, eles são semelhantes ao que Craig mostra como Bond. E, como qualquer humano, Craig's Bond também falha, comete erros e é falível. Está longe de ser um herói ou um bom cara. Por outro lado, o vilão, interpretado por Mads Mikkelsen, também é credível e não é exagerado por estereótipos de outros vilões. Discreto, silencioso e, ao mesmo tempo, cruel e implacável, Le Chiffre é jogado brilhantemente por Mikkelsen, conseguindo arrancar alguns arrepios da nossa espinha. Eva Green também foi impecável no papel da Vesper, uma menina de ligação difícil e misteriosa, que combina perfeitamente beleza, sedução e mistério, tornando-se uma das mais belas e misteriosas garotas da franquia. Foi também a segunda mulher a fazer Bond se apaixonar por real. O roteiro também tem aspectos bastante bons: o tema principal, o financiamento do terrorismo, que está muito presente hoje, ou a retomada cronológica da história, o que permitiu uma abordagem mais precisa do livro de Fleming e um novo olhar para o personagem principal (em um romper com filmes anteriores, particularmente Brosnan's, que colocou Fleming aparte e criou novos scripts a partir do zero). Algumas cenas deste filme também se tornaram memoráveis, como a cena climática, na qual Bond tenta salvar o amado de um palácio veneziano que afunda sob seus pés. A sequência de abertura deste filme é, talvez, uma das mais impressionantes. Foi criado por Daniel Kleinman e se destaca pelo uso de imagens de cartas, a falta de silhuetas femininas (justificadas pela Bond sentem verdadeiro amor por Vesper) e "You Know My Name", composta e interpretada por Chris Cornell.… Expand
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9
merijnjFeb 21, 2018
(92/100)
A long, well paced, story with great storytelling and action scenes. 007 feels like 007 again.
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9
OnaskNov 19, 2018
La primera película que veo del famoso personaje creado por Fleming y qué decir: Casino Royale es de las mejores películas de espías, acción y carisma que he visto recientemente. Tiene un reparto increíble y Craig como el agente 007 no soloLa primera película que veo del famoso personaje creado por Fleming y qué decir: Casino Royale es de las mejores películas de espías, acción y carisma que he visto recientemente. Tiene un reparto increíble y Craig como el agente 007 no solo cumple sino que desborda energía y carisma y va un paso más allá. Muy buena trama, muy buenas escenas de acción, diálogos muy bien escritos y personajes más que interesantes. Quizás eso sí, las más de 2h y 20min de metraje se hacen un poco largas.

Muy recomendada.… Expand
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9
marshallonfilm_Mar 19, 2020
“Now the whole world's gonna know that you died scratching my balls!”
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9
JordanLaytonApr 28, 2020
I think all of my favorite Daniel Craig bond moments/quotes are from this movie. The construction chase, the Vesper origin, "It appears someone here knows something I don't", "Get the girl out", rope chair, the "smile and little finger"I think all of my favorite Daniel Craig bond moments/quotes are from this movie. The construction chase, the Vesper origin, "It appears someone here knows something I don't", "Get the girl out", rope chair, the "smile and little finger" quote, the fake-out ending, etc. the list goes on. I don't just love these moments because they're cool or for (purely) nostalgic reasons. They all inform the character of this new Bond we're being introduced to. LFTS has a great video on how the construction chase scene in particular does this. Worth a watch. This film introduced us to a reckless, ego-driven Bond whose greatest strength and greatest weakness is his refusal to accept defeat. That in mind, the concept of structuring this movie around a poker game is incredibly conducive to this character. What type of people most often ruin their lives because of their refusal to accept defeat? Gamblers. This connection between character, setting, and plot create an incredibly tight theme for this film. (spoilers for a 14 year old film) The other main element this film gets right is the complex romance between Bond and Vesper. It feels earned. Yes, we do get the classic short life expectancy Bond girl at the start of the film, but Vesper subverts this trope by bonding with Bond la through shared trauma, creating a seemingly genuine relationship with him, and ultimately betraying Bond whilst simultaneously protecting him. It's a complex relationship that made the fake-out ending worthwhile and amounted in yet another memorable action set piece: the sinking building in Venice. The memorable set pieces, quotable lines, classic score, and twisting plot of Casino Royale make it a film I love and will definitely come back to. Its on Hulu and HBO if you feel like giving it a watch.… Expand
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9
lofu_agfyNov 11, 2020
I saw this at a cast and crew screening in London last weekend: I'm not a huge Bond fan, but I do enjoy them on a purely popcorn level and this was definitely one of the best in recent memory. The tone is much edgier and nastier than theI saw this at a cast and crew screening in London last weekend: I'm not a huge Bond fan, but I do enjoy them on a purely popcorn level and this was definitely one of the best in recent memory. The tone is much edgier and nastier than the Brosnan movies, harking back more to Dr. No or For Your Eyes Only. The action sequences are brilliantly shot and edited for maximum impact and are some of the best out of any Bond movie. Martin Campbell, who also made 'Goldeneye', was an excellent choice and, for me, is one of the best Bond directors. What gives this the lead over recent Bonds is the more realistic feel: the exotic locales, fast cars, spectacular action, beautiful women and many other Bond hallmarks are all here but gone is the campy tone that marred, say, Die Another Day. Yes, the whole franchise is based on an entirely ridiculous and cartoonish notion but the more serious and harder-edged tone works really well here. In this context, Daniel Craig gives an excellent performance as Bond. I'll be the first to admit that I raised an eyebrow when I heard he was cast but he really makes it his own. It's hard to say whether he's better than any of the other Bonds: Connery and Brosnan felt right for the style of Bond movies they were in. Here, as suits the overall tone of the film, Bond is much more of a sadist, a cold-hearted killer with very little sense of empathy and Craig, with his piercing eyes, suits the role very well. He's charming and funny when required and totally convincing in the action sequences. The violence is less cartoon-like and flippant, too, with every punch, kick and shooting looking like they really hurt. Also, the story is just much more engaging than many a Bond film; the script's not going to win awards but it's consistently inventive and intriguing. Whilst the film has enough of it's fair share of action, the emphasis is equally on character and storyline and less on gadgets and sheer implausibility. When there isn't a huge action sequence happening, you don't miss it: the film's longest set-piece, the poker game at the Casino Royale, is as (or not more) gripping and entertaining than any of the chases and shoot-outs. The only minor gripes that I have are a slightly too long running time: the film drags a wee bit towards the end and, although it helps the tone of the film, we don't hear enough of the Bond theme tune! However, great directing and performances from everyone involved, along with Phil Meheux's excellent cinematography, Peter Lamont's as ever superb production design and all the other top-notch craft and technical departments make 'Casino Royale' a classy and very enjoyable night out at the movies.… Expand
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9
511andahalfFeb 7, 2021
The film is a breath of fresh air for the series, and it works so well. Daniel Craig takes on a new interesting version of Bond. This Bond get emotional, more human, and makes mistakes, which is why he works so well. Le Chiffre and VesperThe film is a breath of fresh air for the series, and it works so well. Daniel Craig takes on a new interesting version of Bond. This Bond get emotional, more human, and makes mistakes, which is why he works so well. Le Chiffre and Vesper Green are really memorable characters too, their connections to Bond really propels the film forward. The poker scenes are well done and captivating too, same with the action scenes. Definitely one of the top tier bond films.… Expand
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9
HeroicAge616Oct 26, 2021
Easily the best Bond film to date, Casino Royale is impressive in its ability to excite from start to finish while giving Bond a relatable edge.
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9
ChanekeCholoDec 13, 2021
For being a new start for this generation, gets all the parameters of a great action film, when you feel that it's getting common, has a great plot twist which gift more development to James Bond and getting so enveloping and interesting.
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9
elviejoyorsJun 23, 2022
Best Bond movie I've seen so far. Exciting, intriguing, and has a great ending.
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9
Richard552Aug 16, 2022
First bond movie with a longest poker game in the movie.$1 to buy a Netflix account, Google search: vtvshare
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8
SeverianNov 20, 2006
I defnitely much prefer the intense, engaging and more personal Daniel Craig to the previous pretty boy Bond. The storyline is fine. (but the self help defibrillator bit is ludicrously unbelievable though). A good and refreshing facelift for I defnitely much prefer the intense, engaging and more personal Daniel Craig to the previous pretty boy Bond. The storyline is fine. (but the self help defibrillator bit is ludicrously unbelievable though). A good and refreshing facelift for the franchise.… Expand
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8
VeraR.Mar 4, 2007
Brilliant! Absolutely loved it! Loved Daniel Craig's Bond - and that after I had been such a firm Pierce Brosnan-Bond fan. The opening scene was great and the action in Uganda was so tense. The Madagascar action was also brilliant! The Brilliant! Absolutely loved it! Loved Daniel Craig's Bond - and that after I had been such a firm Pierce Brosnan-Bond fan. The opening scene was great and the action in Uganda was so tense. The Madagascar action was also brilliant! The only thing I really found extremely irritating and tedious were the initial "bickering" scenes with the accountant - she came across immature, too young and the age gap between them was just too big. The blond girl was also very forgettable.… Expand
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8
AbiA.Dec 1, 2006
Excellent action by cast and in particular by Craig. He has graduated handsomely into 007 slot
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8
JonM.Dec 7, 2006
What a return for Bond, what a debut in the franchise for Daniel Craig. The movie is excellent, dramatic set pieces, tension building plot and clever scripting. This only misses a strong 9 due to slightly overlong love story in the last What a return for Bond, what a debut in the franchise for Daniel Craig. The movie is excellent, dramatic set pieces, tension building plot and clever scripting. This only misses a strong 9 due to slightly overlong love story in the last third of the film. Craig is genius, bettering Brosnan's comic caricature of Bond. His physical presence, charm and wit mean the chases flow, fight scenes crunch like no bond before, and his vocal sparring with enemies and love interests is as sharp as knives. Gone is the Brosnan-Moore cheese fest, a new era of Bond has finally arrived to save the legend!… Expand
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8
LoberG.Jan 3, 2007
It was a good film, but I did not like the actor who played James Bond.
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8
DeanB.Apr 8, 2007
If you want constant innuendo, one liners, and overall campness - go away and watch one of the Roger Moore, or Pierce Brosnan efforts. However I you prefer a more sophisticated Bond film, thats more serious, and artistic, and not full of If you want constant innuendo, one liners, and overall campness - go away and watch one of the Roger Moore, or Pierce Brosnan efforts. However I you prefer a more sophisticated Bond film, thats more serious, and artistic, and not full of gadgets, and over the top special effects (Pierce Brosnan - hang your head in shame), then 'Casino Royale' is for you. Daniel Craig's portrayal of 007, is similar to Timothy Dalton's. He attempts to play the character as intended by original author Ian Fleming (ie: a bit more serious, and with a darker edge, rather than cheesy one liners, and school boy innuendo!!), and personally i think he succeeds. The best (serious) Bond film, since 'Licence To Kill'.… Expand
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8
TylerC.Feb 6, 2008
Best Bond movie yet? I don't even know if this is a Bond movie, but I loved it.
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8
GaryDJul 14, 2008
True Brilliance! Really brought the franchise to realism and depth,with more intense 'Jason Bourne' like action, however the really did extend the storyline to long and the poker scene wasn't to great either,Nevertheless it is True Brilliance! Really brought the franchise to realism and depth,with more intense 'Jason Bourne' like action, however the really did extend the storyline to long and the poker scene wasn't to great either,Nevertheless it is a MUST SEE!… Expand
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8
JocelynE.Nov 16, 2006
The Bond persona needed a change in direction. Away from the character who started to resemble a superhero, and back to the secret agent who uses only his charm and quick wit to get out of tough situations, and into beautiful girls beds. The Bond persona needed a change in direction. Away from the character who started to resemble a superhero, and back to the secret agent who uses only his charm and quick wit to get out of tough situations, and into beautiful girls beds. Sure, Daniel Craig is a grittier Bond than we are used to seeing, but he still looks better in a tuxedo than any man should be allowed.… Expand
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8
MaxM.Nov 16, 2006
Anyone who doesn't appreciate (at least) that Bond is back and better than he has been in years is just grumpy. Despite being a tad long, this definitely whet my appetite for the next Craig outing.
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8
MichaelH.Nov 18, 2006
I enjoyed the movie. Daniel Craig has potential, but it seemed to me they tried to read to much depth in too many disperate directions into the Bond character. Similarly Eva Green adds a lot, but again they made everything a little too I enjoyed the movie. Daniel Craig has potential, but it seemed to me they tried to read to much depth in too many disperate directions into the Bond character. Similarly Eva Green adds a lot, but again they made everything a little too tragic for my tastes. I remember before Die Another Day the movie PR folk tried to advertise it as a "psychological thriller" which it totally wasn't. This isn't either, but the producers and actors threw more bones at what a tough world it is to be a secret agent. Personally, I'd rather enjoy him as a quick-witted superhero (and not one of the conflicted, brooding Bruce Wayne/Batman ilk)… Expand
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8
JoeyK.Nov 20, 2006
Great movie. I was very doubtful at first, Craig is a surprisingly excellent Bond. The movie is also surprisingly long, but its not bad. Overall, it's a great development of the Bond character, really putting new meaning behind his Great movie. I was very doubtful at first, Craig is a surprisingly excellent Bond. The movie is also surprisingly long, but its not bad. Overall, it's a great development of the Bond character, really putting new meaning behind his convictions and behaviors. It focuses on the man, not the gadgets or the villains, and yet the coolness is still there, and the villain element is still there. Good Bond movie.… Expand
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8
LouisM.Dec 4, 2006
One of the best Bond movies ever. Not just a great Bond movie, but an excellent movie, period. Bond is a real person and his well-being comes under threat more than once. Enough to create a true sense of concern and tension. This is One of the best Bond movies ever. Not just a great Bond movie, but an excellent movie, period. Bond is a real person and his well-being comes under threat more than once. Enough to create a true sense of concern and tension. This is something which lacks in most Bond movies. He is an actual 3 dimensional character. The only gripe is that the romance part is too long at a point when one thinks the movie is wrapping up.… Expand
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8
DougN.Jan 30, 2007
The darker psychology compared to previous Bond films improves the experience.
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8
AndyFeb 11, 2007
The best Bond I can remember since License To Kill, and probably better. The cheese factor has been reduced to a bare minimum.
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8
IsaacB.Mar 18, 2007
This is a good movie, not perfect. Lots of action, but this is NOT James Bond.
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8
HaggApr 13, 2007
Well I have read all of the negative comments here. I going to attempt this drunk! LOL The people complaining are lost, this is telling of how he became who he was in other movies. So of course no toys and since he is always scared, of love Well I have read all of the negative comments here. I going to attempt this drunk! LOL The people complaining are lost, this is telling of how he became who he was in other movies. So of course no toys and since he is always scared, of love in the connery movies of course no get the girl ending. As for charming that is learned not given trust me. Also for the person saying no American cars in Europe you have never left your city. In my military time I have been all over and fords and opels(gm overseas) are everywhere. Read the books and understand what you are being shown before making ignorant remarks.… Expand
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8
LenR.May 5, 2007
A worthy new Bond. The action grabs you from the beginning and and keeps going.
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8
WalterJul 22, 2007
Outstanding. A new face to what had become a ubiquitous and BORING character. To all the traditionalists panning this new, more aggressive, more human Bond, I say "please realize that the old Bonds were tired (looking), too soft, and too Outstanding. A new face to what had become a ubiquitous and BORING character. To all the traditionalists panning this new, more aggressive, more human Bond, I say "please realize that the old Bonds were tired (looking), too soft, and too worried about their perfectly quaffed hair to kick as!" This Bond is tough, athletic, and cares not about the people he kills. Relentless, youthful, and invested with a mean streak, this Bond is finally refreshing and full of action. WELL overdue. Watch, take it in, and enjoy the much-needed overhaul.… Expand
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8
JGrossOct 30, 2008
What makes this film great IS the lack of gadgets, ridiculous villians and stupid plots. It has a gritty realism that allows you really to get into the film.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
8
DavidDJun 8, 2008
I am not a huge Bond fan even though i have seen almost all the films. I thought Pierce B. was a great Bond but the action in his films sucked so bad. They were so unbelievable. In this film, it was like, finally, a film that you can believe I am not a huge Bond fan even though i have seen almost all the films. I thought Pierce B. was a great Bond but the action in his films sucked so bad. They were so unbelievable. In this film, it was like, finally, a film that you can believe the action could happen. Not too much CGI and the stupid camera movement of so many action films these days was steady, not moving around all the time. The bad in the movie was the main woman. She is not good looking at all!! Even with all that make up. Also, the poker games were just stupid. Not once have i ever seen those scenarios in a poker game. Too unbelievable. But overall, it was a very good movie.… Expand
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8
jtJan 7, 2009
Very good movie overall. Starts over with bond from the beginning. It humanizes bond in a good way. Howeverwhen i thinik of bond danieal craig is the last image that comes to mind. if this movies was done with connery or brosnan it would be Very good movie overall. Starts over with bond from the beginning. It humanizes bond in a good way. Howeverwhen i thinik of bond danieal craig is the last image that comes to mind. if this movies was done with connery or brosnan it would be so much better.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
8
BenSmithNov 19, 2006
This is a very enjoyable movie, and well worth it to see. This takes a turn away from the flashy, glitzy other Bond films and takes on a more gritty air. Great fun to watch. I'd love to give this a 10, and it almost deserves it, but the This is a very enjoyable movie, and well worth it to see. This takes a turn away from the flashy, glitzy other Bond films and takes on a more gritty air. Great fun to watch. I'd love to give this a 10, and it almost deserves it, but the ending tends to drag on just a littl bit. Go watch it! You won't be disappointed.… Expand
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8
JaneHNov 21, 2006
Great Bond (actor), but the editor must have dozed off watching all the action sequences and forgotten where he put his scissors. Some of the best set pieces make little sense (leaping from cranes/sinking Venetian palazzos). Try consulting Great Bond (actor), but the editor must have dozed off watching all the action sequences and forgotten where he put his scissors. Some of the best set pieces make little sense (leaping from cranes/sinking Venetian palazzos). Try consulting the writer(s) of the Bourne films for tips on integrating thrilling action with logic.… Expand
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8
AnonymousMCNov 22, 2006
Best Bond since Goldeneye. The last half-hour was completely unecessary, but all in all a worthy movie. This Bond is stripped of all goofy gadgets and one liners, and armed instead with badass fighting skills and cunning.
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8
RobertxxxNov 23, 2006
though I thought clive owen was the natural choice for the new bond, Craig proves to be sensational in a part that totally redesigns our concept of the master agent...a tad long, but ends with a double bang.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
8
GeorgeC.Nov 26, 2006
The name
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8
R.R.Nov 26, 2006
A very smart, sophisticated action film with better (albeit uneven) scripting and acting than the previous efforts... but is it Bond? I was horrified from the beginning to hear that Craig got the part, and I have to admit to being more than A very smart, sophisticated action film with better (albeit uneven) scripting and acting than the previous efforts... but is it Bond? I was horrified from the beginning to hear that Craig got the part, and I have to admit to being more than pleasantly surprised. His physical style, a little ungainly if effective, is a take on the character that's pretty close to Fleming's original vision. This James Bond is just starting out, and he's sorting out things as he goes along. The action scenes are all intelligently done, some of the repartee (vide the scene on the train) is brilliant and funny, the dialogue frequently examines and challenges the comfortable Bond myths, and Eva Green is a godsend. And yet, a "true" Bond film requires all of the following: inspired, cutting edge gadgets that, yes, have to be a little on the little-boy-toy side, a gargantuan bad guy whose scope is beyond petty cash (and who preferably owns a base of operations beneath the ocean), and, need I say this, Q and Moneypenny. Seeing as the film shows us Bond's beginnings, I am desperately hoping that its open end, with Bond finally giving us his calling card "My name is...etc. etc.", points to a future film more in the classic vein. Summing up: a refreshingly taught reinvention of a classic that hopefully won't forget its roots in future installments.… Expand
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8
SteveCDec 19, 2006
I finally saw the film. I was shocked at the complete and total boldness in risks taken by the filmmakers. My hat is off to the risk takers and it was well worth it. If you had told me that they would make a Bond film with a blonde Bond and I finally saw the film. I was shocked at the complete and total boldness in risks taken by the filmmakers. My hat is off to the risk takers and it was well worth it. If you had told me that they would make a Bond film with a blonde Bond and discard most of the bond standards from the music to the usual lines including all the tongue in cheek campy stuff and a lack of gadetry and action sequences with cars, boats, planes or other mobile wonders, I would say that the movie would fail big time. I would be wrong. This film throws those standards back in your face and announces that this is a NEW Bond. It does this right up to the end when it shocks you back into Bond heaven with the final line and the roll of the credits that screams that Bond is back. This is a fantastic ressurection capable of extending the series for years to come. Well done.… Expand
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8
KevinDec 3, 2006
This was a much better Bond flick than the last few have been. One thing I couldn't help but thinking about the whiners who bitched and moaned about Daniel Craig: they are all fools with lots of egg on their face. He did a GREAT job. This was a much better Bond flick than the last few have been. One thing I couldn't help but thinking about the whiners who bitched and moaned about Daniel Craig: they are all fools with lots of egg on their face. He did a GREAT job. The opening scene was my favorite in the movie, very video-game-esque, but in a good way. Not a perfect flick, but very entertaining, and much more characterization than what you'd expect.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
8
PatC.Dec 4, 2006
A splendid tour de force for the Bond series, even if breaking into his boss's house was over the top.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
8
ReidF.Jan 27, 2007
With this film, Daniel Craig has re-invented Bond into a gritty, intelligent action character. Let
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8
NickE.Nov 16, 2006
A fantastic Bond film. Great acting but may be too slow for those who like the old Moore/Brosnen style. Worked for me though it could possibly have a better final battle.
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8
JudyT.Nov 17, 2006
It's Bond. Craig is a good one, but it's the same chases, the same formula especially where the love interest is concerned, the same angry boss and the same ugly villian, But it's Bond. Have some fun.
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8
TobeP.Nov 19, 2006
It was an awesome film with very good special effects that keep up to bond standards, however i cant seem to wrap my head round the fact that their target audience has been narrowed so much by the torture and drowning scenes. this definitely It was an awesome film with very good special effects that keep up to bond standards, however i cant seem to wrap my head round the fact that their target audience has been narrowed so much by the torture and drowning scenes. this definitely isnt a PG13.… Expand
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8
MoiMNov 25, 2006
This is a real "Bond Begins": a way of revitalizing the Bond franchise. Craig is an amazing dark character. I really enjoyed the movie.
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8
JoeA.Dec 17, 2006
Minus one point for killing off that acrobatic bomber at the beginning waaay too early (I could've watched him jump around that construction site for the whole movie), and minus one point for losing the plot (literally) near the end. Minus one point for killing off that acrobatic bomber at the beginning waaay too early (I could've watched him jump around that construction site for the whole movie), and minus one point for losing the plot (literally) near the end. Other than that, a welcome return back to old school Bond-ness. Daniel Craig is the best Bond since Timothy Dalton (I'm not trying to be cute, really) and, of course, the mighty Sean Connery. Invisible cars really were a bit too much.… Expand
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8
drlowdonAug 12, 2013
Over the years Bond movies had become a little cheesy and so director Martin Campbell reinvents the spy in a grittier and more realistic portrayal taking audiences right back to the start.

The opening chase sequence must rank amongst theOver the years Bond movies had become a little cheesy and so director Martin Campbell reinvents the spy in a grittier and more realistic portrayal taking audiences right back to the start.

The opening chase sequence must rank amongst the best movie openings in cinema history and will instantly grab the attention of most viewers. Fortunately the rest of the movie is almost as entertaining striking a good balance between developing Bond's character and including the car chases and explosions one would expect. Importantly Daniel Craig is also very good in his first Bond outing making Casino Royale a thrilling two hours of cinema.… Expand
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8
CaestusMar 10, 2013
Like the direction that the filmmakers took with casino royale. Its darker than the previous bonds, its more brutal and it has a suprisingly good story in it
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8
SomeRandomGuy12Aug 14, 2011
I didn't really get what was going on, but what happened in front of me was fantastic! Great bond movie to boot! You sit through the movie, not really understanding it, but also having a really good time. It's one of those movies that beingI didn't really get what was going on, but what happened in front of me was fantastic! Great bond movie to boot! You sit through the movie, not really understanding it, but also having a really good time. It's one of those movies that being confusing is just a small issue. There's a lot more action than your usual bond film, but so what it's a great movie!… Expand
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8
grandpajoe6191Sep 24, 2011
The movie is a revolution to the Bond franchise. Mark Campbell presents to the audience that James Bond is not a hero who kills the bad guys and gets laid with girls using his gadgets and slick words. Using Daniel Craig, he presents a BondThe movie is a revolution to the Bond franchise. Mark Campbell presents to the audience that James Bond is not a hero who kills the bad guys and gets laid with girls using his gadgets and slick words. Using Daniel Craig, he presents a Bond that actually gets hurt and looses the ones he love. Through this change of portrayal, Bond has become a stronger character and a worthy franchise to watch. Kudos Campbell (and you too Craig)!!!… Expand
9 of 12 users found this helpful93
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8
spadenxDec 31, 2011
I enjoyed it and it's pretty much a given that every Bond film staring the new Bond is gonna be good. The huge problems the film had is that it took quite a bit to get into and to get interesting. Also it did a poor job going from action toI enjoyed it and it's pretty much a given that every Bond film staring the new Bond is gonna be good. The huge problems the film had is that it took quite a bit to get into and to get interesting. Also it did a poor job going from action to drama. Besides that, It was still a good action film and Daniel Craig is one of the best Bonds yet.… Expand
3 of 3 users found this helpful30
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8
imthenoobJan 2, 2013
Great action, Good story, and good acting by the cast. Daniel Craig is a great Bond and may even be the best Bond yet. Loved watching this movie and would highly recommend it.
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8
bosnianNov 12, 2012
Everything, from the opening sequence to the finale is pure Bond, but unlike the past 30+ years, wrapped in a dose of reality with an emotional touch added to it. Final result - Best Bond movie period.
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8
Tall_But_ShortJul 23, 2012
Casino Royale is the first James Bond movie I have ever seen. That said, lets get on with the review from a new James Bond viewer. James Bond has been around for quite some time now, so after an absence, how is the twenty-first film? Great.Casino Royale is the first James Bond movie I have ever seen. That said, lets get on with the review from a new James Bond viewer. James Bond has been around for quite some time now, so after an absence, how is the twenty-first film? Great. Even though the movie takes a while to actually get in gear, the story is good and the acting is great. Say what people will about Daniel Craig, I thought he did an excellent job as Agent 007, but maybe that's because I haven't seen any of the other films. The action sequences are superb in this scene but the film does get quite boring towards the middle. Nonetheless, this film is good overall and definitely deserves a watch!… Expand
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8
SpangleFeb 28, 2016
Casino Royale was the first James Bond film I have ever seen and it really makes me excited to continue exploring this film franchise. The first film starring Daniel Craig as Bond, he knocks the role out of the park with a cool, calculatedCasino Royale was the first James Bond film I have ever seen and it really makes me excited to continue exploring this film franchise. The first film starring Daniel Craig as Bond, he knocks the role out of the park with a cool, calculated performance in which he oozes control and being, well, cool. The direction from Martin Campbell is assured and he sets the pace perfectly and really is in control of this film. The action sequences are thrilling and thoroughly exciting, as well as being well choreographed and adventurous. Additionally, the film is really well shot and soaks up the beauty of its exotic locations. The acting, as with Craig, is good and believable across the board. For my first Bond movie, I do not think I could have done much better than Casino Royale, as it left me not only entertained, but itching for more Bond.… Expand
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8
jordiOct 31, 2012
En un primer momento el James Bond Daniel Craig me parece frío, violento, más parecido a un Charles Bronson que a un 007, pero según avanza la película lo descubrimos que sin ser seductor puede enamorar yEn un primer momento el James Bond Daniel Craig me parece frío, violento, más parecido a un Charles Bronson que a un 007, pero según avanza la película lo descubrimos que sin ser seductor puede enamorar y enamorarse. Un cambio radical de estilo. Ya en la presentación no aparecen las típicas chicas bond bailando al son de una pegadiza música, y es el propio Daniel Craig quién nos muestra su cuerpo saliendo del agua. Incluso para los que no nos gusta el póker es una película muy recomendable.… Expand
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8
oliver1hMar 18, 2013
I am not a big fan of 007, but this "new" Bond, with it rather realistic portrayal was a nice addition to the series in my opinion. Casino Royale is a well made action movie, an though I do not like the genre, this movie was made has quality.I am not a big fan of 007, but this "new" Bond, with it rather realistic portrayal was a nice addition to the series in my opinion. Casino Royale is a well made action movie, an though I do not like the genre, this movie was made has quality. Overall an enjoyable action movie.… Expand
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8
WalkingDead5640Jul 10, 2013
An outstanding piece of cinema and probably the best Bond movie. Daniel Craig gives us a more realistic, darker edge, vulnerable Bond and proves himself worthy of the role and will obviously be considered one of the best along with SeanAn outstanding piece of cinema and probably the best Bond movie. Daniel Craig gives us a more realistic, darker edge, vulnerable Bond and proves himself worthy of the role and will obviously be considered one of the best along with Sean Connery. The film delivers everything you want in a movie, a true spy story with twists and suspense, great action in between and plenty of character development including a group of sinister villains. It delivers what we want in a Bond film as well. It does just about everything right. I have no complaints.… Expand
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8
FranzHcriticNov 12, 2013
Not entirely faithful to the amazing, classic novel of Ian Fleming, 007 is saved by the blunt Daniel Craig, who adds an even tougher image to Bond then Connery had made. Gritty action while maintaining sophisticated dialogue and beautifulNot entirely faithful to the amazing, classic novel of Ian Fleming, 007 is saved by the blunt Daniel Craig, who adds an even tougher image to Bond then Connery had made. Gritty action while maintaining sophisticated dialogue and beautiful women, that's the type of Bond movie I like.… Expand
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8
oDjentoDec 18, 2015
Gritty, realistic and a superb mixture of action and suspense, this is perhaps one of the best Bond films. True, the best parts are the start and the casino portion of the film onward, but Daniel Craig's engaging performance as the blondeGritty, realistic and a superb mixture of action and suspense, this is perhaps one of the best Bond films. True, the best parts are the start and the casino portion of the film onward, but Daniel Craig's engaging performance as the blonde Bond is truly breathtaking. Excellently cast villain as well.… Expand
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8
Deadly_TravelerNov 7, 2015
Well, in 2015 this web-site told me that this movie is 'new or notable' so I decided to write a review. It's not OK but there're so many movies about 007 (LOTS) that I'd rather call it cliche than something new. But I believe it's not thatWell, in 2015 this web-site told me that this movie is 'new or notable' so I decided to write a review. It's not OK but there're so many movies about 007 (LOTS) that I'd rather call it cliche than something new. But I believe it's not that bad, I'd say it's kinda good but only for once, watching again won't satisfy you that much.… Expand
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8
VidyaBumOct 27, 2021
Having watched 25 Bonds from Dr.No to Spectre, I place Casino Royale at 5/25.

5th best movie in the franchise is a very high score, and it is based chiefly on one thing: this movie is good. It's well-acted, well-shot, with some great scenesHaving watched 25 Bonds from Dr.No to Spectre, I place Casino Royale at 5/25.

5th best movie in the franchise is a very high score, and it is based chiefly on one thing: this movie is good. It's well-acted, well-shot, with some great scenes and moments and is an all around excellent reboot to the franchise.

I do have one problem and a few quibbles about it:

The reboot is, unlike with the half hearted attempts with the other Bonds, a proper and real reboot. The actor has changed sure, but more importantly the style has changed. The Jason Bourne/24Hrs influence is very visible, the action is far more bloody and physical, the characters act in a much more menacing way, death is always around the corner. This is a good thing in several ways, because after Connery, Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, and Brosnan, the series was pretty much extinguished stylistically.

For the record, Connery's 5th movie (You Only Live Twice) is arguably the first that just follows the Bond formula without adding anything new. Moore had the time to melt James Bond into a 90% comedy series. Dalton did good and revived it as a spy series, but Brosnan was a terrible actor that was given movies where he essentially followed the general style laid out by his predecessors. Bond, by Brosnan's time, was dead. The style was absolutely overdone, the wit gone, the charm absent.

So having a reboot where you abandon all of that extremely tired heritage and you move on to something more modern, is certainly a necessary thing.

But I still feel like the old Bond style was a properly unique thing, and that I liked it. Now by Brosnan's time it was dead and gone, don't think I'm saying they should have kept it going. But the new style is essentially "Daniel Craig is a tough guy with a tough guy face and a tough (dad) body". And he's looking for Love. Love from a girlfriend, love from his "mommy" boss M, love from friends...

This sort of tough guy hiding his need for love and stability in his life isn't terrible, but it's far from unique. Bond was always a series that pilfered away the fads of its time, Moonraker from Star Wars, Golden Gun with kung-fu movies, etc. It kept to its core style however, and only peppered in those bits. With Casino Royale, that is gone, and the new style is just nothing to write home about.

Thus, while it is a good movie, fans of Bond may find it to just be a Jason Bourne copy, as I do. It's the first actual not-Bond of the series, which makes me a bit sad, but honestly, anything to change the horrors of boredom Brosnan had given us. As for the quibbles, Casino Royale has few amazing scenes, but a lot of what is going on is extremely action-driven. Despite being a movie about playing poker in a Casino, the wit and mind games are mostly secondary, it's action, action, action.

And the action draaaaaaaags. For almost every action scene, they punch each other, chase each other, shoot at each other, for twice as long as necessary. A clean punch to the face will down most people, moviemakers, you don't need to have them wrestle down an entire staircase punching one another. For example, the first chase scene lasts 8:30 minutes! That's 8:30 minutes of continuous parkour and shooting!

As a last good point, I want to mention that Mads Mikkelsen did an excellent job as Le Chiffre. He was a really good villain, although underused since a little too "intelligent" and mind-games man for such an action-oriented flick.

Overall, Casino Royale is a great action movie in a typical action-oriented, very american style. Not my cup of tea, and still got 5th place, that's saying a lot.… Expand
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8
diogomendesAug 6, 2015
Pretty great restart to one of the most iconic characters, "Casino Royale" ranks among one of the strongest James Bond's outings, mostly because of entertaining action and talented performances.
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8
horcrux2007Apr 16, 2016
I'm not a huge James Bond fan, but I like a good spy thriller, and Daniel Craig's Bond movies have been some of the best in the past few years. I went back to his first Bond outing, Casino Royale, which is arguably Craig's best. In CasinoI'm not a huge James Bond fan, but I like a good spy thriller, and Daniel Craig's Bond movies have been some of the best in the past few years. I went back to his first Bond outing, Casino Royale, which is arguably Craig's best. In Casino Royale, James Bond has been armed with a license to kill and goes out on his first mission as 007 where he must defeat a weapons dealer in a high stakes game of poker. This movie serves as a reboot of the Bond franchise and shows a new story arc for Craig's Bond, so we see a more vulnerable and less experienced James Bond. There are still some ridiculously fantastic action sequences to behold, but it's obvious that he's not nearly as sharp as he will come to be. The action scenes aren't even the best part of the movie though. The second act takes place almost entirely around a poker table, changing from a spy movie to a more contained thriller. It's suspenseful and incredibly well acted. Casino Royale gives one of the more memorable Bond movies that I've ever seen and set up Craig for a great run in the role.… Expand
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8
CineAutoctonoJan 14, 2016
Once I could dare to see the first James Bond film with Daniel Craig, and at first he did very well in terms of heroic and romantic tone player . Daniel Craig all the chips and juice make it, now I can only wait and Spectre Quantum of SolaceOnce I could dare to see the first James Bond film with Daniel Craig, and at first he did very well in terms of heroic and romantic tone player . Daniel Craig all the chips and juice make it, now I can only wait and Spectre Quantum of Solace , the first James Bond was excellent, the action, and thriling scenes and especially opening credits you are incredible.… Expand
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8
EpicLadySpongeMay 7, 2016
Isn't it sad that I never reviewed all of the James Bond films? I did review some of it, but that's just plain it. Casino Royale just proves that the modern James Bond films can be as excellent as the classic James Bond films.
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8
MovieGeeksApr 1, 2016
Renewing a License to Kill and a Huge Movie Franchise

The latest James Bond vehicle — call him Bond, Bond 6.0 — finds the British spy leaner, meaner and a whole lot darker. Now played by an attractive bit of blond rough named Daniel Craig,Renewing a License to Kill and a Huge Movie Franchise

The latest James Bond vehicle — call him Bond, Bond 6.0 — finds the British spy leaner, meaner and a whole lot darker. Now played by an attractive bit of blond rough named Daniel Craig, Pierce Brosnan having been permanently kicked to the kerb, Her Majesty’s favorite bad boy arrives on screens with the usual complement of cool toys, smooth rides, bosomy women and high expectations. He shoots, he scores, in bed and out, taking down the bad and the beautiful as he strides purposefully into the 21st century.

It’s about time. The likable Mr. Brosnan was always more persuasive playing Bond as a metaphoric rather than an actual lady-killer, with the sort of polished affect and blow-dried good looks that these days tend to work better either on television or against the grain. Two of his best performances have been almost aggressively anti-Bond turns, first in John Boorman’s adaptation of the John le Carré novel “The Tailor of Panama,” in which he played a dissolute spy, and, more recently, in “The Matador,” a comedy in which he played a hit man with a sizable gut and alarmingly tight bikini underwear. Mr. Brosnan did not demolish the memory of his Bond years with that pot, but he came admirably close.

very generation gets the Bond it deserves if not necessarily desires, and with his creased face and uneasy smile, Mr. Craig fits these grim times well. As if to underscore the idea that this new Bond marks a decisive break with the contemporary iterations, “Casino Royale” opens with a black-and-white sequence that finds the spy making his first government-sanctioned kills. The inky blood soon gives way to full-blown color, but not until Bond has killed one man with his hands after a violent struggle and fatally shot a second. “Made you feel it, did he?” someone asks Bond of his first victim. Bond doesn’t answer. From the way the director, Martin Campbell, stages the action though, it’s clear that he wants to make sure we do feel it.

“Casino Royale” introduced Bond to the world in 1953. A year later it was made into a television drama with the American actor Barry Nelson as Jimmy Bond; the following decade, it was a ham-fisted spoof with David Niven as the spy and a very funny Peter Sellers as a card shark. For reasons that are too boring to repeat, when Ian Fleming sold the film rights to Bond, “Casino Royale” was not part of the deal. As a consequence the producers who held most of the rights decided to take their cue from news reports about misfired missiles, placing their bets on “Dr. No” and its missile-mad villain. The first big-screen Bond, it hit in October 1962, the same month that Fleming’s fan John F. Kennedy took the Cuban missile crisis public.

The Vatican later condemned “Dr. No” as a dangerous mixture of violence, vulgarity, sadism and sex.

Ka-ching! The film was a success, as was its relatively unknown star, Sean Connery, who balanced those descriptive notes beautifully, particularly in the first film and its even better follow-up, “From Russia With Love.”

In time Mr. Connery’s conception of the character softened, as did the series itself, and both Roger Moore and Mr. Brosnan portrayed the spy as something of a gentleman playboy. That probably helps explain why some Bond fanatics have objected so violently to Mr. Craig, who fits Fleming’s description of the character as appearing “ironical, brutal and cold” better than any actor since Mr. Connery. Mr. Craig’s Bond looks as if he has renewed his license to kill.

Like a lot of action films, the Bond franchise has always used comedy to blunt the violence and bring in big audiences. And, much like the franchise’s increasingly bloated action sequences, which always seem to involve thousands of uniformed extras scurrying around sets the size of Rhode Island, the humor eventually leached the series of its excitement, its sense of risk. Mr. Brosnan certainly looked the part when he suited up for “GoldenEye” in 1995, but by then John Woo and Quentin Tarantino had so thoroughly rearranged the DNA of the modern action film as to knock 007 back to zero. By the time the last Bond landed in 2002, Matt Damon was rearranging the genre’s elementary particles anew in “The Bourne Identity.”

“Casino Royale” doesn’t play as dirty as the Bourne films, but the whole thing moves far lower to the ground than any of the newer Bond flicks. If Mr. Campbell and his team haven’t reinvented the Bond film with this 21st edition, they have shaken (and stirred) it a little, chipping away some of the ritualized gentility that turned it into a waxworks.

Mr. Mikkelsen, who makes weeping blood into a fine spectator sport, Ms. Green brings conviction to the film, as do Jeffrey Wright and Isaach de Bankolé. Judi Dench is back as M, of course, with her stiff lip and cunning. But even she can’t steal the show from Mr. Craig.… Expand
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TheFilmBuffApr 2, 2016
By all rights, 2002's Die Another Day should have and could have been the final James Bond film. It was packaged like a cynical, weary best-of concert coughed up by an aging dinosaur, offering copious nods to the franchise's past withoutBy all rights, 2002's Die Another Day should have and could have been the final James Bond film. It was packaged like a cynical, weary best-of concert coughed up by an aging dinosaur, offering copious nods to the franchise's past without bothering to offer any new material of consequence. Yet here we are, not only prolonging the franchise but at its very beginning: the third attempt to perfect Casino Royale, the very first book in Ian Fleming's series, which began in 1953.

Set in the present day, this kinetic, character-driven take is nonetheless intended to serve as the origin story of 007—an introduction to the "mal-adjusted young man," as one love interest refers to him, who grows up to inherit a license to kill from Her Royal Highness.

And of course, Royale is intended to kick-start a moribund big-screen series that's had more low points than high. Yet to say Casino Royale ranks among the best Bond offerings is not intended as backhanded praise.

Absolutely it goes on too long, clocking in at 144 minutes, and absolutely half of the damned thing makes no sense at all, but beneath all the gimmicks and gadgets—chief among them a collection of cell phones capable of doing things of which Catherine Zeta-Jones never dreamed—is an actor who brings to Bond all the things he's lacked since Sean Connery fought the Cold War in a toupee.

Those who sweated and fretted Daniel Craig's casting in the role clearly never saw Layer Cake, a sort of gangster-fried warm-up to Bond. Craig, excellent in both art house endeavors (The Mother, Enduring Love) and blockbuster think pieces (Munich), has both a nasty streak and a soft side never before seen in the series; Fleming would recognize him as most like his literary creation: damaged goods in a tailored tux.

This Bond, unlike his smug, self-conscious predecessors, is a deadpan executioner with a penchant for letting his guard down too quickly. "I have no armor left," he tells this installment's love interest, British-treasury purse keeper Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), with whom Bond actually falls in love rather than merely into bed. This Bond's a rookie who makes mistakes that nearly lead to his death on several occasions—and to a torture sequence so simple yet so devious (and deviant) it makes Goldfinger's crotch laser seem tame. And this Bond has little interest in living up to the legend: When a bartender asks him if he'd like his martini shaken or stirred, Bond shoots back, "Do I look like I care?" In that instant, it's as if the part had never been anyone else's.

Adhering faithfully to the novel, writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade (now on their third Bond movie) and Crash's Paul Haggis offer the quintessential Bond plot. There's the oily Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) with the slight disfigurement, in this case a scarred left eye that weeps blood. There's the story line, involving the funding of baddies trying to take over the world (terrorists, in this case, as opposed to yesteryear's Russians). And there's M (Judi Dench), the scolding boss always one moment away from revoking Bond's license.

There's also the bullet-gray Aston Martin, the high-stakes card game (Texas hold-'em, to appeal to the dorm room audience), the champagne-and-caviar romp with a villain's wife, the travel mag settings (the Bahamas, Miami, Prague), and all the other accoutrements that decorate the doings. We are starting over, but not from scratch. Bond fans don't want reinvention; they'll settle for rejuvenation.

Director Martin Campbell, who resurrected the franchise with GoldenEye upon the hiring of Pierce Brosnan 11 years ago, accomplishes the same thing again— tenfold. No Bond film has ever offered a chase sequence on par with the opening one here, during which Bond and a bomb maker scurry on foot all over Madagascar. It blends the raw materials of such free-running films as Ong-bak and District B13, in which characters gallop and soar through cityscapes like everyday supermen, with the archaic conventions of the franchise and refines the whole lot into something crisp, thrilling, and brand-new. And that is great praise to heap upon a 53-year-old character who you were just sure should have retired a long, long time ago.… Expand
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MovieMasterEddyApr 7, 2016
Daniel Craig as "Ian Fleming's James Bond 007," and Craig comes closer to the author's original conception of this exceptionally long-lived male fantasy figure than anyone since early Sean Connery. "Casino Royale" sees Bond recharged withDaniel Craig as "Ian Fleming's James Bond 007," and Craig comes closer to the author's original conception of this exceptionally long-lived male fantasy figure than anyone since early Sean Connery. "Casino Royale" sees Bond recharged with fresh toughness and arrogance, along with balancing hints of sadism and humanity, just as the fabled series is reinvigorated by going back to basics.

Bond made his debut in “Casino Royale” when it was published in 1953, and while the novel was adapted the following year for American television (Barry Nelson played Bond) and in 1967 became a lame all-star spy send-up featuring Peter Sellers, David Niven and Woody Allen, it remained unavailable to the Eon producers until now.

As refashioned for this 21st series installment, the novel’s focus on a high-stakes cards showdown doesn’t kick in for an hour. But Craig’s taking over as the sixth actor to officially portray the secret agent on the bigscreen (not including that first “Casino”) provides a plausible opportunity to examine the character’s promotion to double-0 status, which is neatly done in a brutal black-and-white prologue in which he notches his first two kills.

After the pic bleeds into color, Bond pursues a would-be suicide bomber in a madly acrobatic chase through an African construction site, at the end of which he happens to be filmed killing an apparently, if not in fact, unarmed man in images instantly disseminated on the Internet, to the enormous embarrassment of MI6. Welcome to the 21st century, Mr. Bond.

Doubling the displeasure of his boss M (Judi Dench happily back for her fifth turn) by surreptitiously entering her flat, Bond ignores her reprimand by high-tailing it to the Bahamas, itself a nice throwback to the film series’ origins in “Dr. No.” Following a cell phone trail of potential terrorist bombers, Bond tracks one, then another in Miami, where an evening that begins at a “Bodyworks” exhibition ends with a high-speed tarmac battle in which the fate of the world’s biggest new jetliner hangs in the balance.

Even by this early juncture, the pic has emphatically announced its own personality. It’s comparatively low-tech, with the intense fights mostly conducted up close and personally, the killings accomplished by hand or gun, and without an invisible car in evidence; Bond is more of a lone wolf, Craig’s upper-body hunkiness and mildly squashed facial features giving him the air of a boxer; 007’s got a frequently remarked upon ego, which can cause him to recklessly overreach and botch things, and the limited witticisms function naturally within the characters’ interchanges.

As matters advance to the Continent, elements even more unusual in the Bond world of late, comprehensible plotting and palpable male-female frissons, move to the fore. Bond’s enemy is not a Mr. Evil type plotting world domination, but a financier of international terrorism, Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), who needs to make financial amends by winning a big-pot poker game at the casino in fictional Montenegro. Bond plans to break Le Chiffre for good at the gambling table, and to this end he is fronted $10 million delivered by a most alluring messenger, Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), assigned to keep tabs on the coin.

Their initial meeting on board a Euro fast train fairly crackles with a sexual undercurrent as they perceptively size one another up. But Vesper intends to maintain a professional distance from her temporary colleague, whose contest of wills and luck with Le Chiffre in the hushed confines of a private gaming room is repeatedly interrupted during breaks by spasms of violence and attempts on Bond’s life.

Yarn does tend to go on a bit once it sails past the two-hour mark, but final stretch contains two indelible interludes crucial to defining this new incarnation of Bond. Constrained nude to a bottomed-out chair, Bond is tortured by Le Chiffre who repeatedly launches a hard-tipped rope upon his nemesis’ most sensitive area, and Craig once and for all claims the character as his own by virtue of the supreme defiance with which he taunts Le Chiffre even in vulnerable extremis. Later, the startling, tragic turn in Bond’s relationship with Vesper provides a measure of understanding for his rake-like tendencies down the line.

Script by series vets Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, along with Paul Haggis, hangs together reasonably well and is rewarded for its unaccustomed preoccupation with character by the attentiveness to same by director Martin Campbell, back after having helmed the first Brosnan entry, “GoldenEye,” 11 years ago.

“Casino Royale” is the first Bond in a while that’s not over-produced, and while the score by David Arnold, in his fourth Bond outing, is very good, the title song, “You Know My Name,” sung by Chris Cornell over disappointingly designed opening credits, is a dud.… Expand
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8
AlanoSilvaPBFeb 24, 2023
Reabilitou o prestígio da franquia e deu vida a um novo James Bond, menos elegante, é verdade, mais complexo e mais durão. Filmaço!
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8
ErikTheCriticSep 26, 2018
A great Bond movie. "Casino Royale" is well-acted, suspenseful and gripping. Daniel Craig was perfect as James Bond, Eva Green did great; Bond fans will have much to talk about.
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8
YesterFeb 1, 2020
A breath of fresh air for the James Bond franchise, something that was sorely needed.
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SoapNuggetMay 14, 2021
Exciting, tense, edge of your seat spy film. Overall Casino Royale is a great film, I only had one complaint and that was the final 30 minutes but other than that a very good film
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8
MrPajamasFeb 21, 2021
Casino Royale is a reboot of the Bond series, so it's a damn good reboot. Daniel Craig comes on the scene, who is perfect as Bond, and although I tend to lean towards Brosnan, Craig is just great. The story is great, mainly because of theCasino Royale is a reboot of the Bond series, so it's a damn good reboot. Daniel Craig comes on the scene, who is perfect as Bond, and although I tend to lean towards Brosnan, Craig is just great. The story is great, mainly because of the name itself, which can come from a casino, which is really great here. The scenes in it are among the best in the whole film. Of course, there will also be other crack scenes. Overall, this is one of the best Bonds ever and a great film that I can recommend.… Expand
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8
AJ_13Oct 5, 2021
This really was a great way to introduce Daniel Craig. Action scenes and performances are remarkable. Nice script.
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liamexeDec 15, 2022
After Pierce Brosnan's largely unimpressive stint, Casino Royale preserved the franchise's history. It was a necessary relaunch that allowed the writers and directors to create a new narrative arc with a younger, less jovial bond and moveAfter Pierce Brosnan's largely unimpressive stint, Casino Royale preserved the franchise's history. It was a necessary relaunch that allowed the writers and directors to create a new narrative arc with a younger, less jovial bond and move away from the ludicrous gadgetry of the previous movies.… Expand
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DawidJohnsonFeb 6, 2023
I think my friend Joseph Sawyer (zip code 20105) should watch this movie so he can learn from James Bond and get some play.
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7
NancyH.Nov 20, 2006
A different kind of Bond...more real. Great action sequences but I think the Eva Green lacks the umph to catch Bond. They should have used the married woman in the movie as the lead female. Movie moves along nicely until 2/3 of the way in A different kind of Bond...more real. Great action sequences but I think the Eva Green lacks the umph to catch Bond. They should have used the married woman in the movie as the lead female. Movie moves along nicely until 2/3 of the way in when we take a pause to watch Bond fall in love...not so believable especially knowing what he was recovering from. Good vein on the re-styling of Bond movies.… Expand
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DanB.Nov 19, 2006
It's pretty good, and I enjoyed it, but, all the emotions--I think it's very hard to get emotions to work, in a Bond movie, and they didn't really succeed, here. Not for lack of acting--Craig is just dandy fine--but, something It's pretty good, and I enjoyed it, but, all the emotions--I think it's very hard to get emotions to work, in a Bond movie, and they didn't really succeed, here. Not for lack of acting--Craig is just dandy fine--but, something was missing. Also. Could've used a few more snappy lines--not necessarily on Bond's part but, in general, a bit sharper dialogue. But overall it was pretty good (not that you could get much worse than the last one with the diamond-faced dude)… Expand
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MarloweDec 8, 2006
It was good, full of action. But I'm still not sure where it ended. Was it the torture scene, or final scene in the movie? Maybe I just need to see it again to understand it, but it just seemed like they ended it, because they were It was good, full of action. But I'm still not sure where it ended. Was it the torture scene, or final scene in the movie? Maybe I just need to see it again to understand it, but it just seemed like they ended it, because they were running out of time. When M, mentions about the girl; it reminded me of the Austin Powers 2 line, "we knew all along sadly (about Ms. Kensington)." And there were a lot of long, quiet moments, I found myself wondering into my A.D.D. world during them. But it was good, worth a matinee.… Expand
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