C a s i n o  Royale is definitely a different James Bond film for a couple of reasons. Although there are some set pieces here, the movie doesn't rely on them as much as in previous films. Also, with this basically being a reboot of the character (not the franchise), we get a darker, grittier and more dangerous 007. They are going back to basics and that means stripping away all the baggage that's come with him over the years. First and foremost, James Bond is an assassin and it was high time that his character reflect that he is a ruthless killer sent in to get the job done, no matter what the cost.

Even though I was a fan of Daniel Craig, I really didn't know what to make of him in the lead role. I was having those same thoughts I had when Timothy Dalton took over for Roger Moore. And not Craig was taking over from Pierce Brosnon. He really had a lot to prove and when I eventually saw the movie, I thought he did a fantastic job. Even though he really doesn't fit the ideal "look" of Bond, I think he succeeded where all those that came before him failed. Craig's Bond has got some serious trust issues with a dark past and we get to see him at his most vulnerable.

I really like this one a lot, but I will say that the run time could have been cut down some. I know they want to reestablished his character and cram as much info as they can. But the Card game definitely could have been trimmed down to tighten up the movie. This is just a minor quibble and not something that's gonna derail the movie. Anyway, I highly recommend this as a Buy for any fan of the genre, the series or the character. One final point....this new Bond owes a great deal of gratitude to Jason Bourne for reinvigorating the genre and making it more realistic with the action sequences, more specifically the fight choreography. It's not as good as Bourne in that department, but it;s clear where they got their inspiration from.

I worked in a movie theater in 2005, and so I saw so Layer Cake so many times, and we all tried to see the opening every time it came up, so when Craig was announced as Bond, I knew he would rock.  And he SO did.  I don't remember the last time I watched it, though a fresh Blu-Ray is on my shelf, waiting for me.

Even though I didn't really fall in love with the other Bond films, I was so psyched to see this and after that amazing black and white opening, I was on board 1000%.  And I LOVE that opening theme, the music, the animation, all of it.  Brill.  Athough outside of a few scenes, I know I'm forgetting a good slew of the flick.  And I KNOW I don't remember any of the names.

What an ending.  And that was the bit my dad kept going on after we saw the flick (last Bond flick we've seen together.  I'm gonna send him the DVD that came with my Blu-Ray since I don't use 'em, and I don't buy him DVDs anymore cause he doesn't watch 'em).