This post is part of James Bond January.  For reviews of every single James Bond film from various movie bloggers head over to Paragraph Film Reviews.

Casino Royale

When it came time to decide which film I would be reviewing for my contribution to James Bond January, it was an easy decision. I adore Casino Royale.  It’s my favorite Bond film and I LOVE James Bond movies.

Goldeneye and the accompanying Nintendo 64 game dominated my life for years.  I thought Pierce Brosnan was an okay James Bond but by the time Die Another Day’s over the top action came along, I was over it.  I think it was the giant Ice Castle.

I think that’s why Casino Royale is my favorite Bond film. Daniel Craig’s portrayal is a lot grittier and realistic.  This is MY Bond.  I don’t want to take anything away from the 007′s of the past but I was absolutely blown away by the film.

I’ve always been fascinated when new filmmakers breath new life into established franchises.  Especially when it comes to arguably the biggest movie character of all time.  I think it was brilliant how they reintroduced us to the famous spy in their own way while still retaining all the elements we expect in a Bond film.

The Incredible Opening Scene

The first scene in this movie is beautiful. What a fantastic way to establish a new James Bond and kick start one hell of a ride.

Daniel Craig

He is James Bond now.  I wasn’t a massive fan of Quantum of Solace but his performance is outstanding in each of them.  This version of Bond is vulnerable.  He can be hurt and people get the best of him.  That’s why it’s a more accessible way to portray the spy.  You know James Bond will always come out on top but this is much more of a struggle and in my opinion, much more interesting.

The Girls

A big part of the Bond world is the women. I think this element was another stroke of genius.  Gone are the wacky (yet awesome) names for Bond’s beauties.  They are replaced by complex and emotional characters that aren’t just there to boost James’, ahem… Stats.

Eva Green’s Vesper Lind is the perfect woman to grab a hold of James Bond’s heart. It adds a level to Bond that we have never seen before.  A vulnerability that’s fascinating to witness.

The Action

What would a James Bond movie be without action? Casino Royale delivers a ton of tense moments including chases, fights, guns, explosions and more.  The highlight here is the ‘free running’ (or Parkour) chase in the first act.  It proves yet again that this is not a traditional Bond movie.  Can you picture Sean Connery pulling off those moves as Bond?

…  Actually, that would have been pretty sweet.

Regardless, Craig displays a high level of ability when it comes to stunts that rivals his considerable acting talent.

It’s Bond!  I signed up for action and got exactly what I wanted.

The Villain

I’m actually not a huge fan of Le Chiffre.  He’s a decent villain I suppose but when there is a larger force at work, the smaller pawns get lost.  I’ve always loved stories about criminal organizations.  This isn’t anything new to the series but it shows a tremendous amount of confidence that the filmmakers simply hinted at the bigger picture here.

I can’t wait to learn more about Quantum in the newly announced “Bond 23″.

The Verdict

Batman and Robin achieved the impossible and made Batman lame.  But then Christopher Nolan came along with a brand new approach that changed the way we looked at The Dark Knight forever.  The caped crusader was cool again.

I’m not saying previous Bond films are comparable to Batman and Robin but I do think Casino Royale made James Bond cool again.

Martin Campbell’s film is an extremely entertaining adventure that inspired the action fan in me.

Still, I do want to go back and watch EVERY Bond film again.  James Bond January definitely brought back fond memories of some of the best spy movies of all time.

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