Casino Royale

A whole new era for the Bond franchise? There can be little doubt that Daniel Craig’s Bond comes closest to fulfilling the wishes of those who have always clamoured for a Bond more true to Fleming’s literary character. Craig is entirely convincing as a hard-as-nails operator, quite capable, willing and apparently licensed, to kill at a moment’s notice. The movie is stripped down – gone are most of the gadgets and catchphrases, except for one which is very amusingly parodied. The fast cars and the gorgeous girls are thankfully still there. Although at one point Bond does drive a Ford, which must surely be a first and may be taking realism a bit too far.

I enjoyed the movie and I think this is a necessary and exciting new direction for Bond. Necessary because the last Brosnan instalments had taken the gadgetry and stunts too far into the realm of fantasy. The invisible car and those ludicrous scenes where he “surfs” on a chip of an ice-berg spring to mind. Mind you, I can’t help wondering whether I might miss some of the polish and style of the old Bond.