A smartly written, tautly acted dramatic thriller, but it's so long that it feels like we've watched an entire trilogy.
Casino Royale (2006)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:213
Fresh:201
Rotten:12
Average Rating:7.8/10
Consensus: Casino Royale disposes of the silliness and gadgetry that plagued recent James Bond outings, and Daniel Craig delivers what fans and critics have been waiting for: a caustic, haunted, intense reinvention of 007. But scribes also note "Casino" is hardly morose, with enough stunning action sequences and in-jokes to please the diehards. Some pundits even go so far as to say that Daniel Craig is the best Bond since Sean Connery.
Rated: 12A [See Full Rating] for intense sequences of violent action, a scene of torture, sexual content and nudity
Runtime: 2 hrs 24 mins
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release:16-11-2006
Synopsis: After a great deal of discussion--on the part of fans and producers alike--over Daniel Craig's (THE MOTHER, MUNICH) suitability for the role of James Bond, he more than proves himself in this... After a great deal of discussion--on the part of fans and producers alike--over Daniel Craig's (THE MOTHER, MUNICH) suitability for the role of James Bond, he more than proves himself in this explosive revamping of the franchise. Under the direction of Martin Campbell (THE MASK OF ZORRO) and with Paul Haggis (CRASH) helping with the re-writes, this addition to the Bond canon manages to hold true to the essence of the stories--the villainous villains, the fabulous sets, the beautiful women, the fast-paced action--while updating the formula with subtlety and humanity. Trading in the Cold War era for a new, post-9-11 landscape, the tale unfolds in locations that span the globe, including the Bahamas, Venice, and the Czech Republic. It opens in Madagascar, where Bond pursues a guerilla bomb-maker in one of the most breathtaking chase scenes ever--and it all takes place on foot. Botching that assignment, Bond goes to Montenegro to square off against terrorist baddie Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelson), an international loan shark who gambles with the money of his equally dangerous clients. Beautiful British Treasury representative Vesper Lynd (Eva Green, THE DREAMERS) supplies Bond's own funds, appearing on his arm in Montenegro, while M (Dame Judi Dench, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE) keeps a close watch on the action from headquarters. The extravagant poker game forms the center of the action, with Jeffrey Wright (SYRIANA, THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE) putting in an intense appearance at the table; interrupting the game are assassination attempts, poisoning, and other dramatic events that keep the adrenaline pumping. The flirtation that unfolds between Bond and Vesper Lynd is only in keeping with the spy's M.O. as a ladies' man. What differs here, however, is what sets this Bond apart from the rest: the romance is taken seriously, and it exposes a vulnerability in Bond that he's never shown before. This, however, only makes him the tougher, as Craig's Bond is darker, less campy, more brooding and mysterious, than his past incarnations ever were. [More]
Starring: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright
Starring: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright, Mads Mikkelsen, Giancarlo Giannini, Ivana Milicevic, Simon Abkarian, Isaach de Bankolé, Claudio Santamaria, Jesper Christensen
Director: Martin Campbell
Director: Martin Campbell
Producer: Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson
Composer: David Arnold
Screenwriter: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Paul Haggis
Studio: MGM/UA
Reviews for Casino Royale
[Casino Royale] not only simultaneously acknowledges and confounds audience expectations, but also neatly confirms that Daniel Craig’s intriguing and charismatic tyro agent is cut from quite different cloth to his Savile Row-tailored predecessors.
Craig acquits himself well in this thoroughly enjoyable, superbly directed Bond flick, although it drags a bit in the third act.
Contrary to pre-release nay-sayers, Daniel Craig has done more with James Bond in one film than some previous stars have in multiple reprises. This is terrific stuff, again positioning 007 as the action franchise to beat.
Casino Royale is a 1,000 watt jolt to the heart of a flagging franchise, bringing Bond kicking -- and frequently screaming -- back to life.
Daniel Craig is probably the best and most serious actor to have been cast as 007 and this film makes full use of his range.
This is a prototype Bond we have never seen before. It seems we have underestimated you, Mr Craig.
By the end of a curiously back-to-front film, when he finally gets his theme tune and introduces himself -- 'Bond. James Bond' -- he, like the creaky franchise itself, seems profoundly unsure whether he is coming or going.
A strong, well defined story, some unexpected betrayals and hidden corners, sensational locations and an absence of gadgets make Casino Royale a right royal Bond movie.
Gritty and thrilling, Casino Royale has it all - action, glamour, spectacular locations and a new Bond that is above all, vulnerable.... Whether you can follow the Texas Hold 'Em poker game, it matters not.
... a tense, gripping thriller mercifully free of the baggage of the previous Bond flicks, Casino Royale takes the essentials of Ian Fleming's novel and updates them for the 21st century, seamlessly adding the requisite big screen action ...
Craig does OK in the role; no one has ever matched Sean Connery’s steely insouciance, but he comes closer than most.
The last words onscreen read: "James Bond Will Return!" Of course he will. The difference is that for the first time in years, we actually want him back.
Gone are the clichés of recent Bond adventures - the too-clever quips, the loveless conquests, the gaudy gadgetry and the BMW-sponsored sports cars. 'Casino Royale' ambitiously explores the origins of the character's pathos, stripping him of all the
Casino Royale isn't simply the best Bond film in years. It is one of the best Bond films ever.
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