Directed by: Martin Campbell
Starring: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Judi Dench, Giancarlo Giannini, Simon Abkarian, Caterina Murino and Jeffrey Wright

007 is back in Casino Royale, here seen earning his '00' status in a pseudo-prequel - I say pseudo because the Bond chronology is a complicated subject defying logic and time. For those who expressed concern over Daniel Craig's suitability for the role, (I cannot say I was one of them, as much as I liked Pierce Brosnan), fear not. He is a brilliant actor and fills his predecessor’s large shoes with ease. If you're going to worry yourself about his hair and eye colour, then I think you're being a little small-minded.


The action is excellent, notably a parkour-esque chase across a building site, a chase through an airport and the obligatory car chase. Even the lengthy poker game is enjoyable to watch, (me having no idea of the rules), as it is spiced up with a few twists and turns along the way. The script is witty and pithy and the villains, girls, guns, cars and gadgets are all worthy additions to the Bond catalogue. Surprisingly, there's a reference to 9/11 and an onscreen date locking the film to July of this year, it being unusual for a Bond film to be so explicit about the time it's set in.


Eva Green makes Vesper Lynd a memorable Bond girl, more than a match for Bond. Their relationship is believable and their banter keeps the right side of convincing. Credit must also go to Caterina Murino who injects the required pathos into the role of Solange. Mads Mikkelsen's performance as Le Chiffre, an old-school villain who weeps blood, is again commendable - thankfully going down the realistic road, as opposed to the oft-played O.T.T. maniac.


M is wonderful here, right from her delightful first scene. With Q gone, M gets more of the comic material. Compare her here to the unlikeable front we were presented with in 2002's Die Another Day, (which this film is a marked improvement on), and you'll see the transformation. I imagine Dame Judi Dench had more fun with filming this time around.


Whilst it's nice to have Felix Leiter back for the first time since Licence to Kill back in 1989, it's a shame there was no room for Q or Moneypenny. I understand their desire to move away from overkill with gadgets, especially post-Die Another Day, but they are such iconic parts of the Bond world that their absence is noticeable. That said, the film more than survives their exclusion. Here's hoping they make it into Bond 22 though, preferably still with John Cleese and Samantha Bond resuming their roles.


I'm not sure about the theme tune, You Know My Name by Chris Cornell and David Arnold, and some of the animated title sequence is silly. David Arnold provides a great score, however. And whilst the ending becomes a little muddied as to who exactly is who, Casino Royale certainly marks a return to form for the Bond franchise. Daniel Craig is set to do Bond 22 and judging by this offering, it’ll be worth waiting for.