“Casino Royale” is flush from the addition of the gritty Daniel Craig as a new blonde Bond.
Though it was also the name of that mess of a star-studded 1967 spoof with Peter Sellers and David Niven, today?s 21st entry in the 007 cinematic franchise really takes its title from 1953?s initial Ian Fleming novel. So, fittingly, “Casino Royale” is a fundamentalist Bond adventure thriller returning to the original hard-boiled spirit of the literary character and harks back to the 1960s Sean Connery film era. It has fewer wink-wink one-liners and less natty glamour ? which were features of the entertaining Pierce Brosnan cycle of recent years ? and focuses more on how the super-spy?s dark detachment was first forged. The famed Cold Warrior?s international intrigues are now set in the present day, with post-9/11 terrorism as the big bugaboo.
As directed by Martin Campbell and written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and “Crash?s” Paul Haggis, a flurry of revisions alter the familiar Bond movie template. This one doesn?t start with the usual wild, over-the-top action prologue. Instead, before the opening credits this time, we watch Bond “make his bones” in Prague to earn his license-to-kill status in Her Majesty?s secret service. The movie ends differently, too. Yes, of course, bad guys get their just desserts, but there?s no blissful final shot of our hero in a sexy clinch with a hot girl.
This installment is too brooding for that.
Other changes: There?s no Miss Moneypenny to flirt with or gadget guru Q for comic relief. This informal, sweating, almost working class-styled Bond doesn?t don his first necktie or tuxedo until halfway into the picture. The MI6 agent is first seen behind the wheel of a Ford for heaven?s sake ? though he eventually drives not only a vintage 1964 Aston Martin from the early Bond heyday but also a more state-of-the-art DB5 model. Shockingly, he swigs whiskey and red wine before he settles on his legendary shaken martini late in the proceedings. And though Bond is typically seen playing baccarat, this modern go-round shows his game of choice to be Texas Hold ?Em poker.
An exclusive multi-million-dollar poker contest is the centerpiece of this story. Bond is pitted against Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), a sort of outlaw banker who invests terrorists? money for them. And though Le Chiffre has a physical abnormality ? he weeps blood from one eye ? this garden-variety greedy bugger is not exactly your typical megalomaniac Bond villain. Neither he or the other mystery baddie, Mr. White (Jesper Christensen), are developed enough or larger-than-life enough to make the pantheon of memorable 007 foils.
That leaves the very stalwart, very able, very hunky Craig to carry the ball. He?s set off by two strong women. Judi Dench returns as his tough but fair boss M. And Eva Green (“The Dreamers,” “Kingdom of Heaven”) plays his main love interest Vesper Lynd, a sultry, smart British government treasury official sent to stake him in the poker game. Their tempestuous relationship will help shape the young James Bond.
Two things haven?t changed for this latest Bond movie: As they all seem to be, this one runs at least 20 minutes too long. And, as is also true for most of them ? even the lesser ones? the action scenes here are elaborate, fast-paced and cleverly choreographed. All in all, it?s a “Casino Royale” worth a gamble.
?Casino Royale?
Stars: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench and Eva Green
Director: Martin Campbell
Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violent action, a scene of torture, sexual content and nudity
