James Bond seemed dead, but along came Daniel Craig who brought the best in the business back, but giving us a lean, mean 007 that blows previous Bonds away. As well as giving the performance of his career in the process. Daniel Craig gives a galvanizing performance as the freshly minted double-0 agent. Suave, reckless, and possessed with an ego that compromises his judgment during his first mission to root out the mastermind behind an operation that funds international terrorists. There is also one of the best villains in recent years with Mads Mikkelsen as the cold blooded Le Chiffre. He heads an international cartel not so much bent on world destruction as on taking advantage of the chaos in which we live.

For longtime fans of the franchise, Casino Royale offers some retro kicks. Bond wins his iconic Astin-Martin at the gaming table, and when a bartender asks if he wants his martini "shaken or stirred," he disdainfully replies, "Do I look like I give a damn?" There's no Moneypenny or "Q," but Dame Judi Dench is back as the exasperated M, who one senses, admires Bond's "bloody cheek." It is also refreshing to see Bond have a real love interest in Eva Green, not the usual banter that rings hollow. Bond is not afraid to expose himself in this movie, revealing a much more vulnerable figure than we have seen before.

From its punishing violence and virtuoso action sequences to its romance, Casino Royale is a Bond film that, in the words of one character, makes you feel it, particularly during an excruciating torture sequence. Double-0s, Bond observes early on, "have a short life expectancy." But with Craig, there is new life in the old franchise yet, as well as genuine anticipation for the next one when, at last, the signature James Bond theme kicks in following the best last line ever in any Bond film.

Anyone who has followed the James Bond series over the last four decades knows that the new Bond has changed... In "Casino Royale," 007 do not identify himself with the classic words, "Bond. James Bond," and instead of playing Chemin-de-Fer or Craps, he plays Poker and he doesn't care whether his vodka martinis are shaken or stirred nor he drinks a Smirnoff vodka, or a five-star Hennessey, or a Dom Perignon'52... He never pauses to take a finger of Caviar... He never enjoys a good cigar and is less preoccupied with matters of sex...

But he is a more trained Bond, a cold-hearted killer improvising, modifying, and overcoming, uttering to M in one decisive moment his most significant line, "So you want me to be half monk, half hit-man!"

In taking the part, Daniel Craig completely inhabited the character of the super agent 007... There is something empathetic about him and something human...He so lets you in behind his blue eyes and into his emotional life...

His opponent is the villain banker Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) who tries to get rich in supplying funds for terrorists... To continue doing so, Le Chiffre wants to win back his losses in a no-limit showdown Poker game with $115,000,000 in chips at Casino Royale in Montenegro...

Ivana Milicevic plays Le Chiffre's Bosnian bodyguard who nearly eliminates our hero... Valenka is harmful but not pure evil as her boss...

Simon Abkarian is the middleman Alex Dimitrios involved with Le Chiffre, who knew where to put his hands on weapons and people who could use them... He works with anyone who has money...

The Italian actress Caterina Murino (Solange) reveals her sexy side as the frustrated woman so upset in her marriage...

Jeffrey Wright plays the undercover CIA agent Felix Leiter 'bleeding chips at the poker tournament;' and Giancarlo Giannini plays the 'contact' Mathis...

Eva Green is Bond's love interest Vesper Lynd... Green and Craig have electric chemistry on screen together... Vesper's character seems ambiguous, impudent and complicated... One night--slumped in the shower fully clothed, radiating inner beauty--her quiet look is capable to melt Bond's cold heart and free his doubtful mind... In another, she disconcerts him with her pretty 'Algerian love knot.'

"Casino Royale" lacks the fundamental technology exhibition which plays an important part in any Bond films... The traditional "James Bond Gun Barrel Sequence" and the "James Bond Theme" disappeared... The only thin bit of continuity is Judi Dench's fifth return as the cool, scheming chief Lady M...

Directed by Martin Campbell, the movie has it all: spectacular locations from Prague, London, Miami and Nassau-- and amazing actions involving the superb Aston Martin DB5 coupe in a high-speed mountain chase; a rush to stop a fuel tanker at Miami Airport; a combat with an Ugandan terrorist; a pursue in a four-wheel bulldozer; a breathless foot chase across highest cranes; and an unexpected climax in one of the buildings on the canals of Venice...

This 007 movie is a winner. The new James Bond (Daniel Craig) is spectacular and compliments the prior 007 movies. A must see and must have movie

Although I used to be a big fan of the James Bond franchise, I had not watched any in several years prior to this one. They had just seemed to have lost some of the pizzaz for me.

This one features a new Bond (Daniel Craig) who does quite well. He is a bit more physical than we have seen previously. That is not necessarily a bad thing. This is actually a film version of the first Ian Fleming novel. Bond is not as sophisticated or seasoned as in others in this series as he is supposed to be newly promoted to 00 status.

It has many features that are common to the Bond flicks - action, suspense, and interesting technology.

This is a fun show and worth watching.

Casino Royale is an excellent movie, especially on Blu-ray, and Sony has done an amazing job at making a near perfect disc. In my personal opinion the movie plays a little long towards the end, so that's what I gave it a 4 out of 5, and not a perfect score.

Danial Craig is amazing as a younger Bond who is just starting off his career and hasn't had the time or experience to mold him into the suave/sophisticated James Bond as of yet. This lends to much more action in the new movies, with far less gadgets and Judo chops :)