Mention ‘Bond’ and anywhere across the world and it’ll elicit the same set of associations —
hot women, gadgets, an arch enemy with incrediblly tough henchman, a great opening scene,
exotic locales and a thrilling climax.
The expectations from a Bond film are huge and every new Bond is inevitably compared to its
predecessors.This flick goes back to the Bond Series' roots to Casino Royale, the 1st novel where Ian Fleming introduced the British Secret Servcie agent in 1953.
Bond's first 007 mission takes him to Madagascar, where he is to spy on a terrorist Mollaka.
Not everything goes as planned and Bond decides to investigate, independently of the MI6 agency,
in order to track down the rest of the terrorist cell. Following a lead to the Bahamas, he encounters
Dimitrios and his girlfriend, Solange. He learns that Dimitrios is involved with Le Chiffre, banker to the
world's terrorist organizations who oozes blood from eyes every 15 minutes!! .Secret Service intelligence
reveals that Le Chiffre is planning to raise money in a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro at Le
Casino Royale.
MI6 assigns 007 to play against him, knowing that if Le Chiffre loses, it will demolish his organization.
'M' places Bond under the watchful eye of the beguiling Vesper Lynd(Eva Green).Bond's interest in her
deepens as they brave danger together--and even an excruciating torture at the hands of Le Chiffre.
In Montenegro, Bond allies himself with the MI6's local field agents who are pro-CIA. The marathon
game proceeds with dirty tricks and violence, raising the stakes beyond blood money and reaching
a terrifying climax.
Technically , I found Casino Royale inferior to director Campell's previous saga- Golden Eye.No doubts,
the stunts are slicker( the first 22 minute chase-action sequence at Uganda will drive you bonkers) but
the hi-tech gadgetry was missing.Locales in the 2nd half are great but thew climax doesnt impress much.
Richard Branson makes an appearance too(i couldnt notice him though)!
Daniel Craig plays Bond with much conviction but his persona is more resolute than suave.Unlike Brosnan,
he doesnt get to do much of car-racing or bedroom athletics.not too good with one-liners.
In short, its hard to identify him as the epitome of the alpha-male :-)