Casino Royale

I haven't been a huge Bond fan since Moore left the role. I love Pierce Brosnan, and thought he'd be a perfect fit. But it just never worked for me. I didn't know if it was the scripts or his take, but I didn't even see the last two films. When they retired him and started the search for the next actor, I was rooting for Clive Owens to get the role. I thought that his brooding, almost thuggish aspects might really darken Bond up from the almost urbane Moore and Brosnan versions. I had a lot of misgivings when they chose Daniel Craig. I liked the actor in the few movies I'd seen, but he just didn't seem like James Bond. I wasn't really hung up on the blond thing as much as Craig just didn't seem to have the gravitas that Bond requires.

We saw Casino Royale this afternoon, and I gotta say that Craig makes a fantastic Bond. Going back to the beginning and showing Bond just as he gets double O status allowed Craig to start the role as just a guy. Then through the journey we take with him, we see him grow into Bond.

It helps that the adaptation of the story is great, and that everyone associated seems to have brought their A game. Hubby wasn't thrilled with the Bond girls this time around, and I have to say that none of the women really stood out as anything special. All three are beautiful (to varying degrees), but most were pretty forgettable. The chemistry between Craig and Eva Green was there, so it's not really a ding on the movie. And Judi Dench is phenomenal (as I expected) - I love her as M. I might need to check out the past movies just to see her segments.

So all considered, I'd rate the movie very highly (I don't really have a rating system) and definitely recommend seeing it in the theater. I spent the entire 144 minutes (it's a long one) pretty much mesmerized and enchanted by Craig, the gorgeous scenery, and the story in general.

Oh, but I hate what they do to the Aston Martin Vanquish. That is just a crying shame.