Casino Royale (2006)

Preceded by: Die Another Day (2002)
Succeeded by: Quantum of Solace (2008)

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
James Bond	Daniel Craig
Vesper Lynn	Eva Green	½
Le Chiffre	Mads Mikkelsen	½
M	Judi Dench	½
Felix Leiter	Jeffrey Wright
Mathis	Giancarlo Giannini	½
Valenka	Ivana Milecevic	½
Call Girl	Margaret Avery

Review

Say goodbye to the intellectual, suave, arch-British Bond and hello to the running, sweating and inexplicable romantic Bond with the ever-present diva-expression. It defenitely is a leap, maybe also because of the largely different subject matter the Casino Royale story touches. It should have been a good idea to bring Martin Campbell (GoldenEye) back into the director's chair, but his work here is inconsistent and weary. He makes the film come off as over-plotted and too serious. Pierce Brosnan's humour and confidence is sorely missed as Daniel Craig gives an energetic and appealing performance, but without knowing where to take his character. In the end, Casino Royale is too soft and unable to maintain the expected level of suspense.