Casino Royale is a 2006 spy action thriller film, the twenty-first in the Eon Productions James Bond series, and the third screen adaptation of Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel of the same name. Directed by Martin Campbell from a screenplay by Neil Purvis, Robert Wade, and Paul Haggis. In the film, Bond has just been given 00 status and is on a mission to bankrupt terrorism financier Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) in a high-stakes poker game at the Casino Royale in Montenegro. He works with Government Treasury agent Vesper Lynd:( Eva Green) and local contact Rene Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini). We are also introduced to Mr. White (Jesper Christensen), an agent for what is eventually revealed as a criminal organization known as Spectre, though that reveal does not happen in this film.
OK, to the ratings;
Bond; 95 out of 100. This is very subjective, but to me, Craig’s Bond is physical, cocky, sort of ugly/handsome and has an immediate presence. Part of that is the script, which gives him more to work with, but he delivers on it.
Villain; 95 out of 100. Mads Mikkelsen is a perfect foil for Craig. He has his own presence, physicality and creates a character that you love to hate. Their scenes together have a great spark.
Bond Girl; 92 out of 100 Eva Green creates a fully realizes character who does not immediately succumb to Bond, which creates an interesting relationship arc, if you will. She is a strong, sexy presence. Caterina Murino as Solange, the wife of gangster Alex Dimitrios, has an excellent turn in a cameo sized role, and Ivana Miličević as Valenka: Le Chiffre’s girlfriend is a definite plus, from a Bond girl perspective.
Theme Song 70 out of 75 Chris Cornell wrote and performed “You Know My Name”. The song sets the perfect mood for the opening of a Bond film, and Cornell wails as only he could (RIP).
Henchmen; 5 out of 50. The problem is that there really isn’t a henchman in this film. Isaach de Bankolé as Steven Obanno: A leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, banks his money with Le Chiffre, and attacks him when he thinks he’s been cheated, and tries to kill Bond and Vesper when they witness his attack. He’s really good, and really scary, but he’s not a henchman. Nor is Mr. White, or Mathis, though Bond thinks he betrayed him. But I’ll just give 5 for those characters.
M, Q, Moneypenny & misc; 25 out of 25. Judy Dench as M is wonderful, Giannini is as well, and Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter brings life to an often used, but underused stock Bond character.
Total; 382
Scoreboard;
- Spectre-397
- Casino Royale- 382
- The World is not Enough- 367
- Octopussy- 255
- The Living Daylights- 228
Next- License to Kill
practicallywell.net 