Casino Royale is awesome - and Daniel Craig will be the best Bond ever

Just got back from seeing Casino Royale a second time, and it’s by far the best Bond movie in recent memory (currently at 95% on RottenTomatoes), much better than all of Brosnan’s movies (and I like Brosnan’s portrayal of Bond). The story isn’t outlandish like the lasers-from-space-apocalypse in Die Another Day. The writing is excellent, developing the Bond character from an ordinary Mi6 agent to the Bond we all know and love. He transitions from blunt instrument to “half monk, half hitman”. Throughout the course of the movie, Bond discovers his favorite car (Aston Martin), favorite drink (”Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon-peel.”), and we are shown exactly why he will never trust anyone again. Bond bleeds in this movie - a lot. It gives him a deeper, more human feel, he’s not simply a tuxedo.

Which leads to the statement that will probably raise the hackles of Bond fans everywhere: Daniel Craig will be the best Bond ever. Better than Brosnan. Yes, even better than Connery. Craig portrays Bond with grittiness and authenticity that is lacking in previous portrayals. Craig’s Bond succeeds because of his rough edges, not his skill in delivering a sexual double entendre. I believe that over the next few films, Craig’s Bond will become more polished and suave, as the character develops further. Which is why I qualified my statement with “will be”. One film does not a legend make. However, if Daniel Craig turns in two or three more performances of this caliber, he will go down in history as the definitive James Bond, 007.

PS - I really enjoy the Chris Cornell song played during the intro, “You Know My Name”. You can hear it online at his MySpace page (I can’t believe I just linked to MySpace).

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