Casino Royale shows James Bond (Daniel Craig) in his first assignment as a 00-agent.  James Bond is assigned to Madagascar to spy on members of a terrorist ring.  After these members are killed, he decides to go against MI:6's orders and investigates in the Bahamas.  It is here that he discovers that they work for a banker named Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), who supplies money to the terrorist organization.  After the secret service discovers his plans of hosting a high-stakes poker tournament in Montenegro to raise money for his actions, MI:6 leader 'M' (Judi Dench) assigns Bond to play in the tournament knowing that if Le Chiffre loses, his organization is finished.  'M' also assigns an HM Treasury agent named Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) to watch over 007.  The two initially don't trust each other, but eventually warm up to each other.  As the tournament commences, Bond allies himself with another MI:6 agent named Matthis (Giancarlo Giannini), and a CIA agent named Felix Leiter (Jefferey Wright) while he tries to keep himself and Vesper out of danger in this reboot of the James Bond franchise.

                       
                                                     The Names Bond, James Bond.

             I was always skeptical about this new Bond movie seeing as some of the more recent ones (save Goldeneye) haven't been as good as the older ones.  And of course, I was nervous about Daniel Craig playing James Bond.  In the end however, I had nothing to be afraid of, because Casino Royale was awesome!

            As its been stated in the review, Casino Royale is a rebirth of the franchise, starting off where James Bond first received his "License to Kill".  It establishes where he got his obsession with Aston Martins, women, and martinis.  The story itself is very simple, but it works well in showing how James Bond becomes the cold, merciless man that we all love. 

             In my opinion, Sean Connery will always be the best James Bond ever.  That being said, Daniel Craig did a fantastic job portraying James Bond.  There were many times that he reminded me of a younger Sean Connery that I had to look twice and remind myself that he was someone new.  Craig had the perfect attitude and presence that James Bond has always needed.  I can't wait to see his next outing as Bond.  I've never heard of Eva Green until I saw this movie, but I loved her as this movies Bond girl.  She was very unique from the other Bond girls that I've seen, being a bit more mature, but also having a very sensitive side.  I guess it also helps that she's very attractive too.  The rest of the cast also does a very admirable job as well.  Mads Mikkelsen plays the villain quite well with the cold and cunning attitude.   And I think you'll like Jefferey Wright as Felix Leiter.  He isn't in the movie that much, but what you see of him, you'll like.  Lets just hope he returns in the next Bond adventure.

                    
                                Bond shares a moment with Vesper Lynd

           One of the complaints about the more recent Bond movies is that they've been too 'Cartoony' with emphasis on gadgetry and eye candy.  Well, Casino Royale brings Bond back to its gritty roots.  That doesn't mean that its not as exciting action wise.  Once you see the first two action scenes you'll be glad that they made the action more realistic.  Some of the fight scenes are very brutal, and there's even a torture scene that might leave you a bit uneasy.  This is truly the James Bond we've all been dying to see come back.  One of the moments I loved in the film was the Poker Scene.  It was a very pivotal scene for the movie and they really brought it out, yet it wasn't so overdone that it dragged the movie.  Another major part of the movie is the relationship between Bond and Vesper.  Without spoiling anything, the relationship between these two does turn Bond into the womanizing cold-killer that we all know. 

           Oh yeah, and I shouldn't forget to mention the opening sequence.  Like most of the James Bond movies, it starts with the "Gun Barrel" shooting, and then shows a little teaser followed by the credit sequence complete with a vocal song.  It's a tad bit different for this movie, seeing as how the teaser is before the Gun barrel scene, but it all flows very well. 

               
                                                     The Villainous Le Chiffre

           I don't know what else I could say about Casino Royale.  It's a great movie, and it's one that you should check out if you're the fan of James Bond...or other action movies.  Welcome Back James Bond.

9/10

Random Note:
           The theme song to Casino Royale is called "You Know My Name" by Chris Cornell.  It can be found on iTunes for purchase.  Oh and don't worry about not hearing the famous James Bond Theme, its in the movie.  Trust me.

Content Rating:
            Casino Royale is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violent action, a scene of torture, sexual content and nudity.  Being a James Bond movie, there is a lot of violence in the movie, and sex.  I didn't think the sex scenes were as bad as the last few James Bond movies, but they're still not for kids.  There is some nudity, but its not from the sex scene.  I'd recommend this movie for older teens due to some of the more adult content.  You have been cautioned.