Review of Casino Royale (2006) by Brandon S — 01 Feb 2017

The high note of the Bond franchise, in my opinion. This film functions in a way that no other Bond film does; as both a strong Bond film that ticks nearly all of the proverbial boxes (while adding much needed depth to Bond as a person), and as a spectacularly effective action film.

There's something uniquely nuanced about Craig's Bond in this particular installment. He feels self-deprecating in a way that no other James Bond has. Rather than relishing in being a suave super spy, he seems to despise the job and himself for being the one who has to do it. This is a brutal and calculated Bond that also happens to be a charming detective, rather than the latter being his sole attribute.