Casino Royale (2006)

Casino Royale is more than a serious reboot of the James Bond franchise, it's a barnstormer of an action movie in its own right. Daniel Craig as an explosively physical younger Bond resembles Matt Damon's wolloping whoop@ss in The Bourne Ultimatum more than Pierce Brosnan's tank driving in Goldeneye. (Let's face it, Bond movies are more about physicality, women, and wit than spy tricks and gadgets.) Craig is also witty, urbane, and drives like a banshee out of Bexley. I esp. enjoyed the parkour-style "free running" chase and seeing the one time in Bond's back story when he lets down his guard and truly falls for a woman who is worthy as his match. I like Eva Green a lot in her role as Vesper Lynd, even if her dreamy doe eyes revert to beady ferret eyes when left to her own cosmetic devices on the red carpet. Enjoy this welcome addition to the Bond canon! 5 stars.