Casino Royale (2006)
And so with Casino Royale (?) I complete my 150 Movies in 2006 Challenge :cup: I finally decided to start a new category: Talkin’ Movies 
with all my movie reviews. Please note that these reviews contain spoilers! Alright, let’s get started with the first movie ~
Even though Casino Royale is the 21st James Bond film, it’s actually an adaption of Ian Fleming’s first Bond novel! With a new actor playing James Bond it’s the perfect choice for the new James Bond film. We not only start fresh with a new actor, but the James Bond isn’t the well trained MI6 agent just yet. The story also gives us a whole other perspective on James Bond and has some interesting character building.
After a very interesting and artistic opening scene with a pretty nice opening theme “You Know My Name” performed by Chris Cornell (!), which isn’t included on the original soundtrack by the way - but will be released as stand-alone single on December 14th, the movie starts with some spectacular action 
With loads of running, building climbing, jumping and taking insane risks. This scene is definitely the strongest one during the whole movie! The way it’s choreographed and timed - simply superb :twinkle:
The badguy in Casino Royale is Le Chiffre, a banker who supports foreign terrorists and uses his prior knowledge of terrorist attacks to short sell stocks in companies that fall victim to attacks. His next plan is to earn some serious cash after terrorists blow up an airplane, but unfortunately for him - James Bond is able to stop this plan and Le Chiffre loses around $ 100 million 
:ugh:
In an attempt to get his money back Le Chiffre organises a high-stake poker tournament at Casino Royale in Montenegro. MI6 can’t allow him to win so they send James Bond to participate in the tournament together with the lovely Vesper Lind who is assigned to look after Bond’s handling of the $10 million buy-in. If Le Chiffre loses the tournament he will have no other choice but ask for protection from MI6 or he will be executed by his creditors 
The poker tournament isn’t really exciting, especially for people who don’t like to play poker or don’t understand the game. It’s hard to feel the serious tension during the poker game, even though you know there’s a lot at stake! During the tournament Vesper warms up to Bond and Bond melts for the lovely Vesper 
:love:
Even though Bond wins the poker tournament things don’t go the way they have planned! Both Vesper and Bond fall in the hands of a very pissed of Le Chiffre Just when Le Chiffre releases his full wrath on Bond one of his creditors pop by and shoots him! Somehow Bond and Vesper survive the attack and after recovering from his injuries Bond decides to quit his job at MI6. The two lovebirds go on a romantic holiday to Venice!
In Venice Bond learns Vesper never deposited the money back into the Treasury account and she is taking it to a mysterious organisation! Bond follows Vesper to a building under renovation where the transaction will take place. But when a chaotic firefight starts, the flotation devices supporting the structure are ruptured and the building begins to collapse in the Grand Canal! Vesper commits suicide by locking herself in the elevator under water. Bond gets her, but he is too late.
Bond feeling terribly betrayed - he even says “the bitch is dead” - learns from M that Vesper had an Algerian boyfriend who was kidnapped by this organisation. She needed the money to exchange for his life 
Bond finds a final clue about the guy and the myster organisation left by Vesper on her mobile phone - Mr. White… he will die at the end of the movie by the hands of Bond, James Bond.
Impression:
I only really liked James Bond movies with a Cold War theme, so I’m not the biggest fan of the series. From Casino Royale I loved the first action sequence, since it was timed well and was shot brilliantly 
:twinkle: I also liked the character building of Bond during the movie. At first he was pretty cocky and waaay too arrogant. Yet he warmed up to Vesper and I believe he seriously loved her. With her death I wonder if she is the reason Bond never commits to women (being the first novel and all). Of course being an agent makes it kinda difficult > somebody says Ethan Hunt from Mission Impossilbe III ? 
What about the new Bond? Daniel Craig is doing his job perfectly, the Bond in Casino Royale is still pretty rough around the edges - so he manages I can really recommend this movie to everyone who wants a movie night with some action AND wants to see another perspective on James Bond. If you like James Bond because he’s such a slick English gentleman, don’t watch this movie.
Rating:
:rate7:
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CONGRATS!! Gawd I wish Mike would write up movie reviews! Yours are awesome!