If you wonder what is the spot where the interest of James Bond fans and people taking part in the gambling industry mix together, you can just watch the first Daniel Craig 007 movie, Casino Royale and the answer will be right in front of you! Casino Royale is one of the most beloved in the James Bond series, one widely known all over the world.
It’s hard to find anyone who likes spy film, who is fond of James Bond, who hasn’t heard about Casino Royale. The reason is simple – it is officially the first movie of the series, and the first in the Craig era. Although it was released over a decade ago, the popularity of this movie is still high, and many of its scenes, including that famous poker scene, remain the most-watched scenes across the Craig-led series.
Generally speaking, some movies have so much to say that they can give you new and new insights after every time you watch them. Casino Royale is among these movies, never loses popularity and it’s steadily on the list of movies which can be watched over and over again. Other movies from the last thirty years are also widely-appreciated, like Goodfellas (1990), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Forrest Gump (1994), Home Alone, the Harry Potter movies, and many more. Some of them can teach you something new every time you watch them, but some of these movies just give you positive vibes and make you appreciate them just as much as when you watched for the first time. Therefore, we believe that taking a look at the movie once again after nearly fifteen years is necessary sometimes to look at things from different perspective. Although the movie has been reviewed so many times, in this article we are going to take another gander at Casino Royale.
What is the movie famous for?
Casino Royale is the third screen adaption of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novel, directed by Martin Campbell and written by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade. At the center of the plot is the fictional MI6 agent James Bond who is portrayed by the English actor Daniel Craig, who will take his final bow in next year’s No Time To Die. Craig manages to bring a new playfulness, and absurdity to the character, and is arguably the best 007 since Sean Connery. Of course, that is just a matter of opinion, though.
But it’s not only about the actor that makes the movie so special. Some iconic scenes are hard to forget. Some of the film’s pivotal scenes take place in the casino, notably that Texas Hold ‘Em scene at the midway point which, interestingly, as a result spiked an already high interest in the game, the gambling industry and the popularity of poker casinos in many countries. For example, according to the Norwegian iGaming media, the movie increased the popularity of a huge variety of casino games in the country, and the number of people participating in the gaming sector pretty much increased after the premiere of Casino Royale . Another reason that made this famous poker scene so iconic is the performance of Mads Mikkelsen, a Danish actor, portraying Bond’s rival Le Chiffre, acts perfectly during this entire scene and during the whole movie. Mikkelsen enjoys his popularity in the Scandinavian cinema and also, he is obviously really famous in Norway.
Casino Royale doesn’t have just one great casino scene. In fact, the entire plot is about a thrilling poker game between 007 James Bond and a terrorist financier, Le Chiffre, that makes a highly-charged viewing experience. The plot is focused on 007, and in the movie, he is taken to Monte Carlo in Casino Royale, a fictional casino where he attempts to bankrupt Le Chiffre, before persuading him to work for M16.
Well-staged scenes, high-quality acting, well-written scripts, and many other elements make this a truly great relaunch for the Bond franchise.
Is this really a nearly perfect James Bond movie?
Considering the fact that before Casino Royale there have been two dozen James Bond movies, Daniel Craig was initially met with much scepticism, and the movie, just like his performance, was widely acclaimed. Not only Craig, but also Eva Green who is the perfect choice for the role of Vesper, a female lead that embraces strong femininity. Le Chiffre by Mads is also unbelievably perfect and leaves the impression of a cold, mysterious villain. And another attractive thing about the movie is the colourful anthemic song. The whole list of the soundtrack is so absorbing, not to mention the excellent theme song, ‘You Know My Name.’ by the late Chris Cornell. There are some pretty amazing fight scenes, the opening chase a particular highlight. And then there’s the ending. We won’t say anything to avoid spoilers if you haven’t; yet seen the movie, but you should know that the ending of Casino Royale movie is one of the best of in franchise’s long history..
According to the IMDB reviews, people still believe that this movie is probably the best from the entire James Bond series, and although the action-heavy first hour could’ve been tightened just a little bit and Bond’s story could have been explained a little bit more deeply, but overall, it’s a perfect movie, as any Bond film can get. So, if you still haven’t seen Casino Royale – full of a great story, lots of glamour and tons of humour, you definitely should.
The Verdict
Casino Royale was one of the most successful James Bond movies ever, both critically and commercially. Daniel Craig and Eva Green, as well as Mads Mikkelsen, were praised for their acting in this movie, and in fact, this movie played a vital role for three of them to go on to even greater things in their careers. The two core scenes of the story that occur during the second half of the movie; the confrontation scene over the card table, and the torture scene make the movie worth watching all by themselves. The ending is similar to the book thematically but what makes it different is its action-packed dynamics and visuals. These highlights of the movie still work even today, making Craig the iconic figure and the definitive Bond for the modern era.
