Casino Royale – ****

You know, I keep recommending Daniel Craig’s earlier movie, Layer Cake. But when I look back at my own “review” of it, I see I only gave it one star. Buzz killed it for me. Yet, I own it on DVD and watch it now and again. I guess it holds up well.

I’m not so sure that Casino Royale will hold up so well over time. That said, let me clarify that I really really liked the movie. I saw it in an actual movie theater too! (wow, shocking I know).

I loved the new direction of the franchise, I liked how they were going to blow up something in Miami (yeah, no one likes Florida), I liked the darkness, I liked Judi Dench, I liked Eva Green. In fact, there was little I didn’t like.

The only negatives I can think of were surrounding the poker game. But then again, I’m a bit of a poker nerd. There was also a bit of a suspension of disbelief problem with LeChiffre’s portfolio management style too, but then again, if I were to believe that, I could believe the rest of the movie.

I’m going to give it four stars, which is a lot coming from me. Go check it out. And try to see it in the movie theater.