Casino Royale

For a long time, the James Bond franchise has had very little to do with the laws of physics, let alone Cold War paranoia. This latest romp for Her Majesty’s favourite sociopath is notable because the filmmakers have finally decided that enough is enough for the old formula. Yes, there is still wanton destruction and disrespect for the safety of all but the British Public, but this comes second to (gasp!) actual espionage. Daniel Craig displays a bit more depth than previous actors, but he wouldn’t be Bond if he wasn’t luxuriating in his own manliness, style, gadgets (as you’d expect, his mobile is second to none) and knowledge that everybody wants to be him. As a film, Casino Royale is patchy, but refreshing in that it eschews the machismo of “classic” Bond, and instead portrays the less glamorous side of his work. This isn’t to say it’s any more realistic though.