Transformers: The Movie - Barricade is coming...

And he's going to EAT YOUR SOUL.

Sterling Bond

On a whim I decided to go and see Casino Royale tonight. I should admit, like many, I had my doubts about this one. The decision to adapt the first James Bond book now the rights were available again was an interesting choice, but rumours of it being "Bond Begins" and being stripped of all the quips, gadgets, style and talk of it making it a gritty Dond worried me. The last step in making a gritty Bond, License to Kill, was so dreadful that the return to quippy, gadgetheavy form in Goldeneye was a relief.

However, I have to join the ranks of those admitting that they pulled it off. A lot of this, I think, if down to the fact it's not as stripped down and raw as had been indicated. Worries that it was going to be "one spy's journey from geek to ladies man" can be put aside. The character of Bond is there from the first, but gets refined and polished throughout the film rather than it being the spy equivalent of My Fair Lady.

So the controversy is avoided - there are still the huge spectacular set pieces, although to their benefit they rely on stunt work and thrilling chases instead of special effects. That's a return to old school Bond I welcome. Likewise, there's plenty of scenes that are less about action and more about tension. Not a bad thing as the battle of wits is an area that's not been so well defined in recent years.

Likewise the girls and the gadgets are still there, just in more believable and real-world forms. The world Bond inhabits is a more realistic setting, owing more to traditional spy thrillers than giant fricking laserbeams in space.

I like the laserbeams, mind you.

So, a thoroughly enjoyable espionage thriller with great set pieces, but a great Bond movie? To be honest, I found it more enjoyable as a movie than as a BOND movie. I''d be lying if I didn't want to see Bond quip in familiar fashion at least once. But as a prequel for the Bonds as we know them, running into Dr. No and onwards, it matches the early Connery Bonds in style quite nicely.

As for Daniel Craig, well I think those leaping straight up to declare him the best Bond since Connery are a little premature.

I'm a Roger Moore man myself anyway.