Marc Forster directs Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko and Mathieu Amalric in this all action direct sequel to Casino Royale which sees Bond hunting down Vesper’s killers and uncovering a wide reaching geopolitical cartel that operates in the shadows.

I am not being contrary when I say I absolutely, utterly, sincerely love this one. It looks lush, the dialogue is pared back (thanks writer’s strike) so that it almost feels like an art film in the moments and the bang bang is relentless. It suffered from constant online snark once they announced they were using one of Fleming’s more esoteric titles. Hobbling it within the groupthink culture before we even saw a trailer. And people who don’t love Bond didn’t get what they want. Boo hoo! They care about car porn, Bond having the rules of golf or a board game explained to him and a certain embarrassed winking excess around the tropes. I want a movie that accepts the villain should be pure howling evil, the women beautiful but disposable and the physical razzmatazz is front and centre. Go watch Skyfall if you want a legacy Bond for the casual fan. I turn up to every entry and live and breathe them for the years in between. BASTARD BOND! COLD BASTARD BOND! This is all the way up there with the series high points. It does it for me from scarring demolition derby chases around Lake Garda to the scorching detonating hotel infernos in the Atacama desert. The leanest, angriest Bond ever and an all action extravaganza. Just had a check, dickheads and 007 first and foremost is an action franchise. And Jack White and Alicia Keys theme song… an absolute rabble rousing stomper!

10

Perfect Double Bill: Casino Royale (2006)

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