I am a huge Bond fan...
Let's get one thing straight, I am a HUGE James Bond fan. I have all of the Ian Fleming books, most of the movies, and all of the knowledge I can get my hands on. I read "Casino Royale" in 2005, and heard that the new James Bond was the blond-haired guy from "Tomb Raider" (I didn't see layer cake). I was scared. I mean, James Bond is a very sexist character, in the original Fleming novels. I mean, he is calling Vesper a "b***h" from the very beginning. I am going to compare sections of the movie with the book. If there are going to be spoilers, I will put up signs.
From the beginning of this movie, you are treated to James' origins. He got is "00" number from killing 2 people. --SPOILER-- In the novel, it is some japanese cipher clerk and a double agent. In this movie, it is an informant and a crooked section chief. This is very close. --SPOILER--
Then you get the Bond-esque titles. These titles are very well done, using the card themes. It also has some of the best music ever on a Bond film.
Then, you get a chase sequence. This wasn't in the novel either. Very exciting though. Uses free-running, that sport that never really took off here in America, but is very popular in Europe and Africa.
Then, Bond goes to the Bahamas and Miami. Most of this was not in the novel, but you needed a setup for the villian. A man named "Le Chiffre".
---SPOILERS---
Le Chiffre, in the novel, is a Russian agent during the cold war. Here, in the movie, he is a banker for the world's terrorists. He plays with their money, and loses it. In the novel, he loses it through the French system of laws! (extremely funny, btw).
--END SPOILERS---
So, James Bond (novel and movie) go to the "Casino Royale" to meet Le Chiffre, and bankrupt him at cards, therefore he can't go anywhere. This is where the novel and the movie differ.
--SPOILERS--
Le Chiffre in the novel is going to die at the hands of the Russians, and therefore eliminate a dangerous enemy. In the movie, he is going to be welcomed by either the CIA or MI6.
--END SPOILERS--
Le Chiffre then plays cards. In the novel, it is baccarat (chemin-de-fer); in the movie it is hold 'em poker.
--SPOILERS--
Bond loses, then gets bailed out by Leiter. This happens in both. Then, Bond cleans out Le Chiffre. Then, Bond goes after Vesper, who gets kidnapped by Le Chiffre. He then gets tortured at the hands of Le Chiffre. A person comes in to kill Le Chiffre at the end of the sequence. This is where the novel differs greatly from the movie. Le Chiffre (in the novel) thrashes Bond's privates with a carpet beater. This is extremely painful. They toned down the torture sequence in the movie. Bond then recovers, and then Vesper betrays him. In the movie, they are in Venice, and in the novel they are on vacation. The line is almost the same as the book that ends the film: "the B***h is dead."
--END SPOILERS--
All in all, I give this re-boot of the Bond franchise a 5 out of 5. This is a must watch for any Bond fan, and even if you've never seen a Bond film before, this is a great start. Daniel Craig is the best Bond since Connery in the '60s. Great Job to the filmmakers, and keep up the great work! BTW, Quantum of Solace is a great sequel to this movie. Keep watching!Read full review
