Today was the birthday of my wife's best friend Alida. These two go at it hammer and tongs for each others birthday, and have been doing this for 30 years. After the presents were presented to those birthday girls present at dinner, we went to see Casino Royale. I was pleasantly surprised. I admit to being more excited by Pierce Brosnan back when he was announced as Bond, but Daniel Craig did a great job. We're back to where Bond was a kick ass assassin again rather than a comic gadget guy. He is also a new 00 (we see how he got that designation) with a head a bit too big for his hat. One meme of the movie is how M beats him into shape. Craig looks the part - cut and extremely fit, looking beat-up even when he isn't getting beat up, and initially with a cold ruthless egocentric personality that is skirting thin ice with the wonderful M. M takes no crap from her 00's and when she threatens to have Bond killed if he doesn't straighten up - you believe her. I have to say that an early foot chase scene is the best I have ever seen in a movie. I was amazed. A torture scene late in the movie will have every guy in the place squirming in his seat - a scene where Bond is strapped naked to a rattan chair with the seat cut out - enough said. Fewer gadgets make for better special effects and require actual acting. Oh, and it certainly still doesn't pay for a girl to be romantically involved with Mr. Bond. I don't think Bond fans will be disappointed, and for the rest of you - this is a good movie to grab on DVD.