Casino Royale

When it was first announced that Daniel Craig was taking over the role of James Bond, I was among the many who weren't thrilled. He didn't "look" the part, I thought. He just didn't seem like a Bond actor.

But looks can be deceiving, so I went to see Casino Royale with what I hoped was an open mind. And was pleasantly surprised, if not shocked, at how good this movie was. Craig proved to be a strong, charismatic actor, portraying Bond with a mix of suave arrogance and vulnerability that in many ways transcended the usual treatment of the character.

I've heard it said Craig's Casino Royale was the best Bond movie ever. I can't say that, as I haven't seen all the entries in the Bond franchise, but it was certainly the best Bond movie I've ever seen.

Casino Royale was released on DVD this past Tuesday. Looks like it has quite a few extras--enough to justify a second disc. I haven't watched them yet, but I'm glad they put out a two-disc edition that was the same price as the usual single disc of other movies.