Casino Royale

Depressingly predictably Hollywood. This is hardly a 007 movie, and can't be called a "film". It's just the same Hollywood formula of contriving a story to be as depressing as possible. The same formula Hollywood had prided itself on since about 1965. It's very dull, and there's no imagery. 007 films once had exotic scenery that was done in a cinematic way. No more. This has absolutely nothing to do with Daniel Craig. It doesn't matter who plays 007 when the writer and director are control freaks for hatefulness. If you can stay awake through the dull scenery and ridiculous lines (Bond even says it doesn't matter what cards you have in a poker game. This movie goes beyond "retarded"), then you wonder what the plot is. Bond goes through a kidnapping ordeal and losing in cards, and he's obviously a victim of card cheating, but this genius doesn't suspect that. Then, we get the predictable ending that is so Hollywood. This movie would be the worst Bond movie ever if not for "A View to a Kill".