Daniel Craig stars as British secret agent James Bond, and Casino Royale is the 21st in the Bond series that is currently in its Swiss premier run at the Kino in Gstaad. Craig drew some considerable skepticism when he was selected for the role, but he delivers a performance with a much harder edge than recent Bonds. He’s suave in a 2006 kind of way, not slick like Pierce Brosnan, and his one-liners are genuinely sharp, as likely to draw a hearty laugh as compared to the grown-inducing sarcasm from Gstaad’s adopted Bond, Roger Moore. The story too is up-to-date and relevant, dealing with a network of financiers for the world’s leading terrorists. Bond-girl Eva Green oozes sexual charm as Vesper Lynd, and the tension between Bond and Lynd is palpable. There is little in the way of gratuitous special effects, there are fabulous physical stunts and fighting, and Crag brings to Bond a cool toughness that will be familiar to those of you who enjoyed Sean Connery in From Russia with Love and Dr No, or even Matt Damon as Jason Bourne in the recent Bourne Conspiracy/Supremacy movies. We particularly like the way the producers played with perennial Bond one-liners such as “My name is Bond…James Bond” (which doesn’t come till the end), and one of our favorite exchanges in the movie:

Bond: I’ll take a vodka martini
Barman: Shaken or stirred, sir?
Bond: Do I look like a give a damn?

Even if you’re just a casual Bond fan, take the time to see this one. It will run again at the Gstaad cinema following this weeks’ premier run on Tuesday and Wednesday (November 28/29) and again next weekend (December 1-3).

Above: Daniel Craig as James Bond with French star, Eva Green as Vesper Lynd.

Click play below to view the trailer.