Casino Royale is without a doubt the best James Bond film of the 21st century so far. It was the prefect kick up the backside that the franchise needed at that time. There is something that feels fresh, new and exciting about Casino Royale every time I revisit it.

The plot is fantastic and is the perfect origin story for cinema's most famous super spy. It effortlessly makes a seemingly un-filmable book work on screen. Not a minute of screen time is wasted as the film is brilliantly plotted. Every little detail is well realised. The film has many great scenes, with some of the very best action sequences of the series. The poker scenes are a particular highlight. In the wrong hands, these scenes could've been dull but, thankfully, they are great. Daniel Craig makes an excellent debut as Bond with a performance that is emotionally complex. Craig is given great support an equally fantastic cast which includes such talents as Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen and Judi Dench. The direction by Martin Campbell is terrific and brings everything together nicely.

Overall, Casino Royale is one of the very best films in the James Bond franchise. It keeps the identity of a Bond film while still being able to reinvent the franchise for a new audience. Casino Royale is a film that I love coming back to and it remains a firm favourite. Highly recommended!