Of course, this is only the general main plot, and the screenwriters have managed to place several subplots and mad-cap action sequences that lead to and follow the great poker game. “M” ( Judi Dench), who was counting on Bond to investigate on his own anyway, places Bond in the game, certain that he will win, which will stop the organization altogether, and puts Bond in the care of the beautiful Vesper Lynd (Eva Greene) to make sure that everything goes according to plan. His investigations lead to Le Chiffre ( Mads Mikkelsen), banker to the world’s terrorists, who happens to be holding a very high stakes poker game at the Casino Royale in Montenegro. But things go terribly wrong, and Bond finds himself investigating separate from MI6.

The story of one of Bond’s first missions, even though it’s taking place after 9/11, the plot opens with Bond keeping a close eye on terrorist actions in Madagascar. A blond bond! Who could stand for that? So, I didn’t know what to expect as I went sat down in the theater and the lights began to dim for “Casino Royale.” Thus, along with hundreds of other Bond fans, I was apprehensive when Brosnan quit and Daniel Craig, last seen in Spielberg’s “Munich,” was hired. I thought he was spot on with the humor and charm that is James Bond. Then along came Pierce Brosnan and blew audiences away with his performance, becoming the second most popular Bond ever. Timothy Dalton also tried and failed miserably.

Roger Moore tried to fill them and was only a moderate success. When Sean Connery left the role of James Bond forever in 1971, he left some very empty shoes to fill.

Casino royale book review