Casino Royale - A 'royale' experience....

Only recently I saw Casino Royale in a movie hall. Earlier I was sceptical about it, as I had heard negative reviews from my colleagues. But the opening sequence in which he kills the former british secret agent and his associate in order to gain 007 status, did a great deal to remove even the last remaining specks of doubt in my mind.

Further, in the movie the great Parkour(a physical discipline) sequence(when James Bond tries to catch hold of Steve-a bombmaker) was mind-blowing. Though he ends up blowing the embassy building of Nambutu, still the fast-paced action is a treat to watch. Next, he is taken to task by M. But that arrogance and recklessness don't desert him. He is hot on trail of Le Chiffre and his clandestine organization. Clue after clue(ELLIPSIS), he manages to thwart the enemy's attempt to blow up an aeroplane in the nick of time.

Come Vesper Lynd- an accountant at the HM Treasury and the plot alters its theme. The cheeky conversation on train to Montenegro between her and James Bond changes the mood of the story. The stage is now set for a high-stake poker match in which MI6 has entered James Bond to bankrupt Le Chiffre. Though many other players also start the game, but later it turns into a one-on-one battle between Bond and Le Chiffre. There is a huge amount in drama in between. Valenka-the henchwoman of Le Chiffre poisons the drink of James Bond. But later he is rescued by Vesper using a ventricular defibrillator.

Though James Bond's triumph may convey the feeling of climax, and the resultant vindictiveness on Le Chiffre's part may indicate the end of the movie. Still the mega-climax is yet to come.

The ultimate and the most sensational climax comes into lime-light, when it turns out that Vesper Lynd works for the non-disclosed organization(who are the malefactors) . Betrayal in the name of love and loneliness after Vesper's death seem to harden James Bond's heart(who had earlier resigned, but later takes it back). He has finally learnt his lesson- never to trust anyone, however close he is. The movie's character lies in the fact that unlike its predecessors it is supported by a great storyline. Though it misses out on trademark BMW car and hi-fi gadgets. But Daniel Craig and Eva Green seem to have done a decent job.

So, it is finally the woman who crushes the love, the trust and that hope of a secure future in the male protagonist's heart. Our hero is once again left in search of love and future..........

The end of the movie? Well its the same iconic line which defines James Bond's persona "The name's Bond. James Bond".