Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Daniel Craig as James Bond in 'Casino Royale'. - Contributed

Bond is back, in more ways than one, in the prequel, Casino Royale. The rebirth of a movie legend is not an easy feat, yet for director Martin Campbell starting afresh never looked so good.

The Jamaican premiere was held at the Carib 5 cinema, Cross Roads, on Wednesday, proceeds going to the Heart Foundation of Jamaica.

With the controversial new 'blonde' James Bond, actor, Daniel Craig, takes over the famous role. Casino Royale makes a fair attempt at exploring Bond's beginnings, looking at what makes the British spy the suave, kick-ass character whom decades of movie-goers have wished they could be.

Based on the first of Ian Flemming's Bond series of books, Casino Royale looks at Bond's very first mission, where he must stop a banker who plans to use the winnings from a casino tournament to fund a series of massive terrorist attacks. The villain Dimitrios (Simon Abkarian), who symbolically weeps blood, is not your usual head honcho. His strings are being pulled by Le Chiffre, a greater force that not even Bond can find. While the intense poker game of egos goes on for a good part of the movie, we see Bond's composure breaking down as he develops into a haunted man whose job has given him a 'don't-give-a-damn-about-anything' attitude. It is an attitude that is usually manifested in Bond flicks as a total disregard for relationships and the changing of women as frequently as shoes.

New light to character

A theatrically trained Daniel Craig brings new light to the character, a total change from his predecessor, Pierce Brosnan, who showcased Bond with all his superhero trappings. Craig displays superb acting in a torture scene and those who don't like to see Bond get his butt kicked might not like Casino Royale, as he gets hit around ... a lot. Yet he comes back with that devilish thrill that makes him a superspy.

A Bond film wouldn't be complete without a stunning Bond chick and for this one it is Vesper Lynd, played by French actress, Eva Green. Green effectively supports Craig with her doe-eyed looks and witty interchange. Bringing the world of British espionage into the film is Dame Judi Dench back as 'M' and Giancarlo Giannini as 'Mathis'.

Filled with Bond trivia and inside jokes, such as how the agent got his 'Double O7' stripes, the flick also uses the usual gadgets. Back are the famous fitted tuxedos, high-rise stunts, the sleek car - a sliver Aston Martin - and exotic locations, Casino Royale having been filmed in the Bahamas, Prague, England, and Italy, to name a few.

In the end, the stylish exterior of the Bond we know emerges, and for the first and only time in Casino Royale he says the legendary "Bond, James Bond."