Casino Royale (2006 Martin Campbell)

This is what the franchise needed - a reboot with a tough and tender Bond, closer to Fleming's version - the script uses most of the original plot (even the credits scene vaguely invokes Richard Chopping's original jacket design). (Noticed however a couple of borrowings from 'Thunderball' - blue and white super-yacht and Bahamas - this sort of pillage eventually got the writers into hot water with Spectre.) You feel he's properly tough - can't imagine it with Roger Moore (or Brosnan, or Dalton - perhaps Connery.) The film constantly plays on and subverts the Bond myth, e.g. it features a female who's every bit his equal (Eva Green) - their scenes even have a slight romcom feel to them, and she even saves his life at one point! Bond is not at all respectful to M, who's again played by Judi Dench (inspired casting). There's no gadgets (the phones look really dated already) and the 1964 Aston Martin morphs into a new version (prefer the older, naturally). Bond says 'Ow'!

Robert Wade and Neal Purvis are largely responsible, so full marks to them, with Paul Haggis brought in to do a three week 'polish'. Stuart Baird edits at a hundred miles an hour, Phil Meheux shot it. David Arnold is responsible for the music.

Of course Giancarlo Giannini wasn't the bad guy! It's long (two hours fifteen) - too long - but so is any film if you keep stopping it and chatting. (For the record, OHMSS is longer.) With Mads Mikkelsen, Jeffrey Wright, Isaac de Bankolé... and Tsai Chin.