While Mel Gibson is starting to look more like a crinkle-cut chip than an action hero these days, Casino Royale director Martin Campbell is obviously having a ball jumping him through hoops, redirecting his classic BBC series with explosive aplomb. It seems lessons learnt from Bond have been packed in, so while there is believable motivation and characterisation here, the film benefits immensely from the lack of filler that stretched and slowed the TV version – occasionally with amusing side effects if you’re familiar with the original. There’s no time here for Gibbo to sit about watching TV or crying on the hard shoulder here. Not when there are mysteries to be solved and exposition TO BE SHOUTED.
