Re-watching Martin Campbell's Casino Royale last week was an invigorating reminder of just how good Bond has been these days. None of the artifice of the previous Brosnan pictures is present. This is a modern, flawed James Bond played by a perfectly cast Daniel Craig. Everybody is talking about the dark suspense that Sam Mendes brought forth with last month's Skyfall yet Casino Royal -released in 2006- is just as good, a menacingly playful film that has some intense set pieces. None more intense than the poker game that has our secret agent facing off against Le Chiffre in a battle of -yes- wits. It's the first time in ages that a James Bond film has had to rely on brains instead of action to give us thrills. Well played sir.