Yeah, this probably sucks as a first post, but can someone post a link to the Straight Dope discussion thread about Casino Royale? I would search, but I’m not allowed because I’m using a guest pass.
The reason I want the link is because although I loved the action scenes, and I think that Daniel Craig makes a great Bond, I just don’t understand why this movie receives so much praise, and I’m curious what Dopers think of the movie.
Sorry about the mis-spellings, especially the title, but I dont know how to Edit my post.
FWIW, I loved it because it was just so damn good! As one reviewer noted, it’s as though the Bond series had gone into rehab and purged itself of all past ridiculousness. It was good as both an action film and an adult thriller. The acting, writing, production values, pacing, editing, et. al were quite good, IMO. It’s just an extremely well made movie (though not without some minor flaws, for those given to looking for such things). I also think it gets a lot of praise for two more reasons: one, it’s a completely different Bond movie…different from the Connery Bond but just as good, which I think a lot of people didn’t expect; and two, Daniel Craig, who seemed so wrong for the part in the minds of many in the beginning, turned out to be superb and has many people claiming either that his Bond is as good as Connery’s, or better, and I think no one expected that. So in a nutshell, I’d say it gets so much acclaim simply because it turned out to be such a damn good film when many, if not most, didn’t expect it to be.
Just IMHO, of course. 
Also, don’t forget that people are saying it’s great “as a James Bond film.” I don’t think anyone is too upset that it didn’t sweep the Oscars.
Thanks a ton for the link.
You’re welcome. 
Because some of us long-time Bond fans are happy to see the series finally get better after years of mediocrity.
Because it’s the best Bond film since 1989–maybe since 1969.
Seconded. I really, really liked it. I’ve got Chris Cornell’s opening song, “You Know My Name,” on my iPod and love it, too. Dunno yet if I’ll get the movie DVD.
Rare indeed is the time when I agree with Starving Artist, but I do here. I’ve never been into Bond films and I’ve only seen a handful of them, so while I can’t judge it as a Bond film, as a regular film, it’s top notch, one of my favorite films from last year. As far as why, I can’t say it any better than SA above so I’ll just say…what he said.
And it’s rare indeed that I am simpatico with you either, Equipoise, but I must say I enjoyed very much reading what you had to say in the thread I linked to above.
I rented the DVD, thinking my husband would enjoy it, because I was unable to find anything I was interested in. Then he tells me, he has no desire to see it. He’s one of those diehard Connery / Bond fans.
We both loved it!
I’m not sure I can get used to the idea of Craig as Bond, but he’s a good actor, and he made the role more realistic.