[Kaylore]

I got back from it today and I have to admit I was a bit skeptical going into it about a blond Bond. I was so, so wrong.

Let me tell you this movie was awesome. I've been re-watching every Bond through my Netflix. Right now I'm just finishing up the Moore era and am ready to kill myself with his campy performances of "gentleman on the way to the park" version of Bond with no athleticism.

This is the story of how Bond became Bond. You are introduced to the man who will become 007 and why he sees and views the world the way he does. He's getting his start as a 00-agent, and as the plot unfolds, you see what is the genesis of the great hero.

Daniel Craig is the best Bond since Connery. We see a bit more grit and less suave that's been missing since the Connery years. He is the most athletic Bond we've had since George Lazenby and plays the part a bit pissed off, which I really liked about Connery's performances, but somehow the series went away from that went toward the "I'm a guy with a snifter and a PPK."

The movie has some great action and almost all of it motivated and less contrived than in other series. The opening sequence is very clever and really brings into the story of Bond as much as it brings you into the plot.

The best thing about the movie is that they completely leave behind the campy stuff. The Bond movie has need to reform itself for awhile and starting with Goldeneye you saw that, but generally they totally let it go. There are gadgets but no "let's go get the gadgets" scene. There are hot women but it's not like they jump on his weener simply because he looked at them. Bond is tough, but he has just enough vulnerability that you appreciate the toughness.

My two knocks on it are you don't get to be introduced to the villains well enough, which is disappointing because there are quite a few that are very interesting. The other is that it's a bit long. There is a love sequence that could have been reduced to one scene, but I suppose they had to do something for the estrogen crowd.

Overall it was the best movie I've seen in theaters this year and I intend to see it again. I encourage you all to go watch it and take a date to it if you are considering it. Fun, well-made, solid movie.