Over the weekend, AICN had a review of "Casino Royale" from a test screening in London. According to this reviewer, "Royal" is a “fantastic” Bond film. It successfully introduces audiences to a new, more humanized James Bond played, this time, by Daniel Craig.

Here are some snippets from the review regarding various elements of the film:

The Film
“It honestly lives up to the trailer AICN posted up yesterday. And for everyone that doesn't want spoilers, know this- Whatever qualms you had about the reinvention of the franchise or the film being good as a whole, you will absolutely love this film as I did.”

The Music
“The music wasn't completed with other soundtracks thrown in as a temporary guide. Some things work and some things don't. The first thing we gotta talk about is the theme. Someone said afterwards that it was by the band Audioslave, but everyone at my table agreed that... the song is crap.”

The Villan
“The main baddy in this flick is a guy called Le Chiffre. Played to absolute perfection by Mads Mikkleson. He really comes into his own in this movie and has what is easily the most sadistic torture scene in any bond movie.”

The Girls
“The first girl 'Solange' i think played by Caterina Murino is beautiful and eats up the screen with her presence. The main woman in this however is a chick called Vespa Lynd, played by Eva Green, and her character is amazing.”



Daniel Craig
“He is excellent, simply excellent. Choosing a blonde haired Bond, was a ballsy stroke of genius.”



Take it for what it is – a test screening review. The reviewer does reveal that this is a prequel of sorts, showing a James Bond who is rough around the edges; there is not a single “fancy gadget scene;” and at two and a half hours, it’s overlong.

Click here to read the full review from AICN.

“Casino Royale” opens nationwide on November 17th. It’s directed by Martin Campbell, who resurrected the Bond franchise in 1995 with “GoldenEye.”