20 Action Movies From The 21st Century That Didn't Actually Suck

12. Casino Royale (2006)

Ong Bak
MGM

The reason that the James Bond franchise is still going strong after 53 years and 23 movies is a simple one; the series is forced to constantly reinvent itself and move with the times before the formula becomes too stale and generic. After the disappointing Die Another Day signaled the end of the Pierce Brosnan era, Casino Royale ushered in Daniel Craig's tenure as 007 in spectacular style.

Director Martin Campbell was tasked with rebooting Bond for the second time after 1995's Goldeneye and did an incredible job; before the credits had even rolled we knew this was cinema's greatest secret agent as we had never seen him before, thanks to a stunning black-and-white prologue that was as raw and stripped-back as we had ever seen the character.

The initial backlash against the casting of Daniel Craig seemed more ridiculous than ever as the actor delivered a complex take on 007, both cold and brutal as well as human and vulnerable. Of course, Casino Royale hardly skimped on the action sequences either, with a welcome reliance on practical effects over CGI, with the jaw-dropping Madagascar foot-chase a particular standout.

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