Casino Royale is about Bond’s transformation from a standard agent into a heartless killer. This differs from the novels, which are more simplistic, although the novel Casino Royale does mention Manichaean dualism. Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, and Skyfall, are replete with alchemical and death-burial-resurrection motifs. However, the esoteric associations and “conspiratorial” elements have changed, coming more into line with an overall archetypal narrative that is evident in the three newest Bonds.
The film differs slightly from the novel, but only in details. Bond was revamped in a new, slick way, beginning with the first of Ian Fleming’s stories, Casino Royale. The reboot of Bond with Casino Royale in 2006 marked a new era for the now second biggest film legacy in history (now surpassed by Harry Potter).
