“Casino Royale” is the 21st James Bond movie and the first to screen on the Chinese mainland.

The entire production crew, including controversial* new Bond Daniel Craig, Bond girl Eva Green, director Martin Campbell and producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, turned out for the film premieres* in Beijing on Monday and Shanghai on Tuesday.

The movie began screening in Chinese theaters Tuesday.

No “Black Monday”

for James Bond

The new Bond movie chose to make its debut* on Monday, confident of breaking the traditional box-office “black Monday” curse* with a high-profile* promotion.

Besides the premieres in two big cities, the crew also visited the Forbidden City during their three-day tour of China.

The Monday premiere was the first of “Hollywood standard” ever to be held in China. The organizers invested a great deal and took careful consideration of the process and scene design to make it match the movie’s style.

The new Bond movie is expected to be the first to earn 100 million yuan (US$12.5m) at the box office in China this year.

The ugliest James Bond

— and the best?

The focus of the movie falls on British actor Daniel Craig, the controversial choice to play the new James Bond, replacing the popular Pierce Brosnan. Angry fans say he is too blond* and ugly for the role.

However, Craig decided not to step into Brosnan’s old shoes. He’s brought the audience a fresh new James Bond. “It’s the first mission for Bond as a spy,” said director Martin Campbell. “He has so much to learn. But in the end, he becomes the Bond we have known for years.”

“Craig’s Bond is more real and human compared to old ones,” he said.

“Casino Royale” has earned over US$500 million at the box office since it opened globally in November 2006, making it the best-performing Bond movie.

(SD-Agencies)