First of all, the traditional pre-credits action sequence will show how Bond got his 00-rating, showing the (required) two kills that he carries out. We'd heard that - but the news that it is in black and white is new, as is the news that the change to colour will come at a crucial point.

That whole sequence, however, is backstory, aimed at giving the film a back to basics feel. There will be no Q and no gadgets, and since it's the first book, Bond makes mistakes and develops into the character we all know.

Although the first part is wildly different to the book (there's a lot more scuba diving!), director Martin Campbell claims the film is very faithful to the book's third act - which, as readers will know, contains some rather shocking scenes. In the meantime we can expect lots of handheld cameras and equally un-Bond lighting/camerawork.

The story is this: after earning his 00, Bond goes to Madagascar to spy on a terrorist. Things go wrong and Bond sets up his own mission, heading to the Bahamas where he meets a man who is involved with Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), banker to the world's terrorists. Le Chiffre (as in the book) is trying to raise money by gambling, and is taking part in a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro. Bond goes after him, accompanied by Vesper Lind (Eva Green) who has been assigned to him by M (Judi Dench, who gets a quick trip to de Bahamas). Much as in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Bond falls in love, the big girl's blouse.

Everyone on board was saying the franchise had become too fantastical, so the emphasis here is on a return to stunt work, less CG and more credibility.