Casino Royale

I know there are a number of you who have been skeptical, but rest assured, Daniel Craig is excellent as the new James Bond in "Casino Royale". He commands the screen as easily as he masters the role in an exciting and tense movie that overstays its welcome by about thirty minutes.

The setup is initially confusing, as "Royale" is actually the first Bond story of the series. In the opening minutes we learn how this super-spy became 007 by achieving his first two kills. From there the action takes off as the story moves from one country to another. This time, the bad guy is a banker for the terrorists of the world. If Bond can track down the lead player, he can disrupt terrorist activities that threaten thousands of lives. Assisting him as this year's Bond girl is Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), a woman who James eventually falls in love with. While she can't save him from a brutal torture, she does help Bond remember that he has a soul.

Two big pieces to the movie are eventually the downfall for the momentum. One is the fact that the biggest battle Bond has with the banker is at the poker table. There's not a lot of action there besides some impressive card play. The other is the love story that takes shape in the last thirty minutes. There are twists and turns that keep the plot alive, and every scene is well done, it's just that it takes a while to get from one place to another.

All in all, "Casino Royale" is a royal treat that is worth betting on. And, in the end, Daniel Craig has earned the right to say, "The name is Bond. James Bond." I give it an A-.

"Casino Royale" is rated PG-13 with a running time of 144 minutes.