Bond. James Bond. He’s back and he’s betting it all in Casino Royale, the newest installment of Ian Flemming’s infamous super-spy saga. Daniel Craig breathes new life into the classic character as the up and coming Englishman delivers a raw and reckless performance of a young 007 in the very first film adaptation of the very first Bond novel.

Retracing the beginnings, Casino Royale narrates the emergence of Bond into the classic role as well as his very first assignment as a member of British intelligence. After tracking a known terrorist to the Bahamas and winning a very cherry Aston Martin in the process, Bond follows the clues to Le Chiffe (Mads Mikkelsen), mastermind and international money launderer. But after losing more than 100 million dollars of his clients money, Le Chiffe enters a no-limit Texas hold-em tournament at, you guessed it, the Casino Royale in Montenegro, in an attempt to win back the terrorist money.

The 21st film installment of the secret agent captures the essence of the man, while giving him an edgier attitude and a cooler temperament. While the image of James Bond remains the smooth walking and suave talking intellectual, Craig injects short bursts of rugged abandon and gritty toughness into him. By far the most athletic and buff to ever order a shaken vodka martini, Craig gives 007 a soldier-like seriousness at times which he’s able to switch on at any moment. His ability to leap, run and kick box his way through hordes of gun toting bad guys sets him apart from the likes of Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Dalton and Roger Moore.

The film also distinguishes itself from other recent installments by cutting down on the outlandish gimmicks that have plagued the series in recent years. There are no cars driving upside down, no pencils that shoot lasers, and no women named Pussy Galore. The space age gadgetry is replaced by intense fight sequences, ruthless gun battles and insane chase sequences which results in far more engaging cinema. Director Martin Campbell aptly recognized the need to rely on Bond’s energy and charisma, rather than toys and gizmos.

But along with the return of James Bond, comes the wonderful return of the Bond girls, which may have come to define the character as much as the man himself. Sometimes soft spoken, oftentimes ass-kicking super model, the Bond girl role may be the most pivotal role of any film. Although “Casino Royale” doesn’t feature a Halle Berry, Ursula Andress or Jill Masterson, Eva Green and Caterina Murino fill the role just fine. Green plays Vesper Lynd, Bond’s co-conspirator in the plot against Le Chiffre and Murino plays Solange, the sexy and seductive girl friend of the terrorist Dimitrios.

And while the road to the next Bond film “Bond 22,” is clearly laid out in the finale of “Casino Royale,” the lost excitement and interest in the character has been fantastically found. Craig has done for James Bond what Christian Bale did for Batman, giving him a certain and identifiable mystique and swagger. And while some of the essential Bond trademarks are absent the movie, including the “shaken not stirred” tagline as well as his pension for baccarat, Bond is indeed back, and back with a vengence.

Rating: 4 Stars

Total stars possible: 4

Josh Huggett can be reached at [email protected]