Casino RoyaleCasino Royale – 4 out of 5 stars

This film sort of takes us to the beginning. Think of it as “Bond Begins”.

Bond is newly promoted to his double-0 status, and we get to see him make mistakes (and we all know that 007 usually doesn’t make mistakes). Daniel Craig holds his own as Bond, and he brings an arrogance not seen since Connery.

This one is darker than most Bond films. There is no Q yet, and it does not contain any gadgets (toned down due to the backlash from the heavy-effects-laden Die Another Day). The story drives this one; it shows how Bond becomes the agent as we know him today. I look forward to Craig’s next adventure as 007.