By Jonathon Baron
Gargoyle entertainment editor
Posted Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006, The OG, arts

THE DISAPPOINTING, EVEN tragic, release of “Die Another Day” in 2002 was an abrupt warning to the creators of the immensely popular James Bond movie series that something had to change. It did. With “Casino Royale,” order has been restored to the James Bond saga, marking a return to classy, intelligent glory we call “Bond.”

This film more than signifies a renewal of the series; the elegant black-and-white scene that begins the film depicts Bond's first two kills, which promote him to 007. The story of the movie follows Bond's first mission as a “00” agent and serves to set up his entire character, especially as seen in earlier films such as “Dr. No” and “Goldfinger.”

The way the film unfolds also captures classic Bond. Similar to the earliest Bond films, “Casino Royale” is based on one of the original James Bond novels by Ian Fleming. As a result, the story we're presented with certainly is full of flooring action, but instead of filling every second with absurd fight scenes and unbelievable gadgets ranging from ice-melting machines to invisible cars, the film also contains ample time for our minds to cool off, with slower, chic poker scenes, deliberate acting, and (as is necessarily within any Bond film) a classic love story.

Of course, the film still manages to capture the cool action we crave: After the opening credits, the film jumps into a sudden on-foot chase scene, complete with explosions, delightfully unrealistic gunplay, fist-fighting, and even urban gymnastics. All of the action sequences, no matter how significant, no matter how long, are given all of the attention they deserve and are choreographed beautifully — everything looks great onscreen.

What's more, a lot of these scenes come straight out of the book. As a result, “Casino Royale” is the perfect film adaptation of its print counterpart — something that tends to be incredibly hard to pull off.

But the film isn't bound to every single detail of the Fleming novel. It updates the plot in several ways, bringing the plot into the present. This affirms the symbolism of “Casino Royale” as a complete resurrection of the Bond franchise, not just a prequel to the story.

Plus, it actually works: For the first time ever, I witnessed text messaging's application look truly hip. Indeed, the movie is full of cell phones, but besides being used for product placement, they also serve as Bond's main way to find information.

In terms of acting, Daniel Craig is the perfect man for the role, replacing Pierce Brosnan. Despite the fact that Craig's hair is just a shade too light, he's probably the most suave actor alive. Obviously a result of his experience in British mafia movies such as “Layer Cake,” Craig is easily able to carry himself as a true Bond. Everything he does, even his voice inflection, is fine-tuned to represent James Bond's character and personality in every way.

Even the set design, special effects, and cinematography fall in line with the mind-numbingly chic overtones any Bond film should hold dear. The film looks stunning and every scene's visual tones matches that of the content. Delicious.

The one problem I did have with “Casino Royale” in terms of the story was that the end seemed to go on for too long. Of course, it wasn't anything even close to “Lord of the Rings: Return of the King,” which seemed to end about 12 times, but “Casino Royale” was a bit drawn-out by the end, and seemed like it could've been condensed (although by the time the film was truly over, I was actually quite satisfied with the last moments).

Other changes in minor details that could upset diehard fans include the traditional gun-barrel scene at the beginning (the frame doesn't rock as the blood is falling over the barrel), and the opening sequence, which depicts Craig fighting people instead of the silhouettes of scantily-clad women — what a disappointment!

But I digress. Overall, this film is absolutely stunning. It is not only a great action film, but it is also done in an artsy fashion that matches its main character's persona. But more than anything, it progresses like a true James Bond movie, and that's what makes “Casino Royale” so good. It is a marker that, despite the rough waters the Bond series has been going through recently, “James Bond will return.”

“Casino Royale” is now playing at the Savoy 16 (click here for times) and the Beverly Cinema 18 (click here for times). Runtime: 144 minutes. Rated: PG-13.