Bonds aren't made overnight

Women want him. Men want to be him. Convincing audiences that they want to emulate a rock-star secret agent will contribute to the unshakable success of the "Bond" movie.

Ian Fleming's novel "Casino Royale" returns to the big screen with a new portrayal and revamped style that's sure to entice die-hard "007" fans while gaining the respect of anyone who can appreciate a slightly darker, more rugged action film.

The new James Bond is played by Daniel Craig ("Infamous"). The British-born actor has made a name for himself nailing a huge amount of supporting roles as well as a few little-known leads.

The new franchise player proves to be a perfect fit. With his piercing blue eyes front and center, Craig achieves the quiet confidence and charming charisma that have made 007 such a familiar persona.

Yet the new actor couldn't be more different from his predecessor, Pearce Brosnan. Craig is infinitely more rugged and real, allowing director Martin Campbell ("The Legend of Zorro") to carve out a 007 who would sooner run down a henchman and strangle him to death than use a high-tech gadget to do his dirty work.

To a similar effect "Casino Royale" begins with a dark, gritty sequence that's more reminiscent of Frank Miller's "Sin City" than the typical grand-scale introduction our hero has come to expect. The stylish, film-noir opening scene sets the stage for a Bond adventure that's thematically darker and far more intense than many fans are accustomed to.

This is not to say that "Casino Royale" doesn't pack enough signature gunpowder to keep old-school fans happy. For starters, there's an impressive array of settings for Bond to study and infiltrate. Madagascar, Venice and Nassau are just a few of the exotic locales that are spotlighted by breathtaking cinematography.

Cheers to Bond for getting more than his fair share of dry martinis and black-tie gambling. Less than half an hour in, the audience gets to feast their eyes on a silver 1964 Aston Martin.

And then there are the Bond girls. Vesper Lynd, played by Eva Green ("Kingdom of Heaven"), is Bond's primary love interest. With Denise Richards and Halle Berry in her wake, it's an understatement to say Green has some smokin' acts to follow. She does so with an attractive quality that's pure and fitting. Green evokes the beauty and presence of a vintage model like the Bond girls from prior generations.

The very beautiful Caterina Murino ("Friends Forever") fills the other half of the Bond girl repertoire as she burns with a Latina heat that counterbalances the fair, European splendor of Green.

Based on Fleming's 1954 novel, "Casino Royale" follows 007 through his initial endeavor as a secret agent. Arch villain Le Chiffre, played by Mads Mikkelsen ("Exit"), is the yacht-toting private banker whose investments fund international terrorism. After putting himself in debt to a Uganda-based terror group, the scarred nemesis sets up a $10 million buy-in poker tournament in a confident attempt to win back his money. 007, the British Secret Service's most talented poker player, is assigned to enter the game to take the enemy down.

The film also takes time out to explore Bond's inner character. As with all heroes a potentially destructive flaw exists. In Bond's case, his cold-hearted ego creates certain obstacles in the way of romance, rendering a more emotional love story than those of earlier "Bond" movies.

Clocking in at nearly two hours, "Casino Royale" drags at times, but it still feels shorter than its length would lend to expectation. Moments of crowd-pleasing satisfaction are never too far apart.

With the likes of Eric Bana, Clive Owen and Hugh Jackman as potential casting choices for the new Bond, Craig came as a surprising choice. The inspiration likely came from Craig's leading role performance in 2004's "Layer Cake" in which he played a white-collar ecstasy dealer who shares a similar demeanor to the timeless British spy.