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You've probably heard that, while the name and the number are the same, James Bond, a.k.a. 007, has changed.

In Martin Campbell's latest James Bond adventure, Casino Royale, there's a new actor in the lead—Daniel Craig. Craig will be an unfamiliar face to many, but he's been lurking in the background of many popular films. Recently he appeared in Enduring Love, Infamous, and Steven Spielberg's Munich, and he played the troublesome son of Paul Newman's gangster in The Road to Perdition and an assassin monk hunting Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth. Craig gives James Bond some surprising new dimension. He's more likely to make mistakes. He has a heart, and is fully capable of falling in love. And he's not as preoccupied with sensual pleasure as he is with catching the bad guys.

While the film begins with enough chase scenes and death-defying stunts to fill two action movies, the pace slows as the film progresses, requiring us to turn our brains on instead of insulting our intelligence.

Todd Hertz (Christianity Today Movies) says it "twists and turns through espionage, crossings and double-crossings that gets too convoluted and goes on for about 20 minutes too long. But it's excusable because Casino Royale gives us so much that the Bond franchise has longed for: credibility, actual human drama, maturity, intensity and great unpredicted surprises. … [It's] fun and often laugh-out-loud funny. The film isn't action-centered, loud and explosion-focused. But there are still three incredibly exciting and impressively executed action sequences that—surprisingly in a day where we've seen it all—offer some action bits we've never quite seen before."

"Casino Royale certainly introduces the Bond character better than any of the previous movies," says Mike Parnell (Ethics Daily), "and it offers much hope for the franchise."

Christopher Lyon (Plugged In) says, "At a time when we can be reasonably sure there really are guys out there licensed and eager to kill in the name of country—whether justified or not—Bond seems less naturally heroic and more morally culpable for his actions than ever." He concludes that the story is "far better," but the result is "less outright 'fun' than previous incarnations."

Lisa Rice (Crosswalk) says the new Bond is "gritty and real—but is that what we really want? … Casino Royale's realness might be a bit much to handle." She adds, "The movie's worldview is basically biblical in its extolling of bravery and diligence in overcoming evil, but the tools used are overweening violence and adultery, which dilute the message."

Greg Wright (Past the Popcorn) says, "For Bond fans, I'd suggest seeing Casino Royale with an open mind. For non-Bond action film fans, I'd suggest the same. … For fans of just plain great filmmaking, though, I'd say cast your net a bit wider. Haggis' script is pretty savvy and self-aware, Campbell's direction is competent, and Craig's Bond is very compelling; but the whole affair is pretty transparent nonetheless. There should be better cinematic opportunities over the holidays."

David DiCerto (Catholic News Service) writes, "Some fans will applaud its harder-edged return to the grittiness of Ian Fleming's novels. Others may feel it's too dark and serious, and lacks the sense of campy fun of earlier films."

Mainstream critics are enthusiastic about the new Bond.

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