 "Great adaptation from the original book" | 2008-11-19 |
| - Reviewed By User: ACHI4VJFUIBTW |
| Some years ago i read the "Casino Royal" book and since then i always wondered why this excellent first James Bond book never was considered for filming. Finally it came to theaters and i have to say i liked it very much, this is a much more human Bond and not the "always with the situation under control" Bond from all the previous films. I dont mean these where not good, it's simply that this is a more realistic film about how a spy whould be like, not super handsome, not always perfet tuxedo, not always choosing the right desitions and for the first time he couldn't save his girl and saw her die. I just can't wait for the release of Quantum of Solace wich starts where "Casino Royale" ended. |
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| "Blond Bond - Includes Attitude and Bonus Emotions" | 2008-11-17 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3IXPFN5DU9Z9L |
I was bored of Bond. Blam Blam. Sleep with disposable woman. Bond, James Bond. Martini, shaken, not stirred. Sleep with evil woman. Car chase. Find bad guy's lair. Blam Blam. Cheesy one-liner. Bad guy dies. Sleep with disposable woman. Roll credits.
The formula is entertaining enough, but not even an iconic figure like Bond can stay one-dimensional and expect to continue to keep our interest forever. Bond seemed to be stuck in the 70's, where the sexual innuendo and bloodless violence actually pushed the envelope.
I was glad to see that the newest Bond film attempted to show Bond as fallible, occasionally uncertain, and often hampered by the very arrogance and confidence that makes him distinctly Bond. This is a guy who's instincts just barely manage to save him from his own recklessness, who's carelessness puts innocents in the cross hairs, and who's heart is not yet closed to emotional attachments.
Craig strikes a good figure as Bond, and Eva Green is enchanting as Vespar. All in all, the movie is closer to the Bourne series than it is to the earlier Bond films. You'll either love the transition or hate it, so try before you buy. |
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| "Excellent movie, Excellent 3-Disc Set" | 2008-11-15 |
| - Reviewed By simonc1138 |
Casino Royale is the 21st official James Bond movie and the first in the series to star Daniel Craig as James Bond. It's based off the Ian Fleming novel and essentially reboots the franchise with 007's first major case, to bring down the terrorist banker Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen).
Similar to what Batman Begins did for its franchise in 2005, Casino Royale takes a formulaic pop culture icon and makes him relevant and exciting again by bringing back the basics. I'm a huge Bond fan and I would've been happy with more Bond films in the vein of the Brosnan era, but this installment is like the breath of fresh air I didn't know I needed. Suddenly we have a James Bond that gets to develop as a real character, a beautiful love interest that really matters (Eva Green will go down among the best of the Bond girls), and action sequences that are intense and edgy without looking like they've been coated in the usual Hollywood gloss. This may be the 21st film in the franchise, but it stands on its own as a great movie and that's what makes Casino Royale work.
The original 2-disc release was barren of any really relevant features, so while I usually avoid the double-dips, this was one Collector's Edition that was worth it. You get everything that was in the 2-disc set, plus a third disc loaded with deleted scenes and documentaries. Most interesting are a segment discussing the legal entanglements that kept EON Productions from making Casino Royale until now, and a documentary on the effects-heavy Venice finale. Note the box lists a visual commentary by the producer/director, but the visual are only for the Blu-Ray edition.
Blu-Ray or standard def, this edition of Casino Royale is worth owning. |
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 "Daniel Craig: Definitive, Delicious Double-Oh" | 2008-10-31 |
| - Reviewed By bonzaibutterfly |
| A confession: back in late 2006 before the opening of "Casino Royale", I was one of the clamoring pack of doubters. Could blond indie thug Daniel Craig REALLY step into the rarified shoes of Connery, Moore, Brosnan, et al to portray one of the most beloved and long-running icons of cinema? Though I respected Mr. Craig's acting ability in gritty British drama, at first blush his fit for the role of Bond was not apparent. I attended a screening with very low expectations, prepared to hate a movie that had booted my beloved Pierce Brosnan out of the franchise. Well. To say that Mr. Craig blew me away would be an understatement. He totally owns the part now and we have to stretch all the way back to Sean Connery to find a Bond with such confident physicality married to a dangerous edge. Mr. Craig is not "handsome" in the classic sense. But he's compelling, virile and relentlessly watchable--a potent combination that's way better than mere "handsome". Though I submit that those blue eyes are one of the wonders of the cinematic world, and when Mr. Craig smiles (not often enough as Bond, alas), it's like the sun breaking out over the Aegean, and he is handsome, indeed. His physicality is unsurpassed, even by Connery; his rising up out of the surf is an iconic moment in the Bond canon--Ursula Andress as beefcake. The reviewer who labelled Mr. Craig 'effete' must have had a long doze, because the man drips masculinity from every pore. The stunts, locations and set pieces are all spectacular, but the overriding reason to purchase this on DVD is to appreciate, with repeat viewings, the nuances of Craig's performance. I have found reason to be fond of all the previous Bonds, but Craig is hands-down the most skilled actor to ever take the role. Bond is by definition, 'larger than life', but in Craig's hands, we are not watching a caricature of a superman in a tuxedo, but a real man in a dangerous occupation who sweats and bleeds and suffers, who makes mistakes and learns from them. He moves Bond beyond the one-note sexism and gadgetry and actually creates a fully-fleshed person who seems almost real. Mr. Craig has definitively silenced his critics, and has become a Bond for the ages. Whether his sophomore effort can maintain the high bar he set here remains to be seen, but "Casino Royale" has captured his Bond at the height of his considerable powers, and is a must-own. |
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| "movie lover" | 2008-10-29 |
| - Reviewed By danslogging |
| I've never been a james bond fan but my husband is. I bought him this because it was the only one he didn't have. He usually watches them when I'm not around. I watched this one with him & I was pleasantly surprised. I liked it. It actually had a love story to it with a tragic ending, who knew. I would recommend it to even people who were'nt fans before this to give it a try, you'll be surprised too! |
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| "thought it was gonna be bad but really like it" | 2008-10-05 |
| - Reviewed By User: A33J39T9DA80LQ |
| one of my favorite james bond movies of all time could be cause im younger but i think the best of all times |
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| "How To Make A Spy" | 2008-10-01 |
| - Reviewed By r_cidoux |
Introducing a new James Bond: Daniel Craig. The story line is old and has even been spoofed by Woody Allen in a film of the same name. The
question remains, How do you train a person to be a sanctioned assain?
Watch this film and you will be surprised at what it takes to gain the
double O designation. Judi Dench plays Bond's boss and portrays this
position with her usual panacity to give a true performance. |
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| "A welcome departure from the past" | 2008-09-29 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1GBOOPO5DTP48 |
| I was skeptical that anyone could surpass Sean Connery or Pierce Brosnan as 007, but with the right script, Daniel Craig has brought depth to the character who had previously been seen as a miraculously lucky, womanizing, defender of the free world. He is still lucky, dodging machine gun fire, playing cards (Hold 'em instead of baccarat), etc., but not so over the top that it becomes ridiculous. The torture scene, while unique and interesting, did lack some credibility. Overall, though, this an excellent Bond who brings new legs (as well as a fresh face, body, and mind) to the long-running franchise. |
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| "Reboot is remarkable! " | 2008-09-23 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1V3O4O3RJZKDK |
I loved the first Blu-Ray edition. I have not seen the Collector's Edition yet, but they have added so much more to this. I got this from the BluRay.com website....
*Bonus View Picture-in-Picture visual commentary with Director Martin Campbell and Producer Michael G. Wilson (BD Exclusive)
*"Know Your Double-O" - the Ultimate James Bond Trivia Quiz, a BD-Live enabled multi-skill level, multi-player trivia game (BD Exclusive)
Documentaries
*Ian Fleming's Incredible Creation - A remarkable look at the birth and continued success of James Bond, including never-before-revealed information about Bond's creator and the origins of 007.
*The Road to Casino Royale - The story of why it took over 50 years for the Bond filmmakers to bring Ian Fleming's first 007 novel to the big screen, featuring the amazing behind-the-scenes stories of the many attempts to make the film.
*James Bond in the Bahamas - A fascinating examination of the links between the the cinematic Bond and the Bahamas, with never-before-told behind-the-scenes stories from Casino Royale, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, For Your Eyes Only and The World Is Not Enough.
*Ian Fleming: The Secret Road to Paradise - A revealing exploration of the world of James Bond's creator. In this documentary, discover why Ian Fleming was drawn to the Bahamas, and learn the cinematic Casino Royale's unique link to an important chapter in 007's secret history.
*Death in Venice - A break down of one of the key scenes in the film.
*Becoming Bond - An intimate look at how Daniel Craig stepped into the role of James Bond.
*James Bond: For Real - A behind-the-scenes look at the ground-breaking action and the stunts in Casino Royale.
*Bond Girls Are Forever - An extended version of the 2002 AMC television special, with new footage and interviews of the new Bond Girls.
---Featurettes---
*The Art of Freerunning - An in-depth look at the freerunning chase and the freerunning technique with the sport's founder, Sebastien Foucan.
---Filmmaker Profiles: in-depth conversations with key creative forces behind Casino Royale, including never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage:
*Martin Campbell, Director
*Chris Corbould, Special Effects
*Phil Meheux, Director of Photography
*Gary Powell, Stunt Coordinator
*Alexander Witt, Second Unit Director
*David Arnold, Composer
---Deleted/Extended Scenes---
"Rescue & Recovery"
"Squandering Government Funds"
"Cricket Pavilion"
"Gettler Raises Bond's Suspicions"
---Storyboard Sequence---
Freerunning Chase -- Watch the storyboards presented in animatic form, or view them in comparison to the finished film sequence.
---Scene Deconstruction---
Catching a Plane: From Storyboard to Screen, featuring outtakes and never-before-seen footage.
---Music Video: Chris Cornell "You Know My Name"
---Crew Commentary: Audio Commentary with scene-specific comments and observations from many of Casino Royale's creative team. |
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| "Finally, a Bond movie that doesn't suck" | 2008-09-19 |
| - Reviewed By blattxx |
There's a dirty secret when it comes to James Bond movies: they all suck. Every single one of them, and we're including the ones starring Sean Connery, who's made more out of less (his accent and bristly but cultured masculinity) than any actor I can think of.
They all stank, like rot. Until this one.
To begin with, it's not poorly lit, poorly shot, with lethargic "action" sequences involving cheap explosions and poorly choreographed fight scenes. The lovable institution of "Q" (always beware of "lovable institutions") has been dispatched entirely, as have cartoonish demonstrations of "cultured living" that would appeal only to those with no conception of what "cultured" and "high class" actually consist of. (Hint: it has nothing to do with ordering drinks shaken and not stirred, or enjoying Peruvian Blonde coffee from the first beans of the season.)
James Bond movies have always appealed to a certain demographic. At least in the US, that was predominantly young, male, and incredibly dumb. Female characters--even the allegedly "strong" ones--were always soft in the head and punished for any semblance of mental fortitude with unapologetically mysogynistic names like Pussy Galore. (So much for "strong female characters", it's no wonder that being a "Bond Girl" is an insult to any serious working actor.)
Daniel Craig is a wonder--physically compact and powerful, he's like watching a coiled spring move about the stage. Eva Green, however, is the real standout. Her Vesper Lynd falls for none of Bond's pat lines and surface charms, and is just as bright and quick as he is: his initial attempt to establish the alpha-male position in their relationship is quickly upended entirely, with a sharp riposte that set the tone for the rest of the movie.
Given this latest turn in the franchise, and its rightful place as The Only Good Bond Movie Ever Made, I wait with no small anticipation for the latest release, Quantum Solace. |
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![Casino Royale [Blu-ray]](product_images/4924000/4924478_medium.jpg)
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