Casino Royale [Blu-ray] [2006]

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk

The most successful invigoration of a cinematic franchise since Batman Begins, Casino Royale offers a new Bond identity. Based on the Ian Fleming novel that introduced Agent 007 into a Cold War world, Casino Royale is the most brutal and viscerally exciting James Bond film since Sean Connery left Her Majesty's Secret Service. Meet the new Bond; not the same as the old Bond. Daniel Craig gives a galvanising performance as the freshly minted double-0 agent. Suave, yes, but also a "blunt instrument," reckless and possessed with an ego that compromises his judgment during his first mission to root out the mastermind behind an operation that funds international terrorists. In classic Bond film tradition, his global itinerary takes him to far-flung locales, including Uganda, Madagascar, the Bahamas (that's more like it) and Montenegro, where he is pitted against his nemesis in a poker game, with hundreds of millions in the pot. The stakes get even higher when Bond lets down his armour by falling in love with Vesper (Eva Green), the ravishing banker's representative fronting him the money.

For longtime fans of the franchise, Casino Royale offers some retro kicks. Bond wins his iconic Aston Martin at the gaming table, and when a bartender asks if he wants his martini "shaken or stirred," he disdainfully replies, "Do I look like I give a damn?". There's no Moneypenny or "Q," but Dame Judi Dench is back as the exasperated M who, one senses, admires Bond's "bloody cheek." A Bond film is only as good as its villain, and Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre, who weeps blood, is a sinister dandy. From its punishing violence and virtuoso action sequences to its romance, Casino Royale is a Bond film that, in the words of one character, 'makes you feel it', particularly during an excruciating torture sequence. Double-0s, Bond observes early on, "have a short life expectancy". But with Craig, there is new life in the old franchise yet, as well as genuine anticipation for the next one when, at last, the signature James Bond theme kicks in following the best last line ever in any Bond film. To quote Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin, "now I know what I've been faking all these years". --Donald Liebenson

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-05-09 rating:
Good film but with some inconsistant image quality
First of all let me say that I think this is a great Bond film. Not that some earlier ones weren't, they were good for their era but it seems that now 'we' want a gritty hero, not a romantic vision of a spy.
In that I think DC plays the role very well.

What did surprise me was that some of the film displayed poor image quality. The part that springs to mind is the scene in the embassy courtyard. The camera switches from Bond to his persuers and back and forth again.
The change in definition quality changes dramaticaly between one and the other camera shot. I thought I must have a fault but a friend at work had noticed the same thing. Strange for a recent film to have this problem.
Probably a case that the two camera angles were shot at completely different times/location with different equipment and one was inferior to the other.

Still, a great Bond film.

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review by: Mmmm Shiny date: 2008-04-29 rating:
I am not a fan of Daniel Craig as bond.
I personally thought the idea of where to take the Bond franchise was very clever, reboot it with less sillyness. However casting DC was in my opinion a very poor move. To each thier own though. So that aside how is the movie, its ok except for the over long love plot which slows the movie down too much. Other niggles include keeping supporting cast from the Brosnan era when the franchise has been rebooted, why? it is too strong a connection with the older movies. That aside the tone is darker than most bond films and the action is excellent.
Is it an essential blu ray purchase? only if you like DC as bond. However it is a good looking film and is enhanced by the format.

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review by: date: 2008-02-25 rating:
A must buy for Blu Ray
This is an excellent film and a must have if you own a PS3 (or other Blu Ray player) and a HDTV. The difference in picture quality between this and a normal DVD is amazing, you can see little details on everything. It makes every scene of the movie look like a work of art, the definition on even the smallest details such as scars on people's faces or the bricks on the wall is jaw-dropping. As for the movie, well it's most likely the best bond movie ever, there are some impressive set pieces, and some pretty intense moments that seemed to be lacking in some of the more recent bond films. Daniel Craig fits the part perfectly and has made this role his own.

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review by: date: 2008-02-05 rating:
Advertising nightmare
Each time you put this Blu-ray into your player you are forced (non-skippable) to sit through 2 minutes of SONY advertising BLU RAY! What pathetic individual at Sony thought they could endear people to their product by forcing them to sit through an advertisement for a product that they obviously have?

Oh and there's tons of product placement in the film but that doesn't matter.


review by: date: 2008-01-10 rating:
Not as different as you may be led to believe
The hype surrounding this film was that it was a dark, realisic spy film. Akin more to Bourne than previous bond. Without the usual whitty quips and traditional unrealstic stunts.

To be honest, this just isn't true. Bad guys still have a total inability to shoot straight, Bond still never feels like he's in any real danger, whether poisoned, tortured or shot at, and the action pieces are still far from realistic.

Casino Royale is a progression of the Brosnan movies, but it's not a revolution by any means.

Saying that it's still a good film. Bond, as usual, is tracking down the villain, beind double crossed at every turn and as ever under the thumb of M. There are elements that have been lost, no more Q, no more gadgets and Daniel Craig is now the eye candy.

Personally this feels like a watered down Bond film, without the gritty style or realisticness that has been touted. I do believe the Bond films needed an overhaul, but I'm not sure this was it.

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