Casino Royale (DVD, 2007, 2-Disc Set; Widescreen)

Daniel Criag was ok as James Bond, but I think it will take a couple for him to be accepted by fans. This one isn't even close to being one of the best.

The 21st James Bond movie is not up to speed with the others. It's an ok Bond movie but I don't really care for the new Bond. I wish Pierce would have stayed but oh well.

Still not on a par with the days of Sean Connery, the new Bond is quite an improvement over effeminate versions portrayed by Pierce Brosnan and Timothy Dalton. You can finally see some of the manly qualities that Bond should have, without all of the fancy-pants poncery of the more modern Englishmen to play the part.


But enough about the acting, as that's hardly what people would buy a Bond film for!


The Bondgirls: very nice this time around. I remember hearing an uproar about Eva Green being selected for the female lead, but I think she's perfect. Quite good in this film. She was thankfully not another Xena: Warrior Princess 21st-Century female action hero stereotype. She was tough, yet vulnerable, and quite feminine. The other ladies were quite easy on the eyes, as well, though they don't get much screen time. It's a one girl show this time around.


The Plot: though I realize nobody watches Bond films for the clever plot, this one was not so ridiculous as some of its predecessors. Though not as intricate, with only mild twisting and turning, it is at least believable. Basically, the villain is a banker-to-the-warlords who takes a huge loss when his stock market scheme is foiled, and needs to make up the defecit before the warlords realize he was gambling with their money. Intro the high-stakes Texas Hold'em tournament (yeah, you heard right!) held in Montenegro - probably the most unlikely premise for Bond to appear anywhere, it is an obvious latch-on to the growing popularity of the card game. Anyway, Bond needs to win, because he's Bond, and the villain needs to win, because he doesn't want to sleep with the fishes, see. Violence and intrigue ensue. Pretty standard stuff, if you cut out the poker bit.


The Action: yes, beside the Bondgirls, this is the reason most people would spend two hours watching a Bond Film. And, for the first time in the last few installments, this edition actually lives up to expectations. After a short flashback for expository purposes, we are treated to a relatively original chase scene, something you can rarely count on in a Bond film. The action here was well-balanced between tension-building realism and the over-the-top unlikeliness Bond films are noted for. I was impressed. Later on, there is a short car chase that ends in an interesting, if somewhat Snidely Whiplash-esque, manner. A somewhat less interesting fuel truck fight (I know I've seen it in a previous installment) sets the stage for one of Bond's clever tricks that the audience isn't let in on until the end. Also, they do some interesting things to a Venician building towards the end.


The Cars: this was a little disappointing. The Astin-Martin was nice, but that's about it. One moment that tickled my fancy was when they showed bond driving a rental car that looked like a Ford Focus, or something similarly lame (no offense to Ford employees - I'm sure it gets excellent gas mileage).


The Gadgets: surprisingly few gadgets entered into the story, and nothing that allows Bond to make a MacGuyver-like escape from some holding cell. Every last deus ex machina in the film was due to something else saving Bond's bacon. I missed the laser pens, and John Cleese, but you can't have everything.


Overall, I would say this is definitely above averageon the Bond scale, and I would recommend all Bondophiles buy it. People with only a mild interest in Bond films may want to rent first.

I saw this film opening day in a state of the art theatre and the DVD is just as captivating. The action scenes in this film are top notch! You can't leave the screen for a minute for fear of missing something!

Daniel Craig is a fine actor and does justice to the role. He has the looks of a soldier, which is Bond's history. I didn't miss the gadgets, which were a bit much lately, in the other films. Eva Green plays her part very well, and won an award in Britain.

The torture scene was hard to watch, but if that sort of thing bothers you, you can fast forward.

This DVD is a good addition to your collection, expecially if you are an old fan of James Bond!

Fabulous! After watching this film I was impressed much more than I expected to be. Casino Royale is the James Bond of the 20th Century. Fast high powered action scenes push this movie way out in front of all the dull predictable olden James Bond rubbish of the past!
Entertainment is well and truly back for James Bond!

As BOND movies go-this one is GOOD with alot of action. I liked the performance of Daniel Craig as BOND and there was an above average amount
of action scenes in the movie. What I did not like though, was the lengthy
getting into the point of the action. At times the movie took far too long
to get to AN EXPECTED climax. The chase scene at the start seems to go on
forever for an example. At 2 hours and 24 minutes in length - it seems they
put the 24 minutes extra in - just in basically useless talk and needless
scenes. I rate this one GOOD-but not excellent (4 of 5 stars). Worth the
purchase if you get it at an Ebay discount price- - but not worth the full
price you might pay at a video store.

I love the James Bond movies. When I first heard of the new actor I was very nervous about how the movie would be done. However, I love this new character!

He oozes Bond. Smart, quick, action packed, and a dark humour. The first half of the movie was incredible. The action hero never quit mentality.

When it came to the card game/poker match section I found it a bit boring. However, the confidence of the new Bond was excellent!

The little lines that are thrown out at the correct time are classic.

No No Right, just a bit more to the Right!

or

That's because you know what I can do with my little finger.

Laugh.

Awesome. I cannot wait for the new Bond flick to open!

5/5

Latsyrhc
Tamarack Collectibles

Daniel Craig holds his own in this new updated version of Double 07, James Bond. He looks good,actually really good and his cold blue eyes (enhanced for the movie) tell a thousand stories.
His Bond girls are below average and so forgettable. Where is Angelina Jolie when you need her?
Regardless- this new twists and changes brings life back into a really tired series. Action packed and full of Bond cliches, Casino Royale is a hybrid of all those former Bond flicks.
Judi Dench is wonderful in her role. She gives a new meaning to the phrase powerful woman.
Check out this flick, you may love it or hate it but at least it's entertaining.
And where was the great James Bond theme song? You would think some front and center artist would have gotten the honors- yet no Brittney or Jessica or 50 Cent.

Awesome movie, The action at the start of the movie was great. Talk about Daniel Craig's chiselled body... The Ashton Martin chase could have had couple of more minutes and couple of more gadgets. Other than that excellent movie. High quality video and sound. A must see!! Pierce Brosnan was great, but Daniel Craig gives a cunning and sophisticated imgae in Casino Royale.

The first time I watched it I enjoyed the storyline, construction site chase scene, and overall acting. I was thinking there was something missing though. The gadgets! But then I thought about it: This movie is about the introduction of James Bond; not just the character, but the new actor as well. (Pierce Brosnan is a tough act to follow). So it just makes sense that this new double-O agent is using more braun than brains. Very well done.

The movie had lots of mystery, a great storyline etc... but I missed all the cooi gadgets. No great car or boat.
I wasn't enthralled by the actor and never felt Bonds had such deep romantic feelings. Was much different than any other Bond movie I've seen. I missed the gadgets.
Was very bloody and violent. Casino scenes were great. I missed the gadgets.
This was supposedly one of Bonds first missions. Shows his smarts and skills.Although he was a bit cocky. I missed the gadgets?
I recommend seeing it to all Bonds fans.
Did I mention, I missed the gadgets?

Casino Royale

Casino Royale is spectacular. It is action packed, suspenseful, and full of beautiful ladies. This is a great action film that isn't too unrealistic.

I'm not massive James Bond fan, I've actually only seen part of the other Bond films, but this movie was amazing... and now I'm going to have to go and rent all of the other Bond films to see what I was missing.

Casino Royale is full of twists and turns, laughs, action, and excitement. It is one of the best action films I have seen in the last 5... maybe 10 years.

Daniel Craig gives a spectacular performance as James Bond and the rest of the cast is perfect as well.

Final Verdict:

5/5

Worth buying?: I'm buying it and I'm not a James Bond fan... it's definitely worth buying

I went into this movie with a negative outlook on it. I had heard a lot of things about the new Bond and how he just wasn't as good as previous Bonds. Yeah right! Daniel Craig was awesome, he was hot, and he is the best Bond ever... Too bad he wasn't in Goldeneye.

The movie itself was great as well and was not a let down as some Bond films in the past have been. It's up there with Goldeneye!

This may come off as a suprise, but I've never read the books by Fleming nor seen any of the other Bond movies. I found this movie to be very captivating, and entertaining. Daniel Craig's performance was splendid and excellent (his blue eyes really can hold your attention).

Unbelievable!!!!
This movie should have been a whole lot bigger at the Box office then it was. Everybody was just plain sick of the James Bond movies because of the last couple of dud Bonds.... BOND IS BACK in a form never before seen on the screen, Truer to the original books and one hell of great job!!!! This one even the women will really appreciate. ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW!!! GET IT AND GET IT NOW!!!!
P.S. This bond cannot only kick all the other Bonds butts at the same time, he can also out act the others.
Sorry Sean Connery, You'll always be Bond to me, but this is the BEST BOND MOVIE EVER!!!!!!!

Love the movie. Daniel Craig is an excellent Bond, try Layer Cake and you will see why he was an excellent choice. Gritty and very interesting. Everything about this movie bleeds 007. It was quite stunning to find at the end Bond can really truly trust not a soul. Poor guy to live out life like that, but hey, he gets to knock people off....sweeeeeet; in style and all the while entertaining gorgeous women. So anyhow, if you haven't seen Casino Royale, it's well worth the viewing, and if you have seen it, isn't it one of those films you could watch over and over again? I cannot wait for the next edition of a great series of films.

Although i did like this movie " Casino Royale " but what made me wonder was it was a new person being James Bond. He played okay as James Bond. This movie has plenty of excitement including lots of action and killing. Good movie to watch with friends.

This latest rendition of the James Bond franchise is what I believe to be the most faithful to the original Ian Flemming character. Although it has many of the features that characterized previous James Bond movies, I think this one created a character that was more believable, more sincere, and less polished than the previous portrayals.

The chase scene in the opening scenes of the movie capture the viewers attention early. Although fantastic chase scenes are standard fare in James Bond movies of old, this particular chase scene is above and beyond anything done before.

Unlike previous moviews, there was an effort by the screen writers to develop a human side of the 007 character including faults, disregard for authority, and a childlike nature.

The Bond girls are once again included but seem to have a bit more character development beyond the typical eye candy roles of the past.

This is my favorite movie in the series thus far. I hope Daniel Craig continues to make more 007 adventures.

Blonde Bond? The critics, the fans, the action figure manufacturers all wanted to know if this change would fly with fans. As it turns out, it works and this fan loves Daniel Craig's portrayal of James Bond.

The story is the first in the long line of Bond books, but the collaborators were able to give the film an "early Bond film" feel as well as incorporating modern technology.

All the talk failed to mention that this latest installment still has tons of action. So, guys you won't mind watching this with your gal pal who wants to watch it just to get an eyefull of the buff Bond body.

I enjoyed the new Bond and I decided to buy the DVD. The cost was better than that at the stores, and the convenience made it a no brainer to buy it through Ebay.

The most grittiest for the series, it is trademarked by it's well written dialogue and realistic action sequences. Daniel Craig (Layer Cake) is on top of his game in this espionage action-thriller. You will surely not be dissapointed!

This is definitely the best Bond film yet. Great acting and action. No crazy gimmicks, just raw James Bond. Highly recommended.

I enjoyed this movie. We have been searching for that new James Bond agent to help us keep up with the times and this is that Bond. This particular bond shows us that heartless, gutless, attitude, needed to make in the world of being a 007 agent. In the preview, it was funny, that usually all the Bond movies, usually have a long drawn out conversation, where Bond and the evil Boss talk and explain concepts with each other. Well in this Bond, during the preview, you notice the Boss, sitting down talking with Bond about who knows what. Bonds cuts it short by firing a bullet to the head and ending the conversation with...Yes, Considerably. He has no time to hear that long talk. That is what the entire movie is about...Pure ACTION!