Casino Royale

[Guy Berger]

I saw this last night. It was a very good movie and definitely exceeded my expectations!

Guy

[sal]

I saw it last night as well. My faith in the James Bond franchise has been restored. This movie was excellent, and Daniel Craig makes a terrific Bond.

The cinematic surprise of 2006?

[Harold_Z]

I saw it yesterday also. I agree with you guys. GOOOOD FLICK !

Totally entertaining. It held my interest all the way through, and the final "Bond....James Bond" made me laugh out loud.

[Adam]

I also enjoyed it. I'm a fan of the books, and it hews pretty close to the book in many ways (leaves it way behind in others, but still...)

[Big Al]

I saw it last night as well. My faith in the James Bond franchise has been restored. This movie was excellent, and Daniel Craig makes a terrific Bond.

Agree completely!!!! Excellent picture!

[BFrank]

Saw it yesterday. I guess I set my sights too high. I heard so many good things about it, I ended up being a little disappointed. Also, it could have used about 20-30 minutes of editing.

I liked the opening music animated sequence.

[Shawn]

I'm looking forward to this one...hell, might go out and see it tonight....

[GA Russell]

Is there the usual bedding of beautiful women? Somewhere along the line I got tired of that schtick and started longing for a good adventure story.

[Alexander]

I saw this the day it was released and I LOVED it. Craig is a great, great Bond. He returns the character to the Connery days of straightforward brutality. Connery (and Craig) played Bond as, essentially, a thug who dresses up in a tux (M (Judi Dench) even calls Bond a "blunt instrument" in the new film). Moore and Brosnan played Bond as (I hate to say it) a bit more of a sadist. Not that Connery and Craig couldn't come up with a cool put down right after they'd put a bullet between someone's eyes, but Moore and Brosnan acted as though they *enjoyed* it. Craig gives you the impression of a man who has always thinked with his fists and just doesn't know any other way.

I like the stripped down story, too. The lack of supervillians and gadgets was refreshing!

On the other hand, Le Chiffre is probably the most brutal Bond villian of all time! Getting whacked in the balls is a lot worse than sharks with frickin' lasers on their frickin' heads...

[Dan Gould]

Glad to see the generally strong reviews here. Last Christmas, we received a gift card to a really cool theater in Boca Raton - extra large screen, extra large "love seats" (you can raise the arm to get cozy with your companion) and free popcorn - but we've never used it. So I suggested that this Bond film would be the best choice to finally use the damn card.

[brownie]

Have not seen James Bond films in ages.

Positive posts here (and various reviews) may change my mind about it.

Also understand that in the film James Bond makes good use of the Lillet aperitif as an ingredient in his favorite drink.

Which is a sure sign of good taste!

Lillet is also a favorite drink at home. It is made outside Bordeaux!

Glad to see the Lillet is enjoying fresh fame. A highly recommended aperitif drink!

[Noj]

Thumbs up here! Saw it this morning. Good action, and the depiction is much more realistic than in previous Bond movies. Drags a bit through one segment, but other than that is fun throughout.

I'm over the fact that Craig was unable to drive a stick shift during production. He made for a good 007.

[Jazzmoose]

Since I'm probably the only one here who thought the original Casino Royale was the best Bond movie ever made, I'll just shuffle on off now...

[jazzbo]

I DO love the original Casino Royale; laugh my ass off. Have to see that one again soon.

Want to see the new one soon as well. And as it has been about six months since I've been at a theater, I'd really enjoy it.

[Alexander]

Since I'm probably the only one here who thought the original Casino Royale was the best Bond movie ever made, I'll just shuffle on off now...

I HATE the original "Casino Royal," and not because it's a Bond spoof. No, I hate it because its a complete MESS. Because it's the only occasion when three of the most talented directors collaborated (Woody Allen, Orson Welles, and John Huston) and it's one of the worst movies ever made. And because it completely WASTES Peter Sellers.

[BruceH]

I saw it last Saturday and was pleasantly surprised. Despite the good reviews I came to it with rather low expectations and so it was a LOT better than I thought it would be. Yes, it could have been tightened up (one false ending after another), and I could have done without the torture scene entirely, but I'm amazed at how adult (in the best sense) the film was. Still a Bond film, but they jettisoned a lot of the self-parodic goofiness, and gadgets, that the series became encrusted with over the years. And starting out in black&white was interesting. Ludicrously front-loaded with action sequences, and the villain seemed rather weak, but still...a startlingly decent film. But I'm not into the idea of my KIDS seeing it...that revolting torture scene...yuk. (They probably will anyway, but I'm not gonna take'em.)

[BruceH]

Also, my wife pointed out that it's the only Bond film she knows of that has a flashback. (Bond/Craig flashing on his first kill as he's about to notch up his second.) She may be right.

[Noj]

My Dad said the torture scene is in the book, fwiw.

[BruceH]

Ouch!

[jazzbo]

Since I'm probably the only one here who thought the original Casino Royale was the best Bond movie ever made, I'll just shuffle on off now...

I HATE the original "Casino Royal," and not because it's a Bond spoof. No, I hate it because its a complete MESS. Because it's the only occasion when three of the most talented directors collaborated (Woody Allen, Orson Welles, and John Huston) and it's one of the worst movies ever made. And because it completely WASTES Peter Sellers.

Huh. I disagree entirely! But not for the first time.

[Alexander]

My Dad said the torture scene is in the book, fwiw.

I think that it's even nastier in the book than in the film. In the movie, Bond is whacked in the nuts with a knotted rope. In the book, he's whacked with a CARPET BEATER. Eeeeeeech!!!

[Shawn]

Picked up the DVD this week and was nicely surprised by how good this movie is. Craig is excellent as Bond and it's fascinating to watch his personality evolve through the film. Eva Green is memorable as Vesper and adds more depth than is normally expected from a "Bond Girl". Personally I'm also happy that the villain is more low-key than usual as the film successfully keeps it's more serious tone without someone chewing up the scenery. I'm hopeful for the future of the franchise, they've built a great foundation to launch from.

Edited March 16, 2007 by Shawn

[andybleaden]

Watched it again and it is such a refreshing change from all of that Roger moore nonsense and everything since then. I think this was one of the best Bond films I have ever seen.

Very exciting, heart wrenching etc but believable...

only shame is as the bond films go back in time the techie stuff moves on with sms etc..anyway it did not spoil it for me

[Stefan Wood]

The best Bond film, period. On top of that, a great action and thrilling spy film! We forget how much of a hard boiled character he was, unless you have read the books.