A good gamble! (Casino Royale [2006] (DVD))

Member Name: macutmore

Product:	Casino Royale [2006] (DVD)
Date:	18/11/06 (118 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cutting edge, world class genuine Bond.

Disadvantages: Its Bond but not as we know it!

The eagerly awaited Bond feature! I’m always excited with the release of any new Bond movie and especially with this one because of the new mans debut (Daniel Craig). I’d been thinking, so he looks the part, but does he have a sense of humour? Or is he going to be the kind of ‘also ran’ like in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service?

All was revealed with my first visit to the cinema in many months, (where I always insist on first witnessing any new Bond movie) and almost by invitation, I was impressed by the glamorous Bond style fashion dressing of the cinema staff including the cashier and on exit a couple of stunning gorgeous models promoting deodorant with free samples being given too!

Once this feature rolled though, it was obvious that a totally alien James Bond to the one as we know it begins here. The Classic title sequence gone, replaced with a card pack graphic style animation, and no evidence of any silhouettes of the female form at all! Come to think of it the lengthy dramatic action packed nail biting introduction reel also appeared somewhat short and different to almost a lacking comparison here. Could this ever be forgiven?

If you like your poker, gambling or casino style movies this is a real treat though. It is basically a really serious game interspersed with some pretty brutal and somewhat gritty fast moving fight and chase sequences that do actually suffice to keep intense interest as the plot unfolds. A world record car stunt, (one for the Americans to beat don’t you think?), and a really impressive Venice set finale makes this succeed as a true Bond Movie without doubt. Confusion arises as to whether this really be the beginning or the end of Fleming’s masterpiece of stories though. Gadgets that we are very familiar with today are no big deal, but what has ever been far fetched anyway in Bond movies gadget wise since the introduction to the pager that every one laughed at in Goldfinger, or the ‘identikit’ in, what was it – Moonraker?

As for the sense of humour, well I missed that, but we seem to be in the league of the Bourne Identity style here, and Daniel Craig has done a superb piece of work making up for it somewhat with his own style of serious manly finesse.

Summary: Casino Royale is a must see.