Casino Royale DVD Review

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"Casino Royale" reviews

DVD

Casino Royale

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2007-03-16 16:00:51

Provider

DVD Review

While the original film that bore the title of Ian Flemming's book was a comedy with David Niven and Woody Allen, Daniel Craig's debut is a far cry from that, revealing a shockingly violent scene at the very beginning.

This is in fact a prequel, a sort of 'Bond Begins', taking us back to the time the young(ish) secret agent earned his double-o spurs, with Judi Dench's M wondering aloud whether she's promoted him too soon (a sly reference to the outcry that greeted Daniel Craig's casting).

The gadgetry - which has been threatening to outstrip the films since mid-Roger Moore's reign - is stripped right back and we even see 007 acquiring his iconic Aston Martin DB5.

Bond foils Le Chiffre's (Mads Mikkelsen) plan to blow up a plane, sending airline companies share value into freefall. Finding himself out of pocket, Le Chiffre heads to Montenegro for a high stakes card game, followed by Bond and treasury official Vesper Lynd (Eva Green).

The script is superbly handled with Crash's Paul Haggis among the screenwriters. Action sequences thrill and spill without ever looking like they're the film's raison d'etre and the most talked-about scene (in which Bond's danglers are treated to some sadistic torture) is the best, most wincingly painful moment since Goldfinger was threatening Sean Connery's 007 with a laser all those years ago.

With corny one-liners and Austen Powers implausibility set aside, this is the most realistic James Bond film there has ever been and an entertaining contemporary action flick.

Special features on the 2-disc set include featurettes Becoming Bond, James Bond For Real and Death in Venice. There's also a focus on the fabulous ladies who have come into contact with the suave spy in Bond Girls Are Forever plus 5 news wraps and the video for the theme song by Chris Cornell.