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Casino Royale on DVD

post #1 of 85
3/13/07 at 7:54pm
Thread Starter 
Much like Devin, I've never been a big fan of Bond, but this film has my love all over it.

I've noticed more and more people complaining about the film saying that they don't like it because it's boring, the opening chase scene was unrealistic, and/or that they don't like Bond being blond. Anyone else feel this way? I personally couldn't disagree more, but since I'm not a Bond buff, I don't really argue. Haven't made my way through the special features yet, but I'll probably get around to that tonight.
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post #2 of 85
3/13/07 at 7:56pm
Looking forward to grabbing this after work. $14, can't go wrong with that. Finally I'll own a Bond movie.
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post #3 of 85
3/13/07 at 8:54pm
Picking this up on Blu-ray after work.

Only thing I don't like about it is the stench of Hackis stupid re-writes it has at certain points.
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post #4 of 85
3/13/07 at 9:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeShaynePI
Only thing I don't like about it is the stench of Hackis stupid re-writes it has at certain points.
Just curious but what exactly would those "certain points" be? I haven't really followed who-wrote-what on this one, so I'd love some specific examples if you've got any. I'm just glad that Purvis and Wade's hackdom were somehow kept in check by Haggis' own questionable talent, or lackthereof.
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post #5 of 85
3/13/07 at 10:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Desert Squirrel
I've noticed more and more people complaining about the film saying that they don't like it because it's boring, the opening chase scene was unrealistic, and/or that they don't like Bond being blond.
As someone who's moderately pleased with the film, I'm gonna say these people are stupid.
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post #6 of 85
3/13/07 at 10:11pm
Thread Starter 
That's my reaction to, but since I've never really watched a Bond movie other than Pierce Brosnan's outings, I didn't want to get into an argument with them.

I'm also glad to see that unlike Borat, this film holds up very well on a second viewing.
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post #7 of 85
3/13/07 at 10:46pm
The second disc is completely unnecessary - it's all happy fun time EPK crap that doesn't quite go into the depth that they should have. Or maybe I'm just jaded after getting good docs on stuff like KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. You miss the good ones fast.

I still think they should have cut down on a lot of the Vesper/Bond interplay (especially at the hospital) because I think it's painfully clunky and drags the film on. Still, a fairly good action film and a return to form for Campbell.
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post #8 of 85
3/13/07 at 10:56pm
I'm not sure how to put spoiler tags on, so don't read this post if you don't want Casino Royale spoiled.

I appreciated the way it tried to make Bond not such a silly character and made him a real thug, but I didn't care for the story. The entire opening chase was dull simply because it tried so hard yet I was introduced to none of the story or characters, so I didn't care about what was going on.

And the whole last change of heart for Bond was completely unbelievable. It was ridiculous, and I thought they would have learned from Timothy Dalton's Bond when he got all weepy when his girlfriend died that no one wants to see Bond that way.

I just could not believe Bond would fall for that woman and quit the spy business. I was thinking how absurd that was from Dalton's Bond the whole time and how Craig's character should be a heartless killer who happens to be fighting even worse people.

I did enjoy the whole airport scene, though.
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post #9 of 85
3/13/07 at 11:19pm
I loved this movie. Goldeneye was also a good start to the Pierce Brosnan era, but it went downhill from there. Hopefully the next Craig movie won't suffer that downfall.

If folks complained about the first chase being unrealistic, then I suppose every other Bond movie wouldn't interest them either.

And in what Dalton Bond movie did his girlfriend die? Refresh my memory about that. Or are you confusing Felix Leiter's wife for being Bond's girlfriend?
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post #10 of 85
3/13/07 at 11:20pm
Which Dalton film are you talking about...?
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post #11 of 85
3/13/07 at 11:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 70sCinema
Which Dalton film are you talking about...?
Wasn't he only in one movie? It was where the girl was dead on the road by a car and Dalton was next to her and cried over her death.

It's been a while since I saw that, so it may have been another Bond, but same difference.
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post #12 of 85
3/13/07 at 11:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Angelo Mike
Wasn't he only in one movie? It was where the girl was dead on the road by a car and Dalton was next to her and cried over her death.

It's been a while since I saw that, so it may have been another Bond, but same difference.

I believe that was Property of a Lady.
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post #13 of 85
3/14/07 at 12:05am
Moltisanti doesn't own a single Bond film. That kinda surprised me. Kinda.
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post #14 of 85
3/14/07 at 12:09am
I don't know. I want to buy this, but maybe I should wait for it to show up in the Super-Extreme box set with some decent extras. No commentary track????!

Did anyone get it at Target? How is the extra disc? It's either that or the toy Aston Martin at Best Buy.
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post #15 of 85
3/14/07 at 12:21am
The Target "extra disc" isn't a disc at all. It's a book labeled "Bond on Set." Erroneous information has been spreading around the internet.
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post #16 of 85
3/14/07 at 12:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Wood
I don't know. I want to buy this, but maybe I should wait for it to show up in the Super-Extreme box set with some decent extras. No commentary track????!

Did anyone get it at Target? How is the extra disc? It's either that or the toy Aston Martin at Best Buy.
I believe its actually a book, not an extra disc.
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post #17 of 85
3/14/07 at 12:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Ripoll
Moltisanti doesn't own a single Bond film. That kinda surprised me. Kinda.
I've just never been a huge Bond fan. I have a lot of respect for the fact that the character has managed to endure in film for nearly 50 years. It's a fact that is more impressive when you consider the largest gap (I believe) in between films is only 6 years (LTK to GOLDENEYE).

But to be honest of the good prior Bond films I have seen I've just never had a real need to watch them more than once, or buy them. I hope CASINO ROYALE is the first of many I'll get after this reboot.

But I admit it is a bit odd to own more Mark Dacascos movies than James Bond titles.
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post #18 of 85
3/14/07 at 12:32am
I'm a massive Bond fan, but I only own two so far. But that is merely because every time I get set to buy the "ultimate" edition another one is announced. Bastards.
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post #19 of 85
3/14/07 at 12:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Angelo Mike
Wasn't he only in one movie? It was where the girl was dead on the road by a car and Dalton was next to her and cried over her death.
That was George Lazenby, and the Bond flick was On Her Majestys Secret Service.


I really liked the opening chase, and even though it was unrealistic, I found it to be nonetheless awesome, and Daniel Craig as a thuggish Bond is the best decision for the character ever. He really does remind me of Dalton, and that's great.
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post #20 of 85
3/14/07 at 12:48am
I liked him as Bond, but the film really failed to grab me as anything special. But hey, I'm still looking forward to the next installment.
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post #21 of 85
3/14/07 at 12:54am
I've never met anyone in person that had any problems with this film.
Probably because it's fantastic and I don't fraternize with fools,
though I am not speaking ill of any Chewers.

It's the 22nd Bond dvd that I have bought and the only problems I have with it is that the packaging doesn't match the rest of the series, but how could it?

The bonus disc could be better, but it's not TERRIBLE.
The Becoming Bond feature is not too much slighter than all the Making's-Of on the other films.
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post #22 of 85
3/14/07 at 1:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Angelo Mike
And the whole last change of heart for Bond was completely unbelievable. It was ridiculous, and I thought they would have learned from Timothy Dalton's Bond when he got all weepy when his girlfriend died that no one wants to see Bond that way.

I just could not believe Bond would fall for that woman and quit the spy business. I was thinking how absurd that was from Dalton's Bond the whole time and how Craig's character should be a heartless killer who happens to be fighting even worse people.
Ian Fleming is spinning in his grave. SPINNING.
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post #23 of 85
3/14/07 at 2:06am
So, I'm watching the becoming bond thing and it shows this producer or something and he totally had a mr. potato head nose. It was the oddest thing I've ever seen. His nose looked like it was completely separate from his face and attached to it with a peg in a hole.
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post #24 of 85
3/14/07 at 2:06am
No response, Mike? I'll repeat my question to you regarding your knowledge of which scenes Haggis wrote:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Litmus Configuration
Just curious but what exactly would those "certain points" be? I haven't really followed who-wrote-what on this one, so I'd love some specific examples if you've got any. I'm just glad that Purvis and Wade's hackdom were somehow kept in check by Haggis' own questionable talent, or lackthereof.
Also: Dalton never weeped. Neither did Craig. Neither did Lazenby, the actual Bond in question, for that matter. For fuck's sake...
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post #25 of 85
3/14/07 at 2:12am
"I have no armor left. You've stripped it from me"

I never said I knew exactly what moments he'd re-written. I said there were points that had his stench on them. If you'd like I can go through it and make a list of the most cliched parts and lines. Whether or not he was responsible for them is speculative, but the odds are pretty good.
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post #26 of 85
3/14/07 at 2:18am
Well if you can identify Haggis' stench on any given scene, you should be able to give me some examples. But since you now admit you're just speculating, I'm not sure how you can tell Haggis' stench from Purvis & Wade's stench, since all three of them are shitty writers.

And yet, somehow, the film turned out pretty well in spite of them. I wish I knew how.
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post #27 of 85
3/14/07 at 2:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Litmus Configuration
Well if you can identify Haggis' stench on any given scene, you should be able to give me some examples. But since you now admit you're just speculating, I'm not sure how you can tell Haggis' stench from Purvis & Wade's stench, since all three of them are shitty writers.

And yet, somehow, the film turned out pretty well in spite of them. I wish I knew how.
I gave you an example, I didn't admit anything because I made no claims in the first place, and if you agree that he's a shitty writer why start an argument?
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post #28 of 85
3/14/07 at 3:08am
I'm not arguing. I simply asked for some info that you seemed to have a pretty clear handle on. Obviously you don't. No biggie.
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post #29 of 85
3/14/07 at 3:29am
Great movie and i'll probably be picking up sometime this week.
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post #30 of 85
3/14/07 at 1:15pm
How was that opening chase unrealistic? Was it the free running?
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post #31 of 85
3/14/07 at 3:12pm
First thing I always keep in mind is "This is a BOND film". As such, I believe, there are different rules in place. Would Jason Bourne chase after a guy like that? Would Bruce in "Die Hard" mode? Hell no. Damon woulda pulled out a rifle and peg the fucker from below the crane. Bruce woulda done some shit to blow the crane up on top of the guy. But Bond....we need this guy to find out how the terrorists are working. So we get a way better than average Bond Chase™.

As a Bond fan my whole life, I'm the sucker that's gonna double or triple-dip this bitch when they give me the in-depth commentaries and features next time. As it is, I get the opportunity to watch a Bond that's as satisfying to me in its own way as "From Russia With Love" has been. To me, that's a freakin' red letter day.

The choice to make Bond a blunt instrument and show us the lessons learned in how to go from that into more of the sword he turned into later was a good one. I love that Bond is just flat out mean. And Craig was the perfect choice for this one....his Bond is demonstratively tougher than nails.
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post #32 of 85
3/14/07 at 3:37pm
I keep walking a tightrope here, not on whether Casino Royale is good, because as a Bond fan I think it's awesome, but whether or not its better than Goldfinger - purely on a Bond scale - and whether or not Daniel Craig has usurped Connery as the best of the best.

Anyhoo, DVD arrived in the mail yesterday from a pre-order, extras are nothing to scream at but who cares, the film holds up spectacularly.
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post #33 of 85
3/14/07 at 3:46pm
Better than Goldfinger?? Surely you jest.
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post #34 of 85
3/14/07 at 6:45pm
JKJ....go watch Goldfinger and From Russia With Love again. Give yourself a recent viewing of all three to compare.

For me, Craig is excellent as Bond, but I want to see how he works the character over multiple pictures before I dare let him usurp Connery's position as "#1 Bond".
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post #35 of 85
3/14/07 at 7:13pm
Based strictly on their debut films, I would rank the Bond actors as such:

1) Daniel Craig (CASINO ROYALE)
2) Sean Connery (DR. NO)
3) Timothy Dalton (THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS)
4) Pierce Brosnan (GOLDENEYE)
5) George Lazenby (ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE)
6) Roger Moore (LIVE AND LET DIE)

Obviously, the top two spots might swap positions as the Craig films continue but I sure hope not.
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post #36 of 85
3/14/07 at 10:03pm
I'd bet dollars to donuts that the following exchange is courtesy Purvis & Wade:

"I'm the money."
"Worth every penny!"

Jesus, that was awful. Pure DIE ANOTHER DAY agony. Haggis must've been the strong link in that writing triumvirate. He must have been.
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post #37 of 85
3/14/07 at 10:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen King
Casino Royale - I came out of the theater thinking it was the best Bond since Goldfinger. A subsequent viewing of Goldfinger — for this column — has convinced me it's the best Bond ever.
And he wrote Cujo, so he would know.
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post #38 of 85
3/14/07 at 10:20pm
He also got run over by a van at one point.
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post #39 of 85
3/14/07 at 10:27pm
Last I checked, YOU didn't write Cujo, Paul! So enough with the Monday Morning Cujowriting.

King was probably wishing that van driver had Craig's swerving skills when he watched Casino Royale.
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post #40 of 85
3/14/07 at 10:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul McCartney
I'd bet dollars to donuts that the following exchange is courtesy Purvis & Wade:

"I'm the money."
"Worth every penny!"

Jesus, that was awful. Pure DIE ANOTHER DAY agony. Haggis must've been the strong link in that writing triumvirate. He must have been.
That's more generic than awful. Some of the DAD stuff is really appalling, especially when Bond and Jinx first meet.

"Ornithologist, huh? Wow. Now there's a mouthful."

Ack.
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post #41 of 85
3/14/07 at 10:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 70sCinema
Monday Morning Cujowriting.
Awesome. I'll endeavour to use that term in real life. God knows how, exactly.
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post #42 of 85
3/14/07 at 10:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Wood
That's more generic than awful. Some of the DAD stuff is really appalling, especially when Bond and Jinx first meet.

"Ornithologist, huh? Wow. Now there's a mouthful."

Ack.
A lot of it is delivery, but I think this line is one instance where they really sucked. Still, the audience I saw CR with lapped up almost every joke and reacted to every React Now! moment, and it was a lot of fun, whereas when I saw DAD there was just uncomfortable silence and even groaning throughout the whole thing. In fact, CR is the best audience movie I've seen in years.
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post #43 of 85
3/15/07 at 2:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul McCartney
I'd bet dollars to donuts that the following exchange is courtesy Purvis & Wade:

"I'm the money."
"Worth every penny!"

Jesus, that was awful.
Yes, it was awful...especially since you invented half of it. The actual exchange in the film is:

VESPER: I'm the money.
BOND: Every penny of it.

Not a huge difference on paper but sold extremely well in the performances and a nice kick-off to the Bond/Vesper relationship.

I just finished watching CASINO ROYALE for the second time on DVD, the fifth time overall. I honestly can't put my finger on why but I think I'm downright addicted to the film. Maybe I'm just detoxing after years of Wilson & Broccoli's nonsense. I know the film isn't perfect, I know what its flaws are...and yet, I just love the hell out of CASINO ROYALE. I really think it boils down to the performances and direction. Campbell and his cast really brought their A-game, despite whatever flaws originated with the hack firm of Purvis, Wade & Haggis.

One reviewer praised Craig and mentioned how he was shorter than the other Bond actors, so he had to try that much harder. I think the same could be said of Campbell, who was burdened with lousy writers and had to similarly "try that much harder."
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post #44 of 85
3/15/07 at 3:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Litmus Configuration
I honestly can't put my finger on why but I think I'm downright addicted to the film. Maybe I'm just detoxing after years of Wilson & Broccoli's nonsense. I know the film isn't perfect, I know what its flaws are...and yet, I just love the hell out of CASINO ROYALE.
It's so fucking creepy and gay how much I identified with that shit up there.
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post #45 of 85
3/16/07 at 3:16am
I've watched it twice now since I picked it up...damn what a great fucking movie. It may still move up but it still is just hovering outside my top 5 Bonds. I even went as far as to download a made up cover insert for the DVD that matches the old special editions that came out around 98/99.

And lord help me I still love the fucking Song.
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post #46 of 85
3/16/07 at 12:07pm
The song is a perfectly fine Bond song. The only problem I have is that the vocal take they used in the film is much thinner than the one on the single, which suffers from being less orchestral than the film one. It's 2 minutes. I'll live.
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post #47 of 85
3/16/07 at 5:21pm
I dig the song and think some of the earlier mixes sounded better as well, but "You Know my Name" still gets me pumped for the film to come and regardless, it's leagues better than that techno drivel from Die Another Day.
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post #48 of 85
3/19/07 at 11:21am
When I initially heard the song before the film came out, I questioned why they would use Chris Cornell, among other things.

But after viewing that opening sequence, when the opening credits queued up and the song began, I was pumped.

I look forward to watching this again in the next week.
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post #49 of 85
3/19/07 at 11:22am
Love this movie. Love it, love it, love it. Even spent the dough to have the watered down version just to pass it around to friends.
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post #50 of 85
3/20/07 at 3:16am
Picked up the dvd today. I got the Wal-Mart edition with the playing cards. This movie is so awesome.
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