by kellie abrahamson kabrahamson1@aol.com
His name is Bond. James Bond. And for over 40 years moviegoers have been following his trials, tribulations and womanizing. The well-known character has been portrayed by six different men over the years, the latest incarnation giving us yet another face to put to the name. Casino Royale is now available on DVD, allowing fans and newcomers a chance to experience a new story, a new edgier atmosphere and a new Bond.
British agent James Bond (Daniel Craig) has just reached “double-0” status and has officially acquired his license to kill. In his first mission as a super spy, Bond is sent to track down and stop Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), the official banker of the world’s terrorist organizations. Le Chiffre plans to fund his next set of endeavors by organizing and participating in a high-stakes poker game at Le Casino Royale in Montenegro, where over a hundred million dollars is at stake. With the help of the beguiling Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), a government accountant in charge of Bond’s buy in, and field agent Rene Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini), 007 sets out to beat Le Chiffre at his own game, effectively putting him and many of his clients out of business.
While this is the 21st film in the James Bond series, Casino Royale is based on author Ian Fleming’s very first book about the charming super spy. The film is a reboot of the series, introducing the new millennium to the master of espionage and seduction. When plans for the film were first announced, many wondered who would fill the shoes of men like Pierce Brosnan, Sir Sean Connery and Sir Roger Moore. In 2005 EON Productions gave the role to Daniel Craig, a move that stirred up a lot of controversy among faithful Bond fans. Some even went so far as to organize boycotts of the film and start websites about why they felt Craig was wrong for the role. Despite this, Casino Royale went on to wow critics, earning a 94% fresh rating on RottenTomatoes.com and grossing over $167 million in the US alone during its theatrical run. The film is now available on DVD where it will no doubt do just as well.
The Casino Royale DVD is made up of two discs. The first is just the film itself and a handful of trailers. The second disc houses the bonus features. “Becoming Bond” is a 28 minute featurette that focuses on the film’s production, including Craig’s reaction to the fan backlash at his casting. Next is “James Bond: For Real,” a 26 minute look at the stunts in the film and how they were achieved. The longest supplement on the disc is “Bond Girls Are Forever,” a nearly hour long piece highlighting some of the most memorable Bond girls to grace the screen. Finally, a music video for Chris Cornell’s song ‘You Know My Name’ rounds out the extras on this release. The notable lack of deleted scenes and audio commentary hints to a future edition, a fact that Casino Royale director Martin Campbell confirmed in a recent interview with USA Today. With no set release date for such a DVD, this relatively supplement-light two-disc DVD is the best we’ve got for now.
Casino Royale is an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride that truly does justice to both Ian Fleming’s novels and the Bond film franchise. Daniel Craig, whose fair hair and rugged good looks made him a less than desirable choice for some fans, does a fantastic job as the charismatic spy, no doubt causing those who complained the loudest about his casting to hang their heads in shame. The rest of the cast, particularly relative newcomer Eva Green and Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, do a nice job as well. The story itself is intriguing, holding your attention for the film’s entire 144 minutes and beyond. You actually want to watch it all over again once the credits roll so that you can pick up every little detail. While a lot of the older Bond films come off a tad over-the-top, Casino Royale is much darker and grittier, giving this reboot of the series a more realistic feel. At the same time, the film maintains a lot of the humor we find in the other films, cutting the violence a bit and giving it a true “James Bond” air.
Casino Royale is a welcome update to the James Bond series and Daniel Craig truly is the best man for the job. While the DVD release is disappointingly light on extras, the movie itself is well worth the purchase price. Personally, I can’t wait for the special edition release, but I will gladly hold onto my supplement-light copy and wear it out in the meantime. I will also be anxiously awaiting Daniel Craig’s next portrayal of Bond, which is scheduled for release next fall.
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