007 - Casino Royale

[Chris]

I saw the new Bond film last night and it was fantastic! It couldn't have been further from the last film. Daniel Craig made me believe that Bond could be a heartless cold blooded killer and was not someone you wanted to mess with in a fight.

No gadgets here. Just a good back-to-basics approach that works well for a franchise that came dangerously close to self-pardoy in its last installment (and that's being generous, part of me feels it actually crossed that line a few times in Die Another Day).

It probably won't be for everyone, it's far more violent than previous Bond films but it works much better for it.

The film is well worth seeing if you're a Bond fan, and if you're not then this might be the film to change your mind.

[ZariusTwo]

God, this was a gret movie, being a Flemming purist, I can accept the transistion much more smoothly than some fans, this is a much needed reboot, pretty much far darker in tone and less on the light-heartedness, and when there is some humour, it's in the slickest, sickest means possible. The torture scene is something I'm proud to finally see interpreted, as it's an essential peice of making Bond who he is.

Chris Cornell delivers the best Bond theme since "Goldeneye", and that pre-credits sequence is beutiful.

[damnhooligan]

Definitely the best movie I've seen all year. I've loved the grit, I loved the ball-smashing, I loved the parkour. Bond was such a f*cking thug, and I loved every minute of it. I'm really glad they pulled Paul Haggis in on this one. But for now, I'll hold off declaring Daniel Craig as my favourite Bond until the next flick comes out.

Anyone else catch the incredibly brief Richard Branson cameo?

[Chris]

I missed Branson, where was he? I'll watch out for him when I see it again next week.

I did love the dark humor (especially his line about the scratching in the torture scene).

I'll admit that I've never read the books or seen all of the older films (I've seen most on TV but not all). My Bond has mostly been Brosnan, Goldeneye was the first one I saw and I loved it, but it did go increasingly towards parody with each film. I enjoyed them all but felt something was lacking. I know most people dislike them, but when watching the older films I really enjoyed the Dalton ones because of their more realistic darkness and aggression (in the same way I wasn't that bothered by some of the Moore films which seemed too comical for the most part).

I loved this film as a reboot, and having seen it I can say it was needed and has revitalized the franchise. It's a fantastic start for Craig as Bond and, for now, I do think of him as my favorite Bond but that is something that will be tested by his next film.

I loved the way the classic line and theme only came in right at the end, after he'd earnt them.

[damnhooligan]

Branson popped up in the scene at Miami-Dade, where the dude Bond's chasing is going through the security check point into the main terminal. Standing to the right is Richard Branson, gettin' all grubbed up by an airport lackey with a metal detector.

[Peanut]

You know, for someone who left, you've sure been here a lot. ;)

[damnhooligan]

Could say the same thing of you, bub. ;)

[Ecto Jedi]

I saw the new Bond film last night and it was fantastic! It couldn't have been further from the last film. Daniel Craig made me believe that Bond could be a heartless cold blooded killer and was not someone you wanted to mess with in a fight.

I just saw the film this afternoon, and I can unequivocally say that it's the best Bond flick since GoldenEye, and I'd say it's even far superior than that one. Just the sort of dramatic reboot the franchise needed in order to stay fresh and exciting.

No gadgets here. Just a good back-to-basics approach that works well for a franchise that came dangerously close to self-pardoy in its last installment (and that's being generous, part of me feels it actually crossed that line a few times in Die Another Day).

Yeah, Die Another Day was a big disappointment. They lost me somewhere between the invisible sports car and having Bond surf on the melting polar ice caps. (*shivers*)

[Brian]

Saw it on Sunday. It was pretty good.

[Ecto Jedi]

Well, it's official -- Casino Royale is the best-reviewed film of the year.

Casino Royale at Rottentomatoes.com (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/casino_royale/)

It's great to see a James Bond film finally get the props it so rightfully deserves.

[discordiatookie]

just back from the cinema seeing this and it was pretty damn awesome!

i sat through the first twenty minutes or so with a massive grin on my face, it was too cool! daniel craig was ace, couldya really see brosnan pulling off sh*t like that? dug the aston martin. and the chicks were hot! i like very much, myeeees!

[Ecto Jedi]

just back from the cinema seeing this and it was pretty damn awesome!

Indeed. What are your favourite scenes? Here are mine, in no particular order...(Warning: SPOILERS be ahead, mateys.)

The bomb scene at the Miami airport...What an incredibly fast-paced, action-packed sequence! I love how the tension builds and builds until it reaches an undeniable climax.

The whole poker scene (all forty minutes of it) was especially awesome, though that may have more to do with the coolness of the main baddie, Le Chiffre. (Best Bond villain since Christopher Walken's Max Zorin.)

The opening credits was really well-done, too...And I love the new song, "You Know My Name." Fits perfectly with the new look of the film.

[discordiatookie]

yeah the opening credits were top notch...

when bond's chasing the scarred black dude through the streets and up cranes and scaffolding and stuff, none of that poncing around through little gaps and off of walls, just tanking straight through, like a juggernaut! then into the embassy, and just offing him, what a guy!

when he gets poisoned, hah! cant keep a good double-oh down!

when he kills that two guys in the stairwell and the chick vesper goes into shock in the shower, and he just sits down next to her with the water running and he's in his tux, pretty cool.

the bomb part like you said, and the bomb's attatched onto the bomber's belt loop, haha, great!

plenty of others, but cant think of anymore right now!

[Peanut]

I just got back from seeing it. Good movie, but I don't see what all the huge excitement is about. Honestly, I enjoyed PotC2 more this year.

[ZariusTwo]

POTC 2 is such an overrated movie

[Dr. Doom]

Yes, please, continue....I'd love nothing more than for the two of you destroy eachother. -=Wrings his hands=-

[Ra]

Come come people, let's not bicker about POTC 2 in a James Bond thread. Not only does it make little children cry, but it makes Doom happy to the point of utter insanity ;)

I haven't seen Casino Royale yet, but I have every intention of doing so. My family is a giant James Bond fan group, and I have watched all the classics, and just need to see the more recent ones (I still have to see "Die Another Day" *whacks herself*). Still, it sounds interesting, what with the tourture and all, and now seen as the "best reviewed movie of the year". I am definatly NOT going to miss this! :D

[ZariusTwo]

Yes, please, continue....I'd love nothing more than for the two of you destroy eachother. -=Wrings his hands=-

I loved the first one, that should at least warrant one punch and not a martial arts tournament.

[Peanut]

POTC 2 is such an overrated movie

I tend to agree. I just really like pirates and I enjoyed watching the movie. Maybe it was just the atmosphere of the theatre when I saw it. The same thing could be said for Spider-Man 2. In the theatre, I thought it was amazing, but afterwards I didn't like it near as much.

Yes, please, continue....I'd love nothing more than for the two of you destroy eachother. -=Wrings his hands=-

Mature. You get better all the time.

[Ecto Jedi]

I haven't seen Casino Royale yet, but I have every intention of doing so. My family is a giant James Bond fan group, and I have watched all the classics, and just need to see the more recent ones (I still have to see "Die Another Day" *whacks herself*). Still, it sounds interesting, what with the tourture and all, and now seen as the "best reviewed movie of the year". I am definatly NOT going to miss this! :D

I'd highly recommend it. Granted, it still isn't without its flaws, but they're pleasantly few and far between. I guess my biggest gripe would be the length of the film; at 2 hours and 20 minutes, it might be just a tad too long. (It's the longest James Bond movie yet, I believe.) Aside from that, however, there's really not a whole lot to complain about. :)

[Mecha Cow]

Damn, this movie was great. It was kind of off-balance at times, but Daniel Craig really carried the film. His Bond was a complete dick, an arrogant son of a b*tch, but at the same time charismatic and likeable . A huge leap forward after Brosnan, who could only do that first part right. I also loved how raw and brutal the action was, which fit perfectly with Craig's Bond.

'Would you like that shaken or stirred?'
'Do I look like I give a damn?'

[Ecto Jedi]

'Would you like that shaken or stirred?'
'Do I look like I give a damn?'

One of the best lines in the film, definitely! It had everyone in the theatre chuckling. That's one of the reasons I enjoy the film so much...Its sly way of referencing past lines and events, keeping in focus the Bond interpretations of the past, and creating something totally new and refreshing at the same time is just brilliant.

[Spitfire]

I liked this film alot. it was great, I haven't seen a movie in theaters I liked in awhile, let alone a Bond one. Plus I saw a kick ass Spider-man 3 trailer. Good time.

[愛]

This movie was thug nasty awesome. Craig as Bond fit ridiculously well. As Mech mentioned, he was arrogant, yet charming and badass. The plot was also very easy to follow, as opposed to some of the older Bond movies where there were too many characters and too many subplots. This movie kept it simple and to the point. I was very amazed at this movie.

[Jo Dawn]

I'll admit that I've never seen a Bond film before this one (don't ask me how!) But I really liked this movie. Alot.

I loved the ball-smashing,

Haha, you know, I went with a guy friend, and at that part he was like 'Who's idea was this to see this movie?'. Heh.

I want to see the other films now, but am told they are a tad more... well, they say THIS one is more serious. I like that, but I suppose I'll give the others a shot, too, sometime.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Just saw it. I've seen all of the Bond movies, and some I love, some I hate, and some I find stereotypically goofy. I didn't think anything would beat Goldeneye in my eyes, but this does. 5 Stars, first rate movie. Best movie I've seen since Batman Begins, and the best in the series, though that's not a good comparison. It's just a kickass movie all-around.

[Jo Dawn]

That's funny you mentioned Batman Begins, TMB... Since earlier today I was discussing Bond movies with the person I went and saw Casino Royale with, and he was trying to explain how the older movies were different, and he mentioned Batman Begins in his examples to me, hehe.

I dunno, it just made me laugh at the coincidence.