007 - Casino Royale
 

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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*)

Saw it on Sunday. It was pretty good.

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

Casino Royale at Rottentomatoes.com

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

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!

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

yeah the opening credits were top notch...



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

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.

POTC 2 is such an overrated movie

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

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

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

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.

Mature. You get better all the time.

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. :)