We are introducing a new series on this blog, as we will be reviewing movies being released on Blu-Ray for the first time. The first of these is Casino Royale, the Bond movie being released tomorrow.
Casino Royale is an action packed look at the world of 007 that has captivated critics and movie-goers alike. Director Martin Campbell and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade have shifted gears with this new Bond film, making it edgier than all of the previous ones. The past few films have taken everything from the Bond world and made it more unrealistic, but it seems that this time they have returned to form to create an amazing Bond film that will stay with you for ages.
The title role was given to Daniel Craig. What some thought was a bad casting decision turned out to save this franchise. Craig brought with him a more realistic turn for James Bond, and it doesn’t hurt that his acting was much better than some of the previous ones.
The movie begins in Prague, where James Bond is shown meeting M16 section agent Dryden and telling him how he has made his first kill. As it turns out, Dryden is a corrupt agent and the person Bond killed was Drydens’ underworld contact. James then kills Dryden, thus earning his double-O status. A notorious banker named Le Chiffre is shown making a deal with a leader of a guerilla group in Uganda. A huge sum of money is given for this investment, which is later explained in full. In the meantime Bond is tracking an international bomb maker, seeking information. He retrieves his cell phone and finds a code within it.
All of this leads to Miami International Airport, where Bond foils a terrorist attack led by Le Chiffre. Le Chiffre, by losing all of the money he had received, sets up an international poker game in Montenegro and the game is on. This event sets off a hugely entertaining bond movie with an ending that you are sure not to forget. Though this film has many original ideas, it does not stray from the things that made James Bond great, including all of his trademark lines and many love interests. From the beginning of the film to the end, the pace of action is thrilling. It will constantly leave you on the edge of your seat, wondering what on earth will happen next. The makers of this movie do not stray from gritty and at times it is even painful to watch, which makes it all the more worthwhile.
The success of the film has caused MGM to release many special editions to the film, including a single disc and two-disc version in Blu-Ray. While the movie in and of itself is great, these new editions are a must for fans of the movie. Blu-Ray brings its cutting edge technology to both single and two disc editions and brings lots of extras. The menus are, as always, amazing. The sound is revamped, making you feel like you are sitting in your own movie theater.
The single-disc edition includes three very good documentaries, including a 50-minute look into all of the Bond girls from the past and present, and a music video by Chris Cornell of the song from the title sequence. The two-disc edition is even more amazing. It includes everything from the single-disc, but also has deleted scenes along with it, a storyboard sequence, a few more featurettes and documentaries, and a very detailed trivia game with multiple levels that test your knowledge on all of the Bond films.
Whether a devoted Bond fan or a new one, this Bond film is sure to leave you anticipating the next installment.
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