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Casino Royale (Two-Disc Collector's Edition + BD Live) [Blu-ray]
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Blu-ray detailsActor: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Jesper Christensen, John Chancer, Tom Chadbon Brand: CRAIG,DANIEL Blu-ray: Region Code 1 Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Dubbed) Format: AC-3, Collector's Edition, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 2.40:1 Running Time: 144 minutes Published: 2008-10-01 Blu-ray Release Date: 2008-10-21 Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Product features: - Condition: New
- Format: Blu-ray
- AC-3; Collector's Edition; Color; Dolby; Dubbed; Subtitled; Widescreen
Blu-ray Reviews of Casino Royale (Two-Disc Collector's Edition + BD Live) [Blu-ray]Blu-ray Review: Casino Royale (Collector's Edition) (Blu-ray) Summary: 5 Stars
Movie - 5.0
Growing up I was a casual Bond fan, maybe a little more than casual, but not quite die-hard. I appreciated the franchise for its style, sleek atmosphere, British charm, and sex appeal with all those girls. Somewhere down the line my tastes developed into something a little beyond the flash and pizazz that I started to grow weary of. And by the time Pierce Brosnan starred in his final film as Agent 007, I'm afraid to say I was starting to lose interest in the same old formula and presentation. Then came Bond 21, Casino Royale, starring a complete newcomer I'd never even heard of in Daniel Craig. Suffice it to say, Casino Royale is a much needed reboot of the classic character. Not only is there a new actor, but also a new tone that completely rejuvenates the franchise from square one. Here we see Craig portraying Bond as a rookie hotshot who's just earned his Double-O status. He's young, brash, full of energy, and borderline uncontrollable acting on impulse and emotion, though with just enough of that cool, collected debonair most of us are probably accustomed to seeing. However, as many young and overconfident hotshots often realize soon after, there needs to be a lesson of moderation learned. Enter Vesper Lynd who allows us to see a side of Bond that is so much more down-to-earth and actually humanized that one would never have thought possible. But with this being Bond, we certainly can't expect such a happy ending. Soon after their relationship really starts to blossom betrayal ensues and Bond is livid to conclude things the only way he knows best -- with cold, brutal efficiency. To be continued in Quantum of Solace. To really appreciate these movies for their writing I recommend you watch both, not as a movie and its sequel, but two parts of one long and personal narrative. I don't want to spoil the journey Bond makes between here and there, but read both reviews and you'll understand.
Video - 4.5
From the black and white flashback to the African Rundown to the lush and beautiful landscapes of the Bahamas, Italy, etc., every single frame is full of depth and color vibrancy. Skin textures are very fine and especially detailed with just enough film grain to give it that gritty, atmospheric feel reflected in the films' writing. Contrast and black levels are strong as well during the night and dimly-lit scenes. My favorite shots are from the poker game. Not only is there a great degree of sharpness to the face shots of the players, but the poker chips and various colors of tables, clothes, and drinks really stand out, only adding that Bond-level of material extravagance to the film's overall temperament. While not the most exciting reference scene I would recommend, it's certainly a very good part to watch, though you could easily use any of the overview shots of landscapes or grandiose action sequences as well. On the downside, I did notice a few minor instances of artifacts and debris, especially in the scene where Bond is talking to M in the Bahamas where this inexplicably large speck flashes on the screen, but other than that, everything else looks relatively flawless.
Audio - 5.0
To this date, Casino Royale remains atop my "loudest movies" list up there with Hellboy II, Fight Club, and The Bourne Ultimatum. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track here is as amazing as the video transfer. From the very get-go in the opening flashback scene we're surrounded in this pool of sound filled with tough, gut-thumping effects and immersed in a masterful soundtrack by David Arnold. I wanna' say that in addition to the very active sound field, I'm especially enamored with how well the music is separated and integrated evenly through each speaker. With that said, directionality and dynamics are exuberantly punctuated when the more hellish scenes with gunfire and crashing objects are on screen. LFEs, particularly through the music, will rock your room, if not your house. Explosions, crumbling environments, and all the sort have a great depth of bass. Dialogue (a large majority of the film) is crisp with no disparities at any point in the film, making for yet another title of reference quality. No-brainer demo material would be either the African Rundown at the beginning of the movie or the Collapsing Palazzo at the end.
Extras - 5.0
Owning the initial release from '07, I gladly double-dipped for this Collector's Edition when hearing there would be a separate BD containing many new special features. Of most interest were the vignettes talking about the history and stigma that were carried by this particular novel, how the rights remained in limbo for so long, and how it all came about in the first place up to where the idea of the movie was reconceived as the new starting point for the franchise. I have to say, I was amazed at just how complicated the entire ordeal turned out. In addition, there are also many, many other features that cover production design, shooting logistics, cast and crew interviews, and a somewhat brief look back on the iconography of Bond up to this newest installment. Time-wise, I'm pretty sure there are at least three plus hours of Extras between the new and old stuff from the previous release, of which most are in HD. Of course, most of this material is covered in the equally informative commentary if you don't mind watching the movie again. Big thanks to Sony for giving this fine film the set of extras it deserves.
Overall - 5.0
So yeah, Bond was starting to become stagnant around the end of the Brosnan era for me. And of all the novels to be filmed, the very first, albeit troubled, one in Casino Royale was picked. Not only did it revitalize the franchise by taking things back to basics and creating a darker, grittier atmosphere, but it did so in such stunning fashion thanks in huge part to the superb effort given by Daniel Craig and veteran Bond director Martin Campbell. A wonderfully written, photographed, and coordinated film, Casino Royale along with its direct sequel Quantum of Solace, which for all intents and purposes is just the third act of a very long film (again, read the review for my interpretation), are currently my top action/drama/spy/thriller titles of all-time. Presented with reference A/V specs by Sony and a long-awaited, very thorough, package of special features, this Collector's Edition is a must own piece of film-making for any Bond fan or movie aficionado alike.
More Casino Royale (Two-Disc Collector's Edition + BD Live) [Blu-ray] reviews: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Description of Casino Royale (Two-Disc Collector's Edition + BD Live) [Blu-ray]Casino Royale introduces JAMES BOND before he holds his license to kill. But Bond is no less dangerous, and with two professional assassinations in quick succession, he is elevated to "00" status. "M" (Judi Dench), head of the British Secret Service, sends the newly-promoted 007 on his first mission that takes him to Madagascar, the Bahamas and eventually leads him to Montenegro to face Le Chiffre, a ruthless financier under threat from his terrorist clientele, who is attempting to restore his funds in a high-stakes poker game at the Casino Royale. "M" places Bond under the watchful eye of the Treasury official Vesper Lynd. At first skeptical of what value Vesper can provide, Bond's interest in her deepens as they brave danger together. Le Chiffre's cunning and cruelty come to bear on them both in a way Bond could never imagine, and he learns his most important lesson: Trust no one.
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