*** Official CASINO ROYALE Discussion Thread

Robert Crawford · 11-17-2006, 05:32 AM

This thread is now designated the Official Discussion Thread for "Casino Royale". Please, post all comments, links to outside reviews, film and box office discussion items to this thread.

All HTF member film reviews of "Casino Royale" should be posted to this thread.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Crawdaddy

Paul_Scott · 11-17-2006, 05:59 AM

very suprised to see no one else chiming in on this. The midnight show I went to was about 25% full , but the film got some healthy applause at the end.
things that I didn'tmention in the review

*Spoilers Ahead*

- Really liked the opening credits. The song wasn't all that good, but I liked the saul Bass-like animation using the card suite motif- I thought it was a great way of eliciting the spirit of Binders work, while at the same time keeping on point that this film is its own animal, and not just the latest imitation of whats come before.

-I was surprised at how this one was paced. Its almost compeltely front loaded, with all the big action sequences seeming to happen in the first 40 minutes. That was one reason the movie threw me, and one reason I expect I will like it much more upon subsequent viewings (not that I didn't like it this time)

-Eva Greens Vesper- wow! My inital reaction now is that she totally smokes every other Bond girl I've ever seen. They all seem like colorless bimbos now (even though there are a few I've really liked). Very few of them seem like anything other than cartoons compared to this character though. so glad I already own a copy of The Dreamers now

-was amazed how much Craig looked like Steve McQueen often. In fact, I'm more stimulated to go back and watch Bulitt than I am any of the original Bonds. I expected him to be good, but I was suprised at just how much range they actually did give him- and Craig aced it- He sells this character really well (actually completely , imo). The problem that will remain for a lot of people is that this character is not Sean Connery or Pierce, or Timothy or Roger. Craig is playing a character that doesn't owe anything to any of the other actors who did it before him, and for me, that's exciting. For some people that may be a big stumbling block, and just compounded by the iconoclastic pacing of the entire movie.

-looks like we might , for the first time, get some really strong, direct continuity with the sequels. Bring It ON!

Sam Favate · 11-17-2006, 07:53 AM

I have my tickets for tonight and I'm really looking forward to it.

Here's one line from today's New York Times review that I can't believe I read:

Quote:

They have also surrounded Mr. Craig with estimable supporting players, including the French actress Eva Green, whose talent is actually larger than her breasts.

Chris Atkins · 11-17-2006, 09:22 AM

Two quotes from Anthony Lane's review have me officially excited for this movie:

First:

When Martin Campbell, the director of “Casino Royale,” made “GoldenEye,” in 1995, the outcome was spirited enough, but it also felt stupidly grand, all wall-size computer screens and electromagnetic pulses fired from space.

This gives me assurances about the direction, because Lane's quote seems to indicate that Campbell approached this material differently than GoldenEye.

Second:

“Casino Royale,” though half an hour too long, is the first semi-serious stab at Fleming, and at the treacherous terrain that he marked out, since “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” in 1969.

Since OHMSS is my favorite Bond movie (and in my top ten alltime) any comparisions to it are welcome (even though Casino Royale will still have to earn that status on repeat viewings).

I'm checking out until after I see it tonight.

Paul_Scott · 11-17-2006, 03:42 PM

if there was any film in the series CR most felt like to me, it would have been OHMSS. And I haven't seen Goldeneye since it was first released, by my impression is they are pretty far removed in texture and feel, as well as obviously content.

Looking forward to hearing what people think about this one.\
a few more scattered thoughts
-liked the new Leiter. I'm not familiar with Jeffrey Wright, but he came across as a likable ally. I hope he comes back.
-I was worried from early reports there would have been a lot of Paul Greengrass handheld camera work and strobe editing- thankfully neither is the case. There is some handheld camera work, but it's used as punctuation, rather than as the whole sentence (or paragraph).
-There seemed to me a lack of really rousing bits. And that threw me. I expected several points where you want to pump your fist in the air and cheer, but those kinds of moments (for me anyway) happened more with the quiet character stuff, rather than the bombstic action material. Thats why I think this film is going to play very well with subsequent viewings. The character stuff has a real charge to it and seeing people interact is more fun for me that seeing choreographed mayhem ( though this film does get the latter right- a nice return to old school stunt work)
-The scene in the bathroom with Vesper is one of my favorite scenes ever in a Bond movie- probably because it doesn't play like a typical Bond scene.

Fact is, it seems wrong to be lumping this film in with the previous 20. This feels a lot like a 'do-over' and the films from here on out are going to be judged against this one. For some people thats not going to sit well.
I think it needed to be done. Thankfully this is soundly good work, and not just a gimmick tried after they did everything else.

And, unbelievably, its one of the more 'adult' action pictures I can remember in a long time (certainly one of, if not the, most adult Bond films) . I'm very impressed with that aspect.

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Patrick Sun · 11-17-2006, 05:13 PM

I found it rather dull at times, between the big stunts.

The start felt like I was watching District B13 when Bond is chasing the small-time bomb maker/human rabbit.

Did anyone spot Sir Richard Branson cameo?

Spoiler:

Dave Mack · 11-17-2006, 05:16 PM

wow! 96% on rottentomatoes.com

Paul_Scott · 11-17-2006, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick Sun

I found it rather dull at times, between the big stunts.

one of my first thoughts upon leaving the theatewr last night, was that there will probably be a sizable chunk of the audience that will say this one was dull or boring. I liked and was intrigued by the characters and their relationships (with some minor exceptions*) so i was up and along for the ride the whole way. And it just felt like the ride was going off in much different directions than any of the other films so the view of new territory kept me alert as well.
I was pre-disposed to liking Craig too. I don't think people who have had a bad reaction to the guy (I don't know what Patricks feelings were) are going to warm up to the guy suddenly after seeing this. Probably just the opposite, since he clearly isn't playing the part as if he's trying to be 'the next Sean Connery'.

*I thought the contact Mathias wasn't a particularly memorable or impacting supporting character. I felt like there was something missing there

Jason Roer · 11-17-2006, 06:58 PM

Patrick,

I thought that was him. It threw me out of the film for a moment. Wish he wasn't there actually.

My thoughts on the film as a whole are: all right. I definitely enjoyed it. But I really felt it was too convoluted. Unneccessarily so. There was much that could have been lifted and it would have been a tighter picture.

The character work was excellent and a much different feel from the other Bond flicks. And thus it stands on its own rather than be a replicant of 20 films before it. As was stated, this is an adult action film. But again, for my taste there were too many villians and too much going on. It was as if they wanted the film to go in many different directions and couldn't chose upon which. Could be a producer issue (as is usually the case - too many people pissing in the pot).

I would still recommend it, and unlike many other people - I loved the opening song and the orchestral version that popped up from time to time during the film. I found myself humming it for the rest of the day.

Cheers,

Jason

Patrick Sun · 11-17-2006, 07:23 PM

Oh, 2 more things: the lack of background music worked against this film because those scene are fairly lackluster and lifeless, and there were far too many of those types of scenes.

I didn't like the opening credits of Bond just showing off his license to kill over and over again, it was like they really tried to be too-PC in terms of not using the female shape in the opening credit sequence from so many of the other 007 films.