For longtime fans of the franchise, Casino Royale offers some retro kicks. Bond wins his iconic Astin-Martin at the gaming table, and when a bartender asks if he wants his martini "shaken or stirred," he disdainfully replies, "Do I look like I give a damn?" There's no Moneypenny or "Q," but Dame Judi Dench is back as the exasperated M, who one senses, admires Bond's "bloody cheek." A Bond film is only as good as its villain, and Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre, who weeps blood, is a sinister dandy. From its punishing violence and virtuoso action sequences to its romance, Casino Royale is a Bond film that, in the words of one character, makes you feel it, particularly during an excruciating torture sequence. Double-0s, Bond observes early on, "have a short life expectancy." But with Craig, there is new life in the old franchise yet, as well as genuine anticipation for the next one when, at last, the signature James Bond theme kicks in following the best last line ever in any Bond film. To quote Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin, now I know what I've been faking all these years. --Donald Liebenson

Stills from Casino Royale (click for larger image)

Beyond Casino Royale on Amazon.com

On Blu-ray	CD Soundtrack	Why We Love Daniel Craig
The Amazon.com James Bond Store	Where Have I Seen Daniel Craig?	Bond on Set: Filming Casino Royale Book

Product Description:
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.System Requirements:Runtime: 144 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: PG - 13 UPC: 043396148598 Manufacturer No: 14859

Customer Reviews Average rating - 4.0

Rating - 5 Date: 2008-08-17
Content: This blu-ray will and has kept people who always fall asleep during a movie wide awake. Non stop action, vivid color and great sound.
Summary: Cardio workout

Rating - 3 Date: 2008-08-16
Content: 3.5 stars. Granted, I'm not a huge Bond fan. The ones I've seen over the years late 80's on up have all had very forgettable storylines. I'm not sure that this one will be all that memorable either-but I like the new complexties of this Bond. There's a sense of a wounded soul and I find that appealing instead of the easy flirtatious playboy. The only thing is despite the terrific body Craig looks too stiff and unbelivable in the love scenes. I didn't believe for a moment the sudden love story. In fact when he started talking about being in love, I started frowning at the screen and wondering if I missed something. The final scene was also anti-climatic. Still I liked it better than the Bronson films.
Summary: A new Bond

Rating - 1 Date: 2008-08-09
Content: I'm boycotting any more Bond movies unil the powers-that-be behind this franchise come to their senses & bring back the sexiest Bond ever, & the only one I'll ever be interested in, PIERCE BROSNAN! Daniel Craig is a boring dolt, a dud, & he'll never match up to Pierce Brosnan. I WAS SO HAPPY THAT THIS MOVIE WAS BEAT OUT of the #1 SPOT AT THE BOX OFFICE BY AN ANIMATED PENGUIN ON OPENING WEEKEND, HAPPY FEET--I THINK THAT SAYS IT ALL!! I hope the right people are reading this review: WHAT YOU DID TO PIERCE BROSNAN WAS TERRIBLY WRONG, & YOU'VE GOT IT WRONG: HE'S DEFINITELY NOT TOO OLD TO STILL BE BOND, HOW RIDICULOUS!! BRING BACK PIERCE, PRONTO!
Summary: BRING BACK PIERCE BROSNAN, PRONTO!!!

Rating - 5 Date: 2008-08-08
Content: I'll admit it: I used to think that Sean Connery was the only actor worthy of the role, so I was dubious going in.

Approximately nine frames into Daniel Craig's performance, I suddenly forgot that any other human had ever attempted the role.

Here is a James Bond that we can be AFRAID of. His bond is feral; a predator on the hunt. He's human, yet more than that. He's the first person to inhabit the role who really telegraphs the requisite amorality of the professional killer, but not at the complete expense of his humanity. He's intelligent, driven, and ruthless when the situation calls for it. He's a Bond who made me CARE. The others played Bond as a sort of superhuman killer lovebot; Craig's bond is new and fresh and flawed and very much, a dangerous work in progress. I can't WAIT to see where they take this character.

And, folks, on top of all that skill and presence, Craig makes you weak in the knees, too. Most will fawn over the bathing suit scene, but for this viewer, the tailor who crafted Bond's tuxedo should be awarded sainthood. Yummy. Naughty bit of crumpet, that.

It's a wonderful blend of Bond-style fantasy, action, brutality (you'll never look at Grandma's cane-seat chair in quite the same way, I guarantee), international intrigue, and of course, romance. I LOVED this movie for it's brains (and beauty).
Summary: Sean who?

Rating - 3 Date: 2008-07-21
Content: I think most people was caught up with the whole "Bond" thing, new actor, etc. and didn't notice some real big "faux pas". Although there has never been real dates set, and you can't just deal with the making of the first Bond movie (Dr. No), there were events that gave you an opportunity to know approximately what decade if nothing else you were in. This Bond, which is supposed to depict the "beginning" for James, has several references to things that happened more recently than the older Bond movies indicated but mostly, has M making the biggest mistake in her speech when she speaks of "9/11". Please, didn't anyone hear that?
I don't usually notice mistakes on the part of the writers, wardrobe people, set designers or actors when I see a movie for the first time (unless it is sooooo bad)because I am intent on the movie and sometimes I never pick up anything unless it is pointed out to me, but this was so blatant that when I heard it my mouth dropped open. C'mon folks, don't tell me that you can actually put that reference in the beginning of the James Bond '007 saga?
S from NY
Summary: Didn't anyone question the timeline?