14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good combination but Poor Casino Royale DVD Transfer, February 27, 2007
This review is from: Casino Royale (Widescreen) / Layer Cake (Special Edition, Widescreen) (DVD)
I am entirely disappointed with the CASINO ROYALE DVD. The DVD image is not especially detailed to my eye and there are visible digital artifacts present. What's worse, the entire film (with the exception of the black and white scenes and main title credits) has a yellowish haze over it. I found this yellowish haze very annoying and was not present in the theatrical release of the film. Also I find it incredible that there are there are no trailers for CASINO ROYALE on the disc! The teaser trailer and the primary trailer were two of the best ever designed for a James Bond film. Where are they? There is also no audio commentary of any kind to be found. Nothing! The extras on Disc 2 are a major disappointment. I thoroughly and wholeheartedly believe that CASINO ROYALE is one of the best James Bond films but of the 21 Bond DVDs, this is the worst from a technical and esthetic standpoint. When I think of the original DIE ANOTHER DAY 2-Disc DVD that was issued and compare it to this one I cringe. The DIE ANOTHER DAY 2-Disc DVD was one of the best ever issued regardless of the merits of that Bond film. The extras covered many aspects of that film from many perspectives. The CASINO ROYALE 2-Disc DVD pales in comparison and that is very unfortunate and disheartening.
As for the actual movie, I think CASINO ROYALE is excellent. If there was any doubt that Daniel Craig could portray or even be James Bond on screen, and there was plenty of skepticism, view CASINO ROYALE. Daniel Craig surpasses the competition with unique aplomb, wry humor, his physique and absolute sincerity. He is the perfect masculine specimen and the thinking man's Bond at the same time. Daniel Craig does have that certain screen magnetism that Sean Connery had in the role but you have to see him in motion to appreciate him. Yet, Craig has incredible attributes that none of his predecessors possessed. David Arnold composed one of the best and simultaneously a very controversial score referring to the James Bond Theme in the most ethereal sense until the final scene of the film. His score is inspired by the essence of James Bond, his motivations, his skills, his strengths and weaknesses as a living breathing man. Arnold's score is a reflection of the world that James Bond and his adversaries move and survive in. This score is one of the highlights and strengths behind the success of CASINO ROYALE. There are many other elements too numerous to mention when combined with actually basing the film on Ian Fleming's novel make CASINO ROYALE one of the best James Bond films ever made. The metaphorically titled LAYER CAKE is a refreshing crime thriller that intelligently examines the levels of deception and treachery found in the drug trade as well of the levels of pipeline distribution and control of the trade. Visually brutal it relies more on its intelligent scripting and dialogue to spin its engrossing tale.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
I Told Everyone I Know This is a "Must See", September 15, 2010
I had never heard of this movie (don't know how I missed it) but once I saw it, I bought three copies to send to all my brothers and told all my friends about it. It's a great story with a great plot twist.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
2 for 1 deal, May 12, 2007
This review is from: Casino Royale (Widescreen) / Layer Cake (Special Edition, Widescreen) (DVD)
i'm so glad i bought the 2 movies. I watch them all the time and I probably wouldn't have heard or seen layer cake otherwise.
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