Casino Royale DVD viewing

Red Indian

Anyone have any special plans for watching the DVD in the U.S. tonight? I'm thinking about some vodka martinis much like last November! Cheers to all!

Scribe74

I didn't get a chance to run to pick it up today . . . however, I plan on picking it up tomorrow and drinking several scotch on the rocks during my viewing!

Cheers!

Solaris

And I have to wait till the 19th. shame.

Smoke_13

I watched the DVD last night and only drank coffee. Nothing too spectacular on my part I'm afraid.

I really enjoyed having the ability to rewind, pause and look at scenes with more detail. I paused the movie when it flashed the internet article about Bond blowing up the emabassy so I could actually read the fine print. I did the same with LeChiffre's profile on M's pc, nothing too dramatic there.

Bond girls are forever was a nice extra. Honor Blackman gives some great commentary.

Probably watch more of it tonight and just sip away at some more coffee while I do. That's the extent of the excitement for "Mr. Married with 3 kids. "

Mikep99

I was at the store first thing in the morning at 8am. I was one of the first people in the store. When I got to where the section was, shortly there after another man, a police officer, arrived to get one too. I don't know how many were left at the end of the day, but I got my copy first thing at 8am. Then went home to see everything on it.

Loeffelholz

I bought my copy before going into work yesterday (13 March), and watched it last night when I got home for my fifth viewing overall.

I not yet a part of the 'HD' revolution, but I have no complaints whatever with picture and sound quality...and I hadn't yet seen the 'Becoming Bond' or 'James Bond For Real,' so I found those to be fresh and most enjoyable as well. The lack of a commentary track (and additional special features) is lamentable...but of course I'll spring for the 'Extra Super Special Deluxe Edition' when it comes out X-(

I'm going to visit my Mum and Dad this weekend, and I'm bringing the new Bond with me...my Dad never goes to the cinema any more, but watching the latest Bond is a decades-old tradition with us...plus my sons want to see it again, so I'll be revisiting CR often in the days to come :007)

Moore Not Less

Loeffelholz wrote:

I not yet apart of the 'HD' revolution, but I have no complaints whatever with picture and sound quality.

I am also not yet part of the 'HD' revolution, so I am delighted to discover you have no complaints with the picture and sound quality. Alas, it will be at least another five days before I get my hands on the DVD. Patience is a virtue they say. I say word deleted

Solaris

I have actually started a countdown on my desktop,
Sad I know, buy hey:D

And then, after watching it...12 times I will start the countdown for Bond 22, pausing momentarily when the Extra Super Amazing Special Deluxe, or what ever Loeflholz called it, edition of Casino Royale comes out

spy009

here in the USA,Walmart had the DVD with Casino Royale playing cards,Target gave Bond on the Set book and Best Buy gave out an Gorgi, Aston Martin,,got them all,,Nice

TonyDP

My brother is watching the standard def DVD on our plasma TV and upscaling DVD player. It's a very solid transfer - no visible artifacts, very good black levels, and very good color (Craig's blue eyes really pop out in the casino scenes). The sound is equally nice and when played thru a surround sound system; the dialog is very easy to make out and the effects are spread out across the other speakers. Whether you watch this on a standard set or a hi-def rig, the viewing experience is very nice - a far cry from some recent shoddy transfers like Superman Retruns.

Nightshooter

Just watched it on standard def- looks BEAUTIFUL.

Barry Nelson

Picked up a copy from Wal Mart for $15 and change (special price until 3/18) Looking forward to seeing it because usually with a Bond movie as I watch it 2 or 3 times my opinion of the movie goes up or down. For example with TWINE and LTK it went up, with DAD and TMWTGG down. Curious what my thought will be when I see again.

Hammerfist

Just watched a few hours ago. Beautiful, I've been anticipating the DVD so much and just taking 2 and a half hours off to watch the movie for the first time in months was great, especially after waiting all this time.

mythrenegade

Bought the DVD yesterday. Oddly, I didn't realize it was the 13th until I saw the DVD... The Wal-Mart I happened to be in had the cards only for the completely-useless fullscreen edition, so I bought the straight widescreen DVD. I would have enjoyed the book or the model car, too bad I wasn't in one of those stores.

Why do they still make fullscreen DVD's???

Anyway, watched the movie tonight. I only saw it in the theater once (I have two kids and we live a long way from a movie theater, so I almost never get to the movies) so the second viewing of the film was very welcome.

I have to say I enjoyed it more the second time. I think this was a fantastic reset. I found myself really missing the bond music, and was _very_ happy to hear it in the credits. I forgot that they did that.

I still don't find vesper hot at all. Not my type I guess. I also really like the theme song. I know some around here hate it, but I quite liked it.

Glad to have the DVD at last!

Joel

jscarlett

Noticed that sometimes when characters are shooting guns, apparently nothing comes out at all....

Pendragon

I sat in my room at about midnight, and watched it on my computer. picked it up from Target earlier that day, and didn't really plan on anything...

~Pen -{

s96024

Haven't got a copy yet. What a lame excuse for a fan I am. Will pick it up on monday though. Just bought new TV/surround sound system. So will be a good first test for it.

Moore Not Less

High-Def Digest has some early news regarding the sales of the Casino Royale DVD's at Amazon.

In another high-def first, the Blu-ray edition of Casino Royale cracked the top ten on Amazon's DVD top sellers list upon it's release Tuesday, peaking late in the evening at #8.

Thw wide screen two-disc version (at #1) and the full screen two-disc version (at #10).

'Casino Royale' Blu-ray Cracks Amazon Top Ten

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Amazon/Disc_Sales/Casino_Royale_Blu-ray_Cracks_Amazon_Top_Ten_/518

frostbitten

I have a Blu-ray copy, and just finished watching it last night. The movie looks beautiful in hi-def. The extra cost compared to a standard DVD is well justified, IMO.

highhopes

I watched it last night and I have to say it kind of depressed me -- to think we're still nearly two years away from Bond22. Damn -- I like this new Bond and I can't wait for the next installment.

jamesbondagent007

I watched it and was thoroughly impressed by the picture and sound quality. And of the overall quality of the film...for the 5th time.

I also found the 3 documentaries absolutely fantastic. Some of the best first-release non-double-dip material I've seen on a DVD in a very long time.

Barry Nelson

As I said earlier in this thread, as I watch Bond movies multiple times I tend to increase or decrease my enjoyment of the film. I watched the CR DVD last night and my enjoyment was definitely less. The first third of the movie is excellent, the foot chase being perhaps the best foot chase ever put on film. However, I found the middle third slow and frankly boring. Eva Green simply is not Vesper to me. The Vesper from the book is not the Vesper on film and that is a shame. I also thought the poker game was overly long and supplied little drama. The constant , play a hand and then everyone leaves the table destroyed any build up of suspense. The final act is fine, although the Vesper and Bond are suddenly deeply in love storyline is hard to believe. I think that could have been built on better. It seemed rushed to me. I am sure I will watch it again and perhaps my opinion will change, but for now CR is not in my top 10.

For the record, my wife really enjoys CR. Of course she also likes me, so one might question her taste. )

blueman

Haven't watched it on DVD yet, thinking of seeing it again on the big screen instead, it's still playing right up the street.

And Barry, the middle third of CR is the best part! (no wonder we hardly ever agree on Bond )

darenhat

Watching it again on DVD, I noticed that it does slow down significantly. I think the later action sequences (the stairwell fight and the Venice bit) were a bit clumsy and unclimactic as far as action goes. So for me, the is severely lopsided.

superado

Purchased the DVD on the 13th but left if unopened, which was good since I saw the Target special with the mini-Bond on Set book. Call me an old man, but I watched (kind of) all the documentaries on different evenings and fell asleep half-way through, except for "Bond Girls are Forever." However, I still haven't seen the actual movie, as an opportune time hasn't come up since (don't want to be falling asleep as well). Don't get me wrong, I fell asleep watching 24 the other week, my most favorite show of the moment, and I'm still kicking myself.

Monique

Barry Nelson wrote:

I also thought the poker game was overly long and supplied little drama. The constant , play a hand and then everyone leaves the table destroyed any build up of suspense. The final act is fine, although the Vesper and Bond are suddenly deeply in love storyline is hard to believe. )

I agree Barry! Those were the exact points I made mental notes of too, when I was watching it at home! Especially them leaving the table! It didn't seem to bother me as much when I saw it the first time. CR definitely plays better in the theater. It's a beautifully shot film, and TV just doesn't do it justice. I felt it slowed down the pace too! So I totally see your point.

Loeffelholz

Took the DVD up to my folks' house on Saturday night, and watched it with them (my sixth viewing overall; second time via DVD), and I find it endlessly rewatchable B-) The film's flaws are similar to those of the book, and therein lies my tolerance for them, I suppose...

My dad made a few remarks about Craig's looks at a couple of points during the film ("Kinda funny looking," "Reminds me of Alfred E. Neumann"), but seemed to thoroughly enjoy the movie. Dalton was his least favourite Bond actor, and I was afraid that his enjoyment of Craig would suffer as a result, but he ultimately concluded that Craig was 'cooler' than Dalton, and was ultimately won over...

My mom, who has always tolerated the Bond films, announced at the end that CR was her favourite. Re: Craig, she said, "He's interesting to look at."

"But it works, doesn't it?" I asked her. She said it did, and was surprised by the lack of silliness this time round. Chalk her up as a 'new fan.'

They were both surprised by the torture sequence

Barry Nelson

Loeffelholz wrote:

Took the DVD up to my folks' house on Saturday night, and watched it with them (my sixth viewing overall; second time via DVD), and I find it endlessly rewatchable B-) The film's flaws are similar to those of the book, and therein lies my tolerance for them, I suppose...

My dad made a few remarks about Craig's look's at a couple of points during the film ("Kinda funny looking," "Reminds me of Alfred E. Neumann"), but seemed to thoroughly enjoy the movie. Dalton was his least favourite Bond actor, and I was afraid that his enjoyment of Craig would suffer as a result, but he ultimately concluded that Craig was 'cooler' than Dalton, and was ultimately won over...

My mom, who has always tolerated the Bond films, announced at the end that CR was her favourite. Re: Craig, she said, "He's interesting to look at."

"But it works, doesn't it?" I asked her. She said it did, and was surprised by the lack of silliness this time round. Chalk her up as a 'new fan.'

They were both surprised by the torture sequence

Nice post Loeffs, some funny comments from your folks. Cherish the time with your folks.

superado

Loeffelholz wrote:

My dad made a few remarks about Craig's look's at a couple of points during the film ("Kinda funny looking," "Reminds me of Alfred E. Neumann")

Love your dad, Loeffs! Which reminds me, did Mad ever do a CR satire?

Loeffelholz

superado wrote:

Loeffelholz wrote:

My dad made a few remarks about Craig's look's at a couple of points during the film ("Kinda funny looking," "Reminds me of Alfred E. Neumann")

Love your dad, Loeffs! Which reminds me, did Mad ever do a CR satire?

Can't imagine they wouldn't have...I seem to remember them having quite a lot of fun with Connery yielding to Moore back in the early '70's...

Figured you'd appreciate my Dad's take more than most anyone :v He did enjoy Craigger busting through the drywall---really liked Bond landing roughly on the steel girders in the chase scene, as well...

I don't know if he's in the Since Connery club...but he's a big fan of Classic Bond, so...

Thundernuts

Random Irritations about the Casino Royale DVD (UK Version)

1) The Anti-Piracy adverts. "You wouldn't steal a car" Is it just me, or does anyone else find this patronising bile highly annoying? I've just spent the best part of £15 on the proper article, if you want to target the people that do buy these rubbish copies, then hang around in a London pub at any weekend. The biggest irritation is that this wonderful 'request' for me not to download or buy poor quality movies is that I can't even skip it!

2) Trailers for other films. By all means shove this rubbish on the copies meant for rental, but leave them off the copy that I've privately purchased for my own use, please. I have no desire to see clips from Emma Thompson's or Will Smith's latest DVD Offerings, nor am I the slightest bit interested in Spiderman Bloody III.

3) Special Features? My arse. No director commentary, no deleted scenes, just a couple of average documentaries that I'd seen before. And I'm sorry, but that Maryam D'Abo documentary on the Bond girls of the past is quite frankly, rubbish.

4) Product placement in my DVD cover. Leaflets from Virgin, some place in the Bahamas etc, all rammed in my copy, but no decent 'Bond' insert?

With that rant over, I saw the movie itself twice at the cinema in November and was looking forward to seeing it again. I wasn't disappointed. It's a teriffic Bond film and Daniel Craig is truly the real deal as 007.

Just a shame I feel slightly done with what's on offer on the DVD

Casino Royale the Movie - 8/10

Casino Royale the DVD - 3/10 Must try harder....