Casino Royale [Blu-ray] [2006] [US Import]

Rather than focussing on the film, which is well reviewed, here is a quick run-down of the extras on this "Deluxe Blu-Ray" version over the DVD Collector's Edition and original Blu-ray versions and the DVD Deluxe Edition.

Firstly, those interested in the Blu-ray version over the DVD will be keen to know that all of the extras are in high definition, with the exception of the "Bond Girls" and "Chris Cornell music video" extras which are DVD resolution. Obviously there are some shots within the other extras that aren't full HD quality.

Disc 1 extras:
- crew commentary
- picture-in-picture visual commentary (Blu-Ray only)
- James Bond quiz (Blu-Ray only)

Disc 2 extras:
1 deleted scenes (x4)
2 Road to Casino Royale
3 Ian Fleming's Incredible Creation
4 James Bond in the Bahamas
5 Ian Fleming: Secret Road to Paradise
6 Death in Venice
7 Becoming Bond Documentary (from original edition, HD)
8 James Bond: For Real documentary (from original edition, HD)
9 Bond Girls are Forever (from original edition, low definition)
10 Art of the Freerun
11 Catching A Plane storyboard to screen
12 Freerun Chase storyboard sequence
13 Filmmaker Profiles
14 Chris Cornell music video (low definition)

Of the new features, most fall into the category of interview-based documentaries with clips of the final film, although a few (items 6 and 10 in particular) are behind the scenes "how did they do it" material.

I would recommend this version if you have the earlier DVD version but have since bought a Blu-ray player, as the Blu-Ray quality is excellent and there are some good new features. If you have the original Blu-ray version, only buy it if you really want the extra documentaries and like watching people sitting talking! If you haven't bought any previous version and have a Blu-Ray player then the extra cost over the DVD Deluxe Edition is certainly worthwhile.

This is a superb blu ray release in all aspects apart from one: it is cut in the torture scene. As most of us would agree, the film itself is an exciting modern incarnation of Bond, and the quality of this release certainly does it justice. Picture and audio quality are sublime and the extras are first rate.

If you can live with the cuts, this is the blu ray for you. If you can't, buy the deluxe edition from amazon.fr. It is uncut, region B (same as UK) and features the same high quality transfer and extras. The English audio is still presented in TrueHD, and the menus even load up in English. The box for the French blu ray doesn't have the swish cover, and it costs you a little more to import it, but the delivery service from amazon.fr is exemplary, and it's more than worth the trouble.

If you are a purist like me who hates the BBFC's antics and want to watch the film as the director intended, this is the blu ray for you. Casino Royale might have moved to Montenegro in this film adaptation of the book, but if you want the real Casino Royale, France is still the place to look.

Right, unless you've lived on Mars for the past two years you will already know what an excellent film we have here, so there should be no need to go through the plot details, instead onto a review of the DVD itself.
I have to say this really is the DVD version we should have had two years ago. Presented in a cracking thick cardboard slipcase, and opening out with into a tryptich digipak, disc one on the left, two and three on the right and in the middle a glossy booklet in a slip pocket. Each outside surface features a cracking picture, Bond, Vesper and Bond & Vesper, all beautifully reproduced in a lovely matt finish. Excellent packaging.
First off, the menus. Thankfully they have been re-done as the original release had possibly the worst menus ever seen (almost! - well, certainly to grace Bond DVDs), these now feature a deck of cards tumbling toward the viewer, with the Casino Royale logo on back, (following the style of Daniel Klienman's most excellent titles, probably the best of the whole series) I think it is a shame they didn't follow the format of the Ultimate Edition DVDs but a welcome update anyway.
Disc One, is as previous issue - except for two commentaries - the first features director Martin Campbell and co-producer Michael Wilson, the second by the crew.
Disc Two is a straight lift from the previous release, featuring, Becoming Bond, James Bond for Real, Bond Girls Forever and Chris Cornelle's video for 'You Know My Name' - a theme tune that is definitely a grower.
Disc Three - this is where it gets interesting! A shed-load of features and featurettes, dealing with Casino Royale, from book to small screen, to big screen spoof and onto the excellent film we have here. It's all kicked off with a half-dozen or so deleted scenes, the best being the post-torture rush to hospital and recovery, but a nice collection all together.
There are featurettes on Ian Fleming and his incredible creation, Paradise Island which has a long history with both Fleming and James Bond, there are explorations into the filmmaking process, showcasing the Venice finale, the Freerun chase and the Miami airport thrill ride! Profiles and storyboards. All-in-all an exhaustive collection covering just about everything you would want to know about the 21st James Bond film.
If you don't own Casino Royale, buy this version, if you do own Casino Royale, drop it into your local charity shop and buy this version.
And once you gone through the excellent extras, slip in Disc One and reacquaint yourself with this excellent and, dare I say, classic piece of Bond that this film is. The series was due for a re-boot after the dire Die Another Day and what better way to do it - back to the beginning!