Casino Royale - Straight Flush Edition

Updated
 
9.5 (12)
4411 0 1 0 5

User reviews

12 reviews with 9-10 stars
12 reviews
 
100%
7-9 stars
 
0%
5-7 stars
 
0%
3-5 stars
 
0%
1-3 stars
 
0%
Overall rating
 
9.5
Audio/Video Quality
 
9.7(6)
Audio Editing
 
9.7(6)
Visual Editing
 
10.0(6)
Narrative
 
9.2(6)
Enjoyment
 
9.1(12)
Back to Listing
12 results - showing 6 - 10
1 2 3
Ordering
Enjoyment
 
9.0
*This rating was given before reviews were required*
L
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
*This rating was given before reviews were required*
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
Casino Royale is and has been one of my favorite films of the last decade or so. I distinctly recall a vaguely “threatening” Jorge a few years ago when he entertained the notion of editing Casino Royale. However, once Kerr’s cut was released, after hearing so many good things about his Lord of the Rings edits, I decided to give it a shot, seeing as the original film is still there if I didn’t like his cut, after all. Oh boy, am I glad I checked this out.

Kerr trimmed a lot of fat from the film, tightened the pacing, and removed a bit of Daniel Craig’s sitting there looking intense. The result is nothing short of fantastic. Sometimes, one never really notices how much can really be cut from a film until it’s actually been done. Truthfully, I was mildly disappointed to see the parkour chase at the beginning cut, but I can understand why it was cut. The editing around the sequence was good, and I only noticed the chase was missing when they arrived at the embassy. I also noticed the airport chase had been cut, but again, I didn’t really notice it until after the fact. Being located in the United States, I also noticed the longer fight scenes at the beginning and in the stairwell around the middle of the film. Considering what some PG-13 films can get away with, I was surprised to see these cut from the US release, but that’s neither here nor there.

Technically, this edit is sounder than sound. I noticed not hard audio or video cuts, no stray frames or anything like that, I did notice the slightly higher pitch the audio track had, and it was really only noticeable with music, not so much in the dialogue. But it wasn’t terrible, and I actually rather liked the opening theme with the higher pitch. As far as dialogue is concerned, it’s probably only noticeable if one does a side by side comparison, which I’m sure very few, if any, will actually do.

Also included is Gaith’s “Fury and Solace: A Coda to Casino Royale.” Technically it was fine, video and audio flawless. That said, it didn’t really do anything for me. Quantum of Solace I feel is going to be one of those films that no one will really know what to do with. The final scene in Russia, not matter if you watch the full Quantum or just this Coda, feels like something of a non sequitor to the rest of the film. This makes that seem even more obvious, although it does allow for the viewer to think up what happened in those six days. This approach leaves a little too much to the viewer in my opinion. Still, it’s a nice inclusion for those interested.

All in all, a solid effort AND an excellent end result. I would say go watch this. Right now. Please.
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
Wow. Just wow. I’ll say it again: Wow. It’s like Kerr got inside my head and fanedited this movie exactly the way I would have!

The theatrical release I thought it was a step towards the right direction for the Bond series but that at the same time still dragged with itself a lot of dead weight remaining from the less glorious eras of the character. Namely: overblown and overlong action setpieces, impossible stunts, misplaced humor, obvious product placement, overexposition for dummies, the occassional out-of-character behavior… dumbing down into an usual blockbuster something whose charm is not being the usual blockbuster. Otherwise one is better off watching the umpteenth Mission: Impossible sequel. Actually, sometimes I’m led to believe those elements are what people enjoy from a movie, given their prominence, and that I’m just a weirdo. As such, I couldn’t join the general raving about it being the best Bond movie ever and amazing and what Bond should be and everything. I mostly felt Martian.

Then, along came Kerr and worked the miracle. He removed tons of fat and the shiny result is a Bond movie as Bond movies should be: dramatic yet thrilling, down to earth and credible yet still containing enough action (the physically possible kind), witty but not goofy, and with 007 the way we like him: the ultimate alpha male in all senses. Even his beta shocked behavior upon discovering Vesper’s feelings is gone. I saw the light! “Casino Royale: Straight Flush Edition” is not only an improvement, it’s a great Bond film and probably, now, the greatest of all Bond films (this coming from a Connery loyalist). This is the version I can watch over and over again, the version that reminded me why I am a lifelong James Bond fan.

I agree with each and every cut and rearrangement made here… except that I oh-so-wish Kerr had cut M’s “I miss the Cold War” line, which he likes and I respect it. It’s about the only slice of cheese remaining in the whole running time, and it’s very minor. On the other hand, I’m very grateful he cut the “Shaken or stirred” joke: a lot of people seem to like it (I feel Martian again) but I thought the last thing a fresh approach to the character needed was self-referencing humor, and I felt it was out of character: Bond may lose his temper over many things, but a Vodka Martini must always be a proper Vodka Martini.

Video and audio quality is flawless (NTSC zone viewers have commented on the pitch being slightly high, but as I live in the PAL zone I didn’t even notice) and the editing itself is totally invisible and professional. A full-rounded 10/10. Keep them coming, Kerr!
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
Overall rating
 
9.4
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
9.0
Enjoyment
 
8.0
Its been awhile since I’ve watched my dvd of Casino Royale. The biggest problem I always had with it was all the poker commentary. If you know poker you already know that stuff so it sounds really silly and obvious. Cutting that stuff worked really well.

Cutting the chase/parkour stuff was also well done, while I did enjoy the scene in the movie i understand why you cut it from your edit.

I had to re-read your cutlist after i finished watching because there were a bunch of things that i hadn’t noticed.

The cuts were all unnoticeable to me anyway, audio and video quality were very good.

I always felt Bond movies, in general, drag on for too long, so i appreciated the shortened runtime.

The DVD was nice but rather plain and no submenu for chapters (im not a stickler for these things, some people are) but that is your choice and for me, didn’t take away from the actual edit.

Nice work!
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0
12 results - showing 6 - 10
1 2 3