DVD: Casino Royale DVD Review

Sony Pictures' two-disc release of Casino Royale shoots to kill.

Casino Royale is definitely worth owning on DVD. It's the best Bond film in years, arguably since the Connery days, and it showcases the debut of Daniel Craig as 007. The film was loved by critics and fans of the series when it hit theatres back in November and still holds a whopping 94% at Rotten Tomatoes, something not many films have accomplished.

Now, the two-disc DVD release includes the full 144 minute film (obviously) along with over 90 minutes of additional features and footage. The most significant out of the three main features is the 2006 piece shot for AMC titled Bond Girls are Forever. This 50 minute documentary examines the evolution of Bond's leading ladies over the decades. Maryam d'Abo, who played opposite Timothy Dalton's Bond as Kara Milovy in 1987's The Living Daylights, narrates the feature and talks with many Bond Girls of the past. We hear from Ursula Andress (Honey Rider, Dr. No), Honor Blackman (Pussy Galore, Goldfinger), and Maud Adams (Octopussy, Octopussy), among others. The documentary is quite interesting, shedding light on the view of Bond Girls in society and the development of power in the role, something that was absent in the early days of Bond.



Another extra worth checking out is the 26 minute Becoming Bond feature. This documentary focuses on the media reaction to the announcement of Daniel Craig as Bond and how he was able to overcome the unjust disgust fans of the series threw at him immediately after he was cast in the film. While many different people are interviewed in this piece, including director Martin Campbell, it's really a one-on-one interview with Craig.

There is also a 23 minute piece on the stunts in the film titled James Bond: For Real. Casino Royale is a gritty and mean Bond film, something we haven't seen in the past, and this documentary shows how that effect was created by some of the stunt work. This bit also talks a bit about casting free runner Sebastien Foucan in the film along with the development of the extreme sport.

The DVD also features Chris Cornell's music video for his song You Know My Name, which is featured on the film's soundtrack.

I'm happy with the Casino Royale DVD and I'm glad it's in my collection. It's a great film and these two discs have enough bonus material to provide a few hours of informational entertainment. Although, I wish the DVD had a director's commentary. I can't believe how many releases are shipping without commentary tracks recently. The Departed, The Prestige, Borat, and now Casino Royale, and that's just the past month or so. Hopefully we see (or hear) more commentaries in the near future.

Cheers.

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FILM: Gerard Butler to Take on Snake Plisskin?

Rumours have surfaced that the action star from 300 will play Snake in an Escape From New York remake.

Apparently Gerard Butler has earned quite a name for himself with the recent $70-million opening weekend box-office success that is 300. Hollywood has taken note and it appears that the Scot is quickly on the rise. Producer Neal Moritz (The Fast and the Furious, S.W.A.T.) is set to produce the remake of the 1981 cult-classic while writer Ken Nolan (Black Hawk Down) has script duties.

While I really like Gerard Butler in this role, I don't think that this film should be remade. Especially with this creative team. Escape From New York is a cult hit that defines Kurt Russell's career as well as the feeling of films in the 80s. Plus, Moritz has a track record for producing BAD movies. He's got films like Torque, xXx: State of the Union, and Stealth on his resume, along with the Fast and Furious trilogy. The guy is a hack and I'd hate to see him ruin something like a high-profile remake like this.



I'm also insecure with the choice of Ken Nolan as writer for the flick. The guy is fairly green with only one feature credited to his name and I don't think he can handle the duties of adapting the film alone. Sure, he has an entire film of reference material to work with, but I think he's a poor choice.

It'll be interesting to see how this picture turns out, if it does infact get made. I really like Butler in this role but I'd prefer him to make his mark in something new instead of a rehash of something from the past.

What do you guys think about this? Should a remake of John Carpenter's Escape From New York by made?

Cheers.

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FILM: Hitman Movie Cast

The role of Agent 47, the unforgettable character from the Hitman video game franchise, has been cast, and surprisingly it's not Vin Diesel

Actor Timothy Olyphant will play Agent 47. Olyphant is known for his roles in Scream 2, Rock Star, and The Girl Next Door. He also plays the character of Seth Bullock on HBO's Deadwood.

Now, I like Timothy Olyphant but I think he's the wrong choice for Agent 47. The hitman is supposed to be extremely cold, reserved, and precise where Olyphant is known for being a bit, how can I put this, silly. He does have the chiseled jaw found on the video game character and I'm sure he'll look the part when bald, but I can't see him adding much more to the part. It'll be interesting to see where he takes the character but I can't see him in the role, at least as of now.



Dougray Scott (Mission Impossible II, Desperate Housewives) has also been cast in the film and will play a man who's task it is to take down Agent 47.

Another notable is that retired French director Luc Besson (Taxi, The Fifth Element) is producing the film. Now, I'd be much happier if he was directing this adaptation but it's being done by Xavier Gens (Sable noir, Frontieres). I'm not sure if I can put much faith into Gens with this project as he's quite green but I'm excited to see where this film goes.

I don't have high expectations for Hitman, but it should be worth a look.

Cheers.

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FILM: 300 Review

300 is a film you could watch on mute and still enjoy. In fact, you'd probably appreciate it a bit more if you did.

300 is a balls-to-the-wall action movie. There is no commanding dialogue, no developing characters, and nothing to stir thought in the audience. It's a bland story that isn't acted or directed very well and at times it takes itself too seriously. It's a movie that is cliche, simple even to the most retarded of children, and is completely awesome.

As a big fan of Frank Miller's graphic novel, 300, I wasn't sure what to expect with this film. I was hoping that, like Sin City, the book would be converted directly to the screen without any unnecessary changes to the script. Although, with Sin City there was enough material to fit into a two hour film, 300 didn't have as deep of a story. To fill this void and thicken the storyline director Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead) and newbie writers Kurt Johnstad and Michael Gordon were forced to add in a few sub-plots to draw out the adventure. I knew this wasn't a good decision and I had a strong feeling that they would stir the pot away from the original subject matter just a bit too much.



Well, they did. There is a ton of substance in the flick that isn't found in the original graphic novel, including large story-arc featuring Queen Gorgo. These scenes that stray from Frank Miller's book fit fairly well with the film but I think they could have been stronger. They borderline on the cliche side of things and I felt as if not much thought was put into them. Then again, dialogue and plot are the Achilles' heel of 300.

The performances given by most of the cast is fairly bland as well. Everything is over-acted and seems forced down the audience's throat. Gerard Butler (The Phantom of the Opera, Beowulf & Grendel) gives a decent but exaggerated performance that works as he's an extreme figure of power but lets a small tease of his sensitive side shine through. On the other hand, David Wenahm, Vincent Regan, and Dominic West all do a terrible job and are occasionally laughable. Lena Headey gives a fairly good performance as the commanding Queen Gorgo but she too shows all of her character on the surface, refusing to take the Queen any deeper.



As I've said earlier though, 300 isn't about the acting, dialogue, or plot. It's a beautiful action movie that's piece of art a pleasure on the eyes to look at. Whether it's the Laconian plain surrounding Sparta or a severed head falling to the ground in slow motion, everything in the film is stylized and astounding. Some of the CGI is easily noticeable and distracting, as ten differently visual effects companies worked on the film, but most of it is right on the money. Easily my favourite effect is the blood in the film. Instead of the usual approach to the red liquid 300 handles blood as a 2D element. For example, a limb will be removed and blood will erupt from the wound as flat as paper. The effect is a lot different than what's been done in the past, and will no doubt annoy many, but I felt that it helped the film feel like a comic book and keep the violence in hand.

One fairly minor complaint I have about the effects in 300 though is the use of slow-motion. It seemed as if every third shot in the film had some sort of time manipulation and most of the segments slowed down weren't significant enough to warrant slow-motion. Then again, this isn't a very major complaint, I just think the effect was a bit overdone.



300 isn't a historically-correct epic, nor is it a smart film that provokes thought in the audience. It's a simple and straight-forward action flick that is dumbed down to accommodate the slowest of viewers but remains a fun ride. It's violent, it's gritty, and it's to-the-point. If you know this going in then you'll most likely have a great time, just don't expect too much out of this title, otherwise you're bound to be disappointed.

One Sentence Review: Beautiful and stylized film that is all violence, all the time.

Cheers.

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FILM: Tintin Movie in the Works?

Steven Spielberg has reportedly acquired the rights to the popular French comic series Tintin.

On Friday Steven Spielberg and his company Dreamworks acquired the rights to the French action-hero Tintin. Spielberg, who had been trying to buy the rights to the character for over two decades, hopes to produce a Tintin film in the near future.



I don't really know what to think of this. I think that Tintin could be a great adventure film and if Spielberg is passionate about the character then it should turn out great. One thing that I question though is Tintin's popularity in the United States. Does he have the star power to be a box-office success? He does in Europe but he's not as well-known over here in North America.

What do you people think of this? Can Spielberg and Dreamworks do justice to the famous French adventurer?

As of now no details have been announced for Tintin. Check back here for updates as the film starts gaining steam.

Cheers.

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FILM: Alvin and the Chipmunks in the Works

Actor Jason Lee and director Tim Hill, the dude who did Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties, team up to bring the infamous trio of chipmunks to the silver screen.

Remember the first Garfield movie? Well, it sucked...hard. Remember the second Garfield movie? It sucked even harder. Director Tim Hill, the guy who did that second one, Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties, has signed on to do an Alvin and the Chipmunks feature film.

Now, I was a huge fan of the Chipmunks growing up and seeing a feature film be announced with this excuse of a director at the helm hits me like a bat to the head. Sure, it'll make some cash at the box-office and may garner a sequel, but you can almost guarantee it's going to be shit. I just hope they don't try and update the chipmunks with a more "modern" feel. The last thing I want to see is a chipmunk dance-off.



Jason Lee (Mallrats, My Name Is Earl) has stepped in to play Dave Seville, the often frustrated father of the chipmunks. While I like Lee, I think he's completely miscast in this role. Dave is a supposed to be the hard-working mentor and often annoyed mentor of the chipmunks who is also a bit of a dork. Lee just doesn't fit that mold. He's too cool and too smooth.

It's not yet certain whether the film will be live-action, a mix of CGI and live-action, or completely animation. Either way, you can bet this one's going to be a stinker.

What do you guys think about Alvin and the Chipmunks so far? Do you agree with me in thinking that it's going to be complete crap and a joke of a film or am I just too quick to judge?

Cheers.

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