"Casino" mini-review

[Chris Trott]

Figured I'd post a quick review since I just saw it.

1) New Bond is decent, but something seems to be missing. I guess 'M' said it best that he seemed to be stacking up quite a body count. Would say that the movie could have used a bit more drama and a bit less action.

2) No 'Q'!!!!!! What is a Bond movie without a visit to Q-Branch?!? Hell, we don't even see much of the nice Aston Martin DB5 that he's assigned in Montenegro except for it getting crashed! Hell, there wasn't one good car, boat, or plane chase in this movie.

3) No Air Atlantique... guess they cut the DC-6's out of the final cut because there was no sign of them at all. Not even mentioned in the credits either. There was a Virgin 747 & A340, a CSA A310, a charter (probably fake) 737, and a charter 747 (again, probably fake although at least they used the right cockpit) though. The modified 747 actually looks kinda interesting with the B-52-style podded engines and drop tanks.

Without revealing any real spoilers, it's worth one watch, but doubtful it'll get much return viewership. Seems to be a lot like the original sadly.

[Chris Trott]

First, I'm going to keep my review replies here because I think the other thread is staying on the original topic for once and I don't want to be blamed for taking it off topic.

Right ladies & gents, seems Trott could'nt wait to beat me to it and has added his own review.

Sorry, didn't know you owned the rights to post the first review. Honestly, I figured I'd make a report after seeing the Matinee showing yesterday since the poll thread had been so popular, nothing "evil" in my intentions.

1) New Bond is decent, but something seems to be missing. I guess 'M' said it best that he seemed to be stacking up quite a body count. Would say that the movie could have used a bit more drama and a bit less action.

Taking action away and adding drama would defy the object of the film Chris. Bond movies are supposed to be like that.

I remember the original Bond movies (pre-Brosnan especially) being more about the plot than the action. This one seemed to have a lot of action that was unnecessarily drawn out compared to other movies. A lot of it seemed really forced in ways, especially considering that Bond has always been one to dispatch his quarry fairly quickly and not spend 5 minutes sparring with each one. Remember that a lot of the action in the early movies was repeated encounters with the "star villans" meaning 3 or more fights throughout the movie, not 1 each and then they're dead. Also, with the lack of the big vehicle chase, that big fight scene that ensues either during or immediately after the chase is missing as well. The only action scene I saw that really and truly fit the idea of this being the "first" Bond movie was the last scene. Everything before it was a bit too blunt force trauma.

Chris Trott wrote:

2) No 'Q'!!!!!! What is a Bond movie without a visit to Q-Branch?!? Hell, we don't even see much of the nice Aston Martin DB5 that he's assigned in Montenegro except for it getting crashed! Hell, there wasn't one good car, boat, or plane chase in this movie.

The film goes back to Bonds roots. Its focuses on him prior to getting his '00' status. Thats a major factor in why Q-Branch was omitted. The Aston he drives and later crashes is the new Aston DBS. The DB5 is never touched or damaged.

You are correct on which car did what. But again, one would think that with this being Bond's first mission as a "00" one of the first things they'd do was introduce him to "Q" and assign him the "standard" equipment. Also being that if this was truly a return to Bond's roots, then it would have been appropriate (especially with today's technology) to take them back to that time and make it a true prequel instead of a new movie thinly disguised as a prequel. I say major points off for claiming it to be a "return to the roots" when it's really nothing of the sort.

Chris Trott wrote:

3) No Air Atlantique... guess they cut the DC-6's out of the final cut because there was no sign of them at all. Not even mentioned in the credits either. There was a Virgin 747 & A340, a CSA A310, a charter (probably fake) 737, and a charter 747 (again, probably fake although at least they used the right cockpit) though. The modified 747 actually looks kinda interesting with the B-52-style podded engines and drop tanks.

Without revealing any real spoilers, it's worth one watch, but doubtful it'll get much return viewership. Seems to be a lot like the original sadly.

Are you sure you've been to see the movie Chris?
The Air Atlantique DC-6 (G-SIXC) was clearly shown in two or three scene's at the Airport with the modified 747. There are many Virgin Airlines aircraft on show, probably a gesture of Mr Branson, subject to him being allowed to appear on the film. Did you spot him in an Alfred Hitchcock style appearance at the Airport?!

Yes, I saw Branson for the 1.1 seconds he was on screen. Would've expected a Stan Lee-style "in-your-face" cameo instead of a Hitchcock one though. More Branson's style.

I was watching the 747 scenes intently and didn't see the DC-6s so either they have a different cut in the US-released film (it's happened quite a bit) or I'll have to go see it again and check. But the absence of Air Atlantique, Atlantic Airlines, or any other variation on the company name in the credits where they had CSA, Virgin, Virgin Atlantic, etc, is kinda conspicuous and leads me to believe that they didn't make the US cut.

[Tomliner]

Saw the film friday night.Thoroughly enjoyed it.Before seeing it I wasn't aware that either Richard Branson or Air Atlantique were supposed to feature in it,but after seeing it I remarked to my wife that I thought I had seen RB at Miami airport and also that I thought I had noticed AA's logo on a propliners tail,but that maybe I had imagined it.So my guess is that both were there albeit extremely briefly.ATB EricT

[TSR2]

Saw the film tonight and thoroughly enjoyed it, I don't know why, but it reminds me of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" I was trying to check the credits for Air Atlantique, but had to go as I was running late for the car park.

The one thing that did surprise me was that in the UK it was only given a 12A rating... I would have thought it should have been a 15.

[Tom Everitt AFG]

I remember signing the piece of paper to say they could use our company name and image and to get our name in the credits, but I guess if you see the DC6 thats publicity enough!

Tom.