Casino Royale

Casino Royale

Peter Sellers and an all-star cast are featured in the James Bond \spoof Casino Royale. The film is presented in a great-looking 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. There are bright, bold colors among the dark black levels, making the image almost dreamlike with its 1960s feel. While there are some instances of dirt and grain in the picture, overall this is a great transfer by MGM. The soundtrack is presented in a newly created Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround remix in English. Because the original recording wasn't in the best of shape, this 5.1 mix is limited -- the biggest boost comes in the form of composer Burt Bacharach's catchy music score. Otherwise the bulk of this track is focused in the front and center speakers. All aspects of the mix are mostly free of any excessive hiss or distortion. MGM has thrown on a few fun extra features, starting with the original 1954 TV movie of the same name (presented in black-and-white full-frame version). 007 fans will be thrilled to get this first-ever filmed version of the movie that was originally broadcast live. A 20-minute featurette on the making of the film hosted by Val Guest gives viewers a few juicy tidbits to chew on, including the alleged feud between stars Sellers and Orson Welles. Finally, there is a theatrical trailer for the film presented in non-anamorphic widescreen. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide