Rating: 
Summary: We Could Use a Serious Version of "Casino Royale"
Review: There's not much to add that hasn't been said before about "Casino Royale" except that it's ironic that a studio rival to that which produced most of the other Bonds was able to secure the rights to what is arguably the hardest hitting Bond book--and turn it into a mostly unfunny comedy. David Niven, once a contender for the more serious films, plays Sir James Bond, a stuttering hedonist who's only a shorthand version of his public persona. Lured back to Her Majesty's Secret Service by "M" (played with a twinkle by John Huston, who also directs at least part of the film), he recruits a shy cardsharp (Peter Sellers in one of his few subdued roles) to impersonate Bond and dethrone the embezzling Russian agent LeChiffre (Orson Welles, who would have done fine in a straight version of the book). The cast, which includes sexy Bond veteran Ursula Andress and a pre-arthouse Woody Allen, is great, as are the visuals, but the choppy editing and schizophrenic story will make your head hurt, as might Herb Alpert's elevator-friendly score. In the end, "Casino Royale" works best as a glimpse into the campy side of 1960s pop culture and reminds Bond fans that a more faithful version of Ian Fleming's terrific book is long overdue.
Rating: 
Summary: Woody Allen, David Niven, and Peter Sellars are James Bond
Review: Though it superficially follows the Ian Fleming novel, this is my favorite Bond movie. It's actually three directors' spoof of the Bond movie craze. Watch for puns, side gags, and double entendres (I think I spelled that right.)
Rating:
Summary: Excellent '60s Magic; Acid Soaked Bond Spoof
Review: As a '60s afficionado I finally got around to seeing this great psychedelic mindblower of a film. It starts off slow....enter Ursula Andress. There are at least 100 beautiful European girls in this film and I can see Woody Allen's motivation to kill all men taller than him so he can get them all. As the film takes off you realize that you have to be on Acid to understand the plot, as everyone remotely connected with this film must've been. The sets range from a Scottish castle to a Berlin haunted house to Orson Wells' psychedelic torture chamber complete with mod spiral funhouse rooms, and it gets more bizarre from there. Great music by Burt Bacharach (The Look of Love). Has cameos from practically every British star of the time, has a Spaceship full of Woody's duplicate World Leaders...it has everything. What can I say, if you like the '60s you'll love this if you possess that '60s Psychodelic Consciousness that is.
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