'Casino Royale' Collector's Edition DVD/Blu-ray Overview

CommanderBond.net rounds up all the latest news regarding the upcoming Casino Royale Collector’s Edition, due for release on DVD and Blu-ray in October 2008.

This article will be continually updated in the following weeks.

Originally posted on 29 July 2008.
Last updated on 1 October 2008

Casino Royale Collector’s Edition

Overview

CommanderBond.net exclusively reported back in August 2007 that a three-disc special edition of Casino Royale was in the works, planned for release around the time Quantum of Solace (then titled Bond 22) hit theatres in October/November 2008.

This Casino Royale Collector’s Edition will improve greatly on the original two-disc release with more than seven hours of special features including audio commentaries (compared to 90 minutes on the original).

The Region 1 release date is Tuesday, 21 October 2008, with the Region 2 release slated for Monday, 20 October and Region 4 on Wednesday, 5 November.

Plot Synopsis

Casino Royale introduces James Bond before he holds his license to kill. But Bond is no less dangerous, and with two professional assassinations in quick succession, he is elevated to “00” status. “M” (Judi Dench), head of the British Secret Service, sends the newly-promoted 007 on his first mission that takes him to Madagascar, the Bahamas and eventually leads him to Montenegro to face Le Chiffre, a ruthless financier under threat from his terrorist clientele, who is attempting to restore his funds in a high-stakes poker game at the Casino Royale. “M” places Bond under the watchful eye of the Treasury official Vesper Lynd. At first skeptical of what value Vesper can provide, Bond’s interest in her deepens as they brave danger together. Le Chiffre’s cunning and cruelty come to bear on them both in a way Bond could never imagine, and he learns his most important lesson: Trust no one.

Ordering Details

Region 1:

• Release Date: 21 October 2008
• Retail Price: $29.95 (DVD)
• Retail Price: $38.96 (Blu-ray Disc)
• Format: DVD – Three-Disc Collector’s Edition
• Format: Blu-ray Disc – Two-Disc Collector’s Edition
• 2.40:1 Anamorphic Widescreen Presentation
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Order (DVD) – Amazon.com
• Order (Blu-ray Disc) – Amazon.com

Region 2:

• Release Date: 20 October 2008
• Retail Price: £17.99 (DVD)
• Retail Price: £22.99 (Blu-ray Disc)
• Format: DVD – Three-Disc Collector’s Edition
• Format: Blu-ray Disc – Two-Disc Collector’s Edition
• 2.40:1 Anamorphic Widescreen Presentation
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Order (DVD) – Amazon.co.uk
• Order (Blu-ray Disc) – Amazon.co.uk

Region 3:

• Release Date: 2008
• Format: DVD – Three-Disc Collector’s Edition
• Format: Blu-ray Disc – Two-Disc Collector’s Edition
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Region 4:

• Release Date: 5 November 2008
• Retail Price: $29.83 (DVD)
• Retail Price: $39.83 (Blu-ray Disc)
• Format: DVD – Three-Disc Collector’s Edition
• Format: Blu-ray Disc – Two-Disc Collector’s Edition
• 2.40:1 Anamorphic Widescreen Presentation
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Order (DVD) – EzyDVD
• Order (Blu-ray Disc) – EzyDVD

Special Features

EXCLUSIVE BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE:

• Bonus View Picture-in-Picture visual commentary with Director Martin Campbell and Producer Michael G. Wilson
• “Know Your Double-O” – the Ultimate James Bond Trivia Quiz, a BD-Live enabled multi-skill level, multi-player trivia game

BLU-RAY & DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE:

Documentaries

• Ian Fleming’s Incredible Creation – A remarkable look at the birth and continued success of James Bond, including never-before-revealed information about Bond’s creator and the origins of 007.
• The Road to Casino Royale – The story of why it took over 50 years for the Bond filmmakers to bring Ian Fleming’s first 007 novel to the big screen, featuring the amazing behind-the-scenes stories of the many attempts to make the film.
• James Bond in the Bahamas – A fascinating examination of the links between the the cinematic Bond and the Bahamas, with never-before-told behind-the-scenes stories from Casino Royale, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, For Your Eyes Only and The World Is Not Enough.
• Ian Fleming: The Secret Road to Paradise – A revealing exploration of the world of James Bond’s creator. In this documentary, discover why Ian Fleming was drawn to the Bahamas, and learn the cinematic Casino Royale‘s unique link to an important chapter in 007’s secret history.
• Death in Venice – A break down of one of the key scenes in the film.
• Becoming Bond – An intimate look at how Daniel Craig stepped into the role of James Bond.
• James Bond: For Real – A behind-the-scenes look at the ground-breaking action and the stunts in Casino Royale.
• Bond Girls Are Forever – An extended version of the 2002 AMC television special, with new footage and interviews of the new Bond Girls.

• Featurettes:
• The Art of Freerunning – An in-depth look at the freerunning chase and the freerunning technique with the sport’s founder, Sebastien Foucan.

• Filmmaker Profiles: in-depth conversations with key creative forces behind Casino Royale, including never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage:
• Martin Campbell, Director
• Chris Corbould, Special Effects
• Phil Meheux, Director of Photography
• Gary Powell, Stunt Coordinator
• Alexander Witt, Second Unit Director
• David Arnold, Composer

• Deleted/Extended Scenes:
• “Rescue & Recovery”
• “Squandering Government Funds”
• “Cricket Pavilion”
• “Gettler Raises Bond’s Suspicions”

• Storyboard Sequence:
• Freerunning Chase – Watch the storyboards presented in animatic form, or view them in comparison to the finished film sequence.

• Scene Deconstruction:
• Catching a Plane: From Storyboard to Screen – featuring outtakes and never-before-seen footage.

• Music Video: Chris Cornell “You Know My Name”

• Crew Commentary: Audio Commentary with scene-specific comments and observations from many of Casino Royale‘s creative team.

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The special features listing was first revealed in March 2008 along with a (now known to be incorrect) Region 1 release date of 3 June 2008 by the DVD Times website.

In addition to the above special features, specially marked copies of the Casino Royale Collector’s Edition will include ‘e-Movie Cash’ to see the 22nd Bond film, Quantum of Solace in theatres.

Cover Artwork

Cover artwork for the Region 1 and 2 DVD and Blu-ray editions uses the image of Daniel Craig as Bond from the International ‘A’ poster artwork for Casino Royale. Front and back artwork is currently available.

Front Cover Artwork | Back Cover Artwork

Stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for the most up-to-date and complete coverage of this Casino Royale Collector’s Edition DVD/Blu-ray release.

Promotional Trailer

A 1 minute, 22 second trailer that showcases the much improved set of special features that will accompany this release was made available in mid-September. Click here to view.