Collector's edition of 'Casino Royal' reinforces the film's strengths

Based on the first and perhaps best of the Ian Fleming novels, the 2006 James Bond film, "Casino Royale," removed all doubts over the reworking of the franchise — now meaner and meatier — and the performance of Daniel Craig as the new 007. The film was a smash, and Blond Bond works. Craig, who already had impressed in such pictures as "Layer Cake" and "Munich," was terrific.

In advance of Craig's second outing, the Nov. 14 debut of "Quantum of Solace," landing on home video is a significantly expanded version of the original two-disc "Casino Royale" DVD. The extensive bonus features of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's new three-disc "Casino Royale" Collector's Edition, with seven hours of additional material, are a useful addendum to those of 2006's massive, four-edition DVD package, "The James Bond Ultimate Edition," which sported each of the 20 MGM features (the new "Casino Royale" and "Never Say Never Again" excluded) with a second companion DVD for each film showcasing material drawn from the 007 archive.

Of particular interest in the new three-disc release are the extras segments "Ian Fleming: The Secret Road to Paradise" and "James Bond in the Bahamas," both behind-the-scenes cultural-political histories of the Caribbean's role in the 007 films, but even more a profile of some of the people who inspired or lent their names to such Fleming book (and later film) characters as 007's CIA chum Felix Leiter, uber-Bond girl Honeychile Rider, British Secret Service chief M, and Bond himself. Though mainly a fanciful amplification of Fleming, many of Bond's traits clearly represent a composite of real people who were close to the author in Britain, Jamaica and the Bahamas.

Likewise eye-opening is "The Road to Casino Royale," a history-in-brief which dates back to the early 1950s.

These generally engrossing featurettes, dominated by social dynamics, little-known connections and the early battles to see who would control the 007 franchise, dovetail well with the involved biographies of Fleming (and the Bond character) contained in the "The James Bond Ultimate Edition."

As with most contemporary DVDs of big mainstream movies, there's the customary array of featurettes on cast and crew, soundtrack commentary, deleted scenes, celebrations of the Bond movies' exotic locales, music videos, behind-the-scenes recollections elicited years after the fact and footage on how all those death-defying stunts were choreographed and executed. Naturally, some vignettes are more intriguing than others. But you needn't be a devotee of 007 trivia to enjoy them.

Of all of the actors who've played Bond, the virile, cold-eyed Craig — imposing if not suave — is closest to Sean Connery in screen presence, not to mention that sense of ruthlessness and menace 007 exhibited before being turned into a "gentleman." Apart from Tim Dalton in 1987's "The Living Daylights" (1987), Craig also seemed the most

human of Bond's incarnations, which might or might not be what most fans of the series crave.

French actress Eva Green's performance as Vesper Lynd, the only three-dimensional female character of the Fleming novels, was by far the most grounded and appealing of any 007 film. Judi Dench reprised her role as M with customary panache, Mads Mikkelsen (so sympathetic in "After the Wedding") was suitably chilly as the villainous Le Chiffre, and director Martin ("GoldenEye") Campbell enjoyed a welcome return to the helm to assure some continuity (and verve) from the Pierce Brosnan days.

While there was no stinting on stunts — actual feats of daring with nary a hint of CGI — or on glamorous set pieces, "Casino Royale" was less about bombast than story and character. The cartoonish elements were played down (insofar as possible) in favor of a rip-roaring yarn with a gritty central performance.

It's James Bond, back to his roots.

Reach Bill Thompson at bthompson@postandcourier.com or 937-5707.