Even cooler was the way they worked in the trademark "firing down the barrel" opening. As to the complaints some have about the card game: they should blame Ian Fleming. Most of the novel was about the card game (though it was chemin-de-fer instead of poker). The plot of the film was mainly from Fleming's novel.
I actually like the card game. It reminded me of the old Westerns -- except now in the modern saloon, Casino Royale.
But that building coming down -- that really took the cake. Stunning visuals throughout the whole film.