Casino Royale (2006 film)/Awesome

2006 film

• The pre-credits scene, filmed in black-and-white when the traitor Dryden says "Don't worry, the second is..." BAM!. Bond puts one silenced round in his chest killing him instantly; and then finishes his sentence for him, "Yes. Considerably." Several people in the theater who didn't even know each other turned to one another and said, "That is James Bond!"
• In the opening title sequence: "You Know My Name." The whole sequence is probably the best they've done, but at 2:44, when they shoot the two holes in the "7" card? The audience cheered.
  • And immediately following that, "007 - status confirmed". Hell, that whole Opening Title Sequence was a CMOA for Bond, Chris Cornell, and especially Daniel Kleinman. If those titles didn't make you want to punch the air, you were probably in the wrong theatre.
• The second opening gambit, involving a chase scene with one of the pioneers of parkour. The suspect runs through a building under construction, and leaps through a window above a door. Without slowing down or breaking stride, Bond runs through the wall to continue the chase. That one part defining Bond's methods.
  • Earlier in the same chase scene, the suspect runs, vaults, and jumps into the construction site, and turns with his gun, waiting for Bond to follow him. Which he does. In a bulldozer.
• M's rant about Bond:

M: And how the hell could Bond be so stupid? I give him double-O status and he celebrates by shooting up an embassy. Is the man deranged? And where the hell is he? In the old days if an agent did something that embarrassing he'd have the good sense to defect. Christ, I miss the Cold War.

• • Also when she informs Bond that she will have him shot if he says her name out loud. Actually gave me shivers.
    • Judi Dench has one of the best "Do Not Fuck With Me" voices ever.
• The terrorist sent to blow up the plane in Miami is epically Hoist by His Own Petard. That moment where he presses the detonator, looks down at his belt and appears panicked is awesome enough. We cut to Bond's triumphant smile, and that seals the deal.
  • He gets a more subtle one before that in a meta-sense. Bond needs to know where Alex Dimitrios is and what his plans are. So, he seduces the man's wife Solange and discovers that Dimitrios is heading to Miami. Cliché Bond logic would dictate that Bond screws her anyway because screwing random woman is probably what he gets as a paycheck. Instead, as Solange goes into the bedroom to await the nookie, Bond orders some room service ("For two?" "No... for one.") and leaves to go stop an airplane bombing. Bond manages to subvert 40 plus years of Bond cliche and saves the fucking day, bankrupting the Big Bad in the process by keeping his pants on and his priorities straight.
• Vesper is a ball of awesome (and hotness) on legs. Her very first scene involves her and Bond having a duelling Sherlock Scan moment, and she quickly establishes that she's not your typical Bond girl:

Vesper: ... MI6 looks for maladjusted young men, who give little thought to sacrificing others in order to protect queen and country. You know... former SAS types with easy smiles and expensive watches. [Glances at his wrist] Rolex?
Bond: Omega.
Vesper: Beautiful. Now, having just met you, I wouldn't go as far as calling you a cold-hearted bastard...
Bond: No, of course not.
Vesper: But it wouldn't be a stretch to imagine you think of women as disposable pleasures, rather than meaningful pursuits. So as charming as you are, Mr. Bond, I will be keeping my eye on our government's money -- and off your perfectly-formed arse.
Bond: You noticed?
Vesper: Even accountants have imagination. How was your lamb?
Bond: Skewered. One sympathizes.

• • Doubles as a crowning moment of funny.
• "Aaagh!! Yeah! Yeah, yeah. Yes, yes, yes, yes. [sobs then laughs] Now the whole world's gonna know you died scratching my balls."
  • "HIGHER! HIGHER! TO THE LEFT!"
• Bond's confrontation with Mr. White at the end, followed by the cut to the credits and the classic theme tune.

White: (on phone) Hello?
Bond: (on phone) Mr. White, we need to talk.
White: (on phone) Who is this?
(Bond shoots White in the knee as the opening notes of the theme begin playing)
Bond: The name's Bond. James Bond.

• • Also, keep in mind this is the first time we've heard the theme or Bond James Bond all movie.

1953 novel

• The Baccarat game, which despite being 25+ pages long never seems to drag.
  • Le Chiffre gets his about halfway through for simply beating Bond at Baccarat. In one fell swoop, he's moments away from winning the tournament and achieving his goals - Bond failing his mission is just icing on the cake.
  • Leiter gets his shortly after, when Bond is seriously considering just killing Le Chiffre in violation of his orders... and receives a telegram saying that the CIA has just chipped in a fat wad of cash for him to bet against Le Chiffre. Just like that, he's back in the game - and it's all thanks to Leiter.
  • And Bond's is, of course, his inevitable defeat of Le Chiffre, dashing his plans and making 80 million Francs of SMERSH's money.

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