50 Greatest James Bond Moments Of All Time
14. Casino Royale: Torture Scene
This was a great scene in Ian Fleming's novel, but the film version was even better.
There have been quite a few good torture/interrogation scenes in the franchise but none of them match this stunning scene from Casino Royale, in which Bond is stripped, tied up and has his genitals whipped... over and over again.
It might be well-remembered for its dark humour ("Now the world's gonna know you died scratching my balls!"), but what makes this scene so good is that it's such a painful and hard-hitting sequence and it shows one of cinema's most powerful heroes in such a vulnerable, broken state. There are very few action movie scenes that'll get under your skin like this one.
It's also noteworthy for ending with the death of Le Chiffre, the film's main villain, even though the film is only two thirds of the way through, which made for a shocking but hugely effective break from Bond conventions.