James Bond Retrospective: Casino Royale (2006)
The Bond Villain 
As Le Chiffre was in fact the first Bond villain of Flemings novels it is no real surprise that he is presented here in what could be regarded as a classic style. Similar in stature to Bond he has a scarred eye, much like Donald Pleasances Blofeld from You Only Live Twice, only slightly more understated but what makes his scar peculiar is that it weeps blood during times of stress. Beyond his unusual appearance, he develops throughout the film to become one of the most sinister of all Bond villains. Initially presented as a relatively quiet man, his persona changes as Bond disrupts his plans during the course of the film. From foiling the terrorist attack in Miami to eventually beating him at cards when Le Chiffre finally snaps it leads to one of the darkest scenes of the whole franchise; a torture scene set aboard an abandoned barge. The torture scene stands out as one of the most violent scenes in a Bond film since the blood soaked Licence To Kill in 1989 however it too is lifted straight from the pages of Fleming. As Bond is stripped naked and tied to a chair with the seat cut out of it, he is emasculated by Le Chiffre who sadistically whips him with a knotted rope. The torture is severe and while Bond deals with his predicament by finding humour in the situation it confirms Le Chiffre's position as one of the biggest threats he has ever had to deal with. 
The other significant villain of the film, Mr. White, is played by another Danish actor, Jesper Christensen. The mysterious character remains in the shadows throughout the film but there are hints that his role is more important than first implied, he is after all, responsible for the death of Le Chiffre and when Bond finally confronts him there is an overall feeling that he is the tip of the iceberg, something that is confirmed in full in the following film. 
Alex Dimitrios played by Simon Abkarian is Le Chiffres associate in the Bahamas who orchestrates the terrorist attack in Miami. Bonds first confrontation with Dimitrios sees Bond win a game of cards with Dimitrios Aston Martin DB5 at stake in a nod to the series long association to the sports car. Their final meeting featuring a tense knife fight in the middle of a busy exhibition hall eventually sees Dimitrios left for dead as Bond pursues his contact to Miami airport. The Bond Girl 
Like Le Chiffre's status as the first true villain, Vesper Lynd is technically the first proper Bond girl having appeared in the first Fleming novel and as a result she is a much more fully formed character than many of the girls who have appeared in the film series in the past. Primarily assigned by the HM Treasury to supervise Bond at the Casino Royale tournament, her relationship develops into something more during their time together. A sharply written first meeting taking place on board a train on the way to Montenegro sets up their flirtation with snappy dialogue and an instant chemistry. 
Early casting rumours suggested that big name, A-list actresses were being sought for the role of Vesper with Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron initially linked to the production before the focus shifted to European actresses including Cecile de France and Audrey Tautou before French actress Eva Green was selected for the role after Martin Campbell had seen her performance in Ridley Scotts Kingdom Of Heaven. Despite a twelve year age gap, her relationship with Craigs Bond is believable and a vital element of the film. Not since Tracey in On Her Majestys Secret Service have we seen Bond become so enamoured with a woman but it is her eventual betrayal that actually shapes Bond into the cold-hearted, blunt instrument he was once referred to as being by M. 
Before Bond is introduced to Vesper, he encounters Solange Dimitrios, the mistress of Le Chiffres associate Alex Dimitrios. Bond essentially uses Solange, played by Italian actress Caterina Murino, to get close to Dimitrios and discover details about his operation with Le Chiffre to the point that as soon as he has the information he needs he walks out leaving her to face the fate of those who assist him. Following Bonds disruption of the Miami airport terrorist attack, Solange is found dead, murdered at the order of Le Chiffre. The character name was actually taken from Flemings short story 007 In New York in which she played a larger role as Bonds girlfriend.
As Le Chiffre was in fact the first Bond villain of Flemings novels it is no real surprise that he is presented here in what could be regarded as a classic style. Similar in stature to Bond he has a scarred eye, much like Donald Pleasances Blofeld from You Only Live Twice, only slightly more understated but what makes his scar peculiar is that it weeps blood during times of stress. Beyond his unusual appearance, he develops throughout the film to become one of the most sinister of all Bond villains. Initially presented as a relatively quiet man, his persona changes as Bond disrupts his plans during the course of the film. From foiling the terrorist attack in Miami to eventually beating him at cards when Le Chiffre finally snaps it leads to one of the darkest scenes of the whole franchise; a torture scene set aboard an abandoned barge. The torture scene stands out as one of the most violent scenes in a Bond film since the blood soaked Licence To Kill in 1989 however it too is lifted straight from the pages of Fleming. As Bond is stripped naked and tied to a chair with the seat cut out of it, he is emasculated by Le Chiffre who sadistically whips him with a knotted rope. The torture is severe and while Bond deals with his predicament by finding humour in the situation it confirms Le Chiffre's position as one of the biggest threats he has ever had to deal with. Following in the footsteps of screen greats Peter Lorre and Orson Welles who played the character in the 1954 TV adaptation and the 1967 spoof film, Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen brings a sinister edge to Le Chiffre for the 2006 film. Most well known for his supporting role in Danish crime drama Pusher, directed by Nicholas Winding Refn, Mikkelsen is superb as Le Chiffre planting the character in reality with none of the excesses of Bond villains of the past, playing the role more subtly making him the perfect foil to the unpredictable nature of the new Bond. His death comes earlier than expected in the film emphasising the point that he is actually a small cog in a much larger operation.Classic Line
James Bond: Ive got a little itch, down there. Would you mind?
The other significant villain of the film, Mr. White, is played by another Danish actor, Jesper Christensen. The mysterious character remains in the shadows throughout the film but there are hints that his role is more important than first implied, he is after all, responsible for the death of Le Chiffre and when Bond finally confronts him there is an overall feeling that he is the tip of the iceberg, something that is confirmed in full in the following film. Alex Dimitrios played by Simon Abkarian is Le Chiffres associate in the Bahamas who orchestrates the terrorist attack in Miami. Bonds first confrontation with Dimitrios sees Bond win a game of cards with Dimitrios Aston Martin DB5 at stake in a nod to the series long association to the sports car. Their final meeting featuring a tense knife fight in the middle of a busy exhibition hall eventually sees Dimitrios left for dead as Bond pursues his contact to Miami airport. The Bond Girl Like Le Chiffre's status as the first true villain, Vesper Lynd is technically the first proper Bond girl having appeared in the first Fleming novel and as a result she is a much more fully formed character than many of the girls who have appeared in the film series in the past. Primarily assigned by the HM Treasury to supervise Bond at the Casino Royale tournament, her relationship develops into something more during their time together. A sharply written first meeting taking place on board a train on the way to Montenegro sets up their flirtation with snappy dialogue and an instant chemistry. Vesper is actually the antithesis of the archetypal Bond girl. She is undeniably beautiful but there is so much more to her personality that defines her above and beyond the Christmas Jones and Mary Goodnights of the film franchise. She is a femme fatale in the classic Film Noir mould and while the character obviously has roots in the 1950s when the book was originally written, she remains relevant in a modern day context.Classic Line
Vesper Lynd: (Introducing herself to Bond) Im the money.
James Bond: Every penny of it.
Early casting rumours suggested that big name, A-list actresses were being sought for the role of Vesper with Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron initially linked to the production before the focus shifted to European actresses including Cecile de France and Audrey Tautou before French actress Eva Green was selected for the role after Martin Campbell had seen her performance in Ridley Scotts Kingdom Of Heaven. Despite a twelve year age gap, her relationship with Craigs Bond is believable and a vital element of the film. Not since Tracey in On Her Majestys Secret Service have we seen Bond become so enamoured with a woman but it is her eventual betrayal that actually shapes Bond into the cold-hearted, blunt instrument he was once referred to as being by M. Before Bond is introduced to Vesper, he encounters Solange Dimitrios, the mistress of Le Chiffres associate Alex Dimitrios. Bond essentially uses Solange, played by Italian actress Caterina Murino, to get close to Dimitrios and discover details about his operation with Le Chiffre to the point that as soon as he has the information he needs he walks out leaving her to face the fate of those who assist him. Following Bonds disruption of the Miami airport terrorist attack, Solange is found dead, murdered at the order of Le Chiffre. The character name was actually taken from Flemings short story 007 In New York in which she played a larger role as Bonds girlfriend. Classic Line
M: (As Solanges dead body is carried away) I would ask you if you could remain emotionally detached, but thats not your problem, is it, Bond?
James Bond: No.