MIN 79

We left it with Le Chiffre being strangled by Stephen Obano. Bond is with Vesper in the elevator making his way up. The other henchman who is holding Valenka thats an English chap called Michael Offei that is best known for presenting a kids TV show called The Story Makers. He did a couple of films after this but hasn’t worked since 2013 according to IMDB. 

Yeh Le Chiffre is a real weasel. Mads Mikkelsen used to be a former gymnast and Dancer so I’m sure he could have been capable of learning some kind of martial arts. He later said in an interview that he’s ‘fantastic’ at martial arts, but it’s unclear if he knew any back at the time of filming Casino Royale.  However, it works best for his character to not be an equal to Stephen in the physical stakes here, as Le Chiffre is a coward that hides behind his henchman. He is a numbers guy that acts big, but is weak without his security team. 

Meanwhile in the elevator, Bond gets his gun from a jiffy bag and places the audio receiver in his ear. Another nice piece of product placement sees him use his Sony Ericsson to track down Le Chiffre to the Presidential Suite.  According to James Bond Lifestyle the phone used was a ‘special silver version of the K800i (also K800 or K790) Cyber-shot camera phone.’

So in the package we can see Bond has retrieved his gun from the car, and left it with reception so he can always have it when he needs it. There is a security machine in the casino so he can’t bring the gun into the game. 

There was some debate online whether Bond was going up to just eavesdrop on Le Chiffre or go up there to protect him sensing he was being called into a trap. Bond needs him alive. Did he twig that he was going up to danger? And where is Le Chiffre’s security? So many questions. 

MIN 80

‘Not a word of protest, you should find a new boyfriend.’ Stephen says, as Le Chiffre is on the floor grovelling. Stephen leaves the room having given him a warning. Vesper was told to go to her room by Bond, but has missed the elevator and is trapped in the hallway.

As cover, Bond grabs her and starts kissing her as Stephen and his Lieutenant leave the suite. The Lieutenant spots Bond’s earpiece with his telescopic eyes and goes to shoot him but misses. The fight on the stairwell will ensue but that’s for further minutes. 

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