Synposis - Casino Royale
James Bond is
a rookie MI6 agent,
but he shows promise and has attracted the attention of 'M'.
The film opens on a shady figure entering an office at midnight.
The man, Dryden, is the head of the 00-Section and
is confronted by James Bond who has broken into the office of
the head of department. Bond announces M's disappointment in
Dryden's betrayal. Bond relays the story of his first kill for
MI6 to Dryden - who is skeptical that MI6 would have sent anything
less than a 00 to deal with his treason. "Don't worry," assures
Dryden, facing the facts. Bond coldly assassinates him and
the credits roll.
Two kills has made James Bond the newest man
to hold the title of 007 and sees him sent on assignment with
agent Carter. The pair are in Madagascar,
watching bomb-maker Mollaka. When the terrorist gets his orders
via phone, Carter gives himself away by holding his earwig tightly.
Mollaka makes a break for it, through the midst of a snake-vs-mongoose
fight that is occupying a nearby crowd. Cursing Carter, 007 gives
chase. Carter is quickly tired and lags behind but Bond keeps
up with the free-running terrorist. Scampering through a nearby contraction
site, 007 and Mollaka come face to face on the beam of a tower
crane. Mollaka makes a phenomenal leap to safety, evading 007 again. Bond eventually traces the goon to an embassy and on sensitive
diplomatic ground proceeds to attack the embassy guards to get to his
target. Bond causes a dramatic scene that makes its way into
the next day's papers and displeases M.
Back in London, M gets a scolding from the politicians at Whitehall, cursing 007 for his "blowing up an embassy" and cursing the politicians for caring only when MI6 is actually caught breaking international laws. Curious about the nature of the mission, Bond cheekily breaks into M's penthouse apartment and logs into her laptop. M bluntly disciplines 007 and stands him down from the mission.
Having gained intel on the bomb maker from M's
laptop, Bond makes his way to the Bahamas. Here he discovers
Alex Dimitrios - the
shady middleman who sets criminals up with their employers. 007
checks into the Ocean Club, coaxing the receptionist into revealing
the address of Dimitros' beach-front home. He also discovers
that the middleman likes to play Hold'em poker at the Ocean Club. Casing
the joint, Bond recognises Solange Dimitrios
- the beautiful and ill-kept wife of the villain. Later Bond
makes contact with Dimitrios across the poker table, exhibiting
his poker skills and winning Dimitrios rare '60s Aston
Martin DB5. 007 also walks away with Solange, picking her
up after the game (in the DB5) and taking her for a drink at
"his place".
In the midst of a tryst with Solange, Bond discovers
her husband is making a last-minute trip to Miami. Bond abandons
the girl and chases after Dimitrios, sensing a deal is going
on. In Miami, 007 follows the terrorist to his rendezvous with
yet another bomb maker. He follows the latter, Carlos, to Miami
airport. He observes that Carlos has donned a maintenance uniform
and passed security. 007 calls headquarters and speaks to the
efficient Villiers, M's
new secretary... who promptly puts him on hold. M takes the call
and realises that the terrorist is targeting the new Skyfleet
plane due for its inaugural flight that evening. Bond pursues
the terrorist onto the tarmac but without the permission of the
Miami police.
With the terrorist disarmed and the plans of Dimitrios and his superiors foiled, albeit temporarily, James Bond returns to the Ocean Club to find M, Villiers and a dead Solange. M probes 007 about the nature of his relationship with the girl, but Bond assures her that his real name and identify were not exposed. The MI6 chief implants her 00-agent with a tracking device and sends him on a new mission. The man they believe to be behind the Skyfleet attack, Le Chiffre, is planning a high stakes poker competition at Casino Royale in Montenegro. Bond, as the best poker player in the service, is dispatched to take on the villain at his own game and feed him to the wolves.
On the train to Montenegro, Bond rendezvous with the beautiful
but cold treasury representative Vesper Lynd,
who will be keeping her eyes on the money with which 007 gambles. The pair
cross
swords as soon as they meet but Bond's reputation has preceded him and Miss
Lynd gives as good as she gets from the quipping James Bond.
On arrival at their hotel, Bond dispenses with
his alias (that of poker shark Mr. Arlington Beach) much to
Vesper's annoyance - and after checking into the hotel, meets
MI6's man in Montenegro: Rene
Mathis.
The first round of poker goes well and Bond
quickly discovers Le Chiffre's tell. Bond explains this to Mathis
and Vesper over another of his fabulous, as-yet untitled martinis.
When Le Chiffre retires to his room during the game's intermission
007 snoops on the villain (who is clearly having money troubles).
Running into Vesper in the hallway, Bond is confronted by the
goons, who are attempting to extract their lost funds from the
shady Le Chiffre. After dispatching with one of them in a close-combat
brawl and consoling a frightened Vesper, 007 returns to the table
in a fresh dinner shirt.
The 00 agent is gaining the upper hand over
the gamers but the villainess Valenka spikes Bond's drink.
He
staggers
to the bathroom; after downing salted water, Bond makes his way to the Aston
Martin DBS in order to make contact with headquarters. The
boffins talk 007 through administering the antidote and Vesper
arrives just in time to resuscitate a fainting James Bond.
After the poison, Le Chiffre has 007 beaten
and he is out of funds. Vesper refuses to bankroll any more of
what she views as a fruitless venture. Bond, resolving to assassinate
the villain, is stopped by one of his fellow poker players. The
man introduces himself as a "brother from Langley" and Felix
Leiter offers to back Bond's game. Back at the table and
with new funds, Bond bankrupts the villain.
Dinner with Vesper is interrupted by a call
from Mathis. Vesper is deceived into leaving the hotel and finds
herself bundled into a car by the villains. Bond in the DBS gives
chase but as he comes over a rise, he finds Vesper tied up in
the
middle of the road. Swerving wildly to miss the girl, Bond rolls
the Aston. When regains consciousness his MI6 tracking
device is ripped from him and he is taken prisoner.
James Bond is tortured by Le Chiffre until the
villain is interrupted by a shady figure. Mr While coldly
assassinates Le Chiffre but lets 007 live. James Bond and Vesper
Lynd retire
to Italy in order to recuperate from the torturous event.
Here, the pair grow closer and eventually fall in love. Bond
and Vesper agree to resign from their respective employers and sail around
the world. In Venice, Vesper notices something that shakes her thoroughly.
Bond doesn't understand it. However, when Vesper takes off to the bank, Bond
discovers that she intends to withdraw all of the poker winnings and hand them
over to a shady organisation. Bond gives chase but he is attacked by a series
of goons who were escorting their mole to safety. 007 dispatches with several
henchmen but ashamed, Vesper locks herself in the elevator of an old, partly-refurbished
home. As the battle between Bond and the goons ensues, the old house collapses
around them and Vesper, locked in the lift, drops suddenly into the water.
007 dives for her but he is too late.
Later, Bond is briefed by M as to the betrayal
of Vesper and remarks bluntly that "the Bitch is dead now".
M reminds him that she probably traded her life for his. Tiding
up loose ends, Bond follows a message left for him by Vesper
and
arrives
at
the home
of Mr.
White -
the
shady
assassin
who was behind the death of Le Chiffre. 007 cripples White with
a shot to the leg and - after he introduces himself - the credits
roll.
James Bond Will Return.