I’ve always enjoyed this two scene sequence from Casino Royale (2006), a few issues notwithstanding.

Starting off at a celebratory meal between James Bond (Daniel Craig) and Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), they continue from previous scenes in flirtatiously building a friendly rapport. Bond is so satisfied with his poker win that he can hardly stop smiling. His tried-and-true shaken, not stirred vodka martini tastes so good he also decides to call it a Vesper in honor of his company.

The elegant meal is cut short as Vesper leaves after a call with Mathis, only for Bond to realize something is up and frantically chases after Vesper. The timing and practicality of his pursuit seems a bit off, however, as the time it takes Vesper to leave should give Bond a chance at yelling at her to stop. Surely, she is within earshot. Or does more time implicitly pass from Vesper’s exit to Bond’s revelation? It doesn’t seem so…

So anyway, Bond should have ideally been yelling up a storm to stop Vesper in her tracks, but instead he merely follows her path out to the parking lot, where he luckily sees her get kidnapped into a passing car. I distinctly remember in my first viewing in the theater that that the hair on my arms stood up as he rushed to his Aston Martin and he revved the engine and tires spun. What a shot!

Vesper Lynd is helpless in the middle of the road in Casino Royale (2006)

Any eventful car chase was quickly and unfortunately shut down as somehow Vesper ended up in the middle of the road and Bond had to swerve to miss her. Another timing issue here: it seems there was not nearly enough time for the bad guys to kidnap Vesper, tie her up and lay her in the middle of the road with Bond only a few seconds behind them in hot pursuit. Unless, again, that somehow more time had passed than is indicated. *shrugs*

James Bond’s Aston Martin makes some world record cannon rolls in Casino Royale (2006)

Anyways, Bond’s avoidance crash is absolutely epic, as confirmed by the Guiness World record it set for most cannon rolls in a car. Wow!

Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) and James Bond (Daniel Craig) enjoy dinner after his gambling win in Casino Royale (2006)