The construction-site pursuit is an exceptional practical-action set piece, especially the returned thrown gun and fighting on precarious structures.
The instruction to keep the suspect alive creates anticipation that Bond will kill him and face consequences.
Craig emerging from the water is nominated for its striking physical impact.
Winning the car and valet ticket, then driving the woman in a circle to his hotel, is a memorable early Bond sequence.
The airport fight is enjoyable though below the best set pieces, particularly the implausible fun of fighting inside a car.
Bond vaulting into the airport vehicle, swerving and defeating the attacker supplies solid action.
Bond and Vesper’s first train conversation is an all-time verbal duel, with sharp mutual deductions and exceptional chemistry.
The early main-game sequence establishes Le Chiffre’s apparent tell and Bond’s elaborate martini order.
The stairway fight is praised.
Bond’s costly misreading of the tell drives another poker sequence.
The poisoning scene is an outstanding four-minute crisis, with a faint Pulp Fiction comparison and unusually frantic Bond filmmaking.
The climactic poker game is nominated for later discussion.
The Venice water fight is nominated.
The shower scene is an additional favorite.
The torture scene is explicitly uncomfortable rather than a favorite; the possibility of Bond passing out is raised.
The climactic poker hand is the initial final scene choice, later reconsidered.
The train conversation receives a separate final scene choice.
The opening construction chase receives a final choice and prompts the poker chooser to concede it may be right.
Bond returning from poisoning to win the climactic hand is likened to Jordan’s flu game.
The hand reveals escalate from a high flush to eights full, aces full and finally Bond’s straight flush, with the first hand initially mislabeled a straight then corrected.
The open-ended straight-flush draw is admired as a thrilling poker situation.
Mikkelsen’s devastated losing expression ranks just behind Damon’s initial Rounders loss.
The black-and-white opening establishing Double-O status is belatedly praised.
The rolling Aston Martin crash and apparent near-collision with Vesper are spectacular.

What’s Aged the Best?

Parkour; shower scene; poker exposition; Green; Dench; locations and car; license to kill; villain details; tracking chip; gun swap; tuxedo; body disposal; theme; rights trade; writers

In the discussion (18)

Approx. transcript time · 00:32:05Read transcript

Parkour is praised as having a major moment, with Foucan’s athleticism central to the chase.
The shower scene provides a needed quiet emotional moment.
Mathis’s poker exposition makes the action accessible to less experienced viewers.
Green and the plot are reiterated as strengths.
Dench is considered irreplaceable; Mirren is proposed but rejected, while Fiennes later succeeds effectively.
The locations endure.
The1964 Aston Martin is an aged-best choice.
Double-O status granting a license to kill remains an excellent premise.
The villain’s asthma and expensive inhaler are memorable, with Cage in Kiss of Death as a comparison.
Mikkelsen’s lower-lip curl is praised.
The 9/12s tock-profiteering backstory is praised.
An implanted tracking chip is a satisfying genre device, with Escape from New York recalled and a time limit wished for.
The swapped-gun trick in the black-and-white opening still works.
Bond’s tuxedo is exceptional.
A reliable contact who disposes of bodies is a satisfying genre convenience.
The Bond theme continues to work.
The Spider-Man/Bond rights exchange is praised.
Retaining Purvis and Wade preserves knowledge of Bond’s mechanics while Haggis supplies emotional stakes.

What’s Aged the Worst?

Stunt wig; Vesper’s name, disputed; exposition; Sony devices; implausible recovery; shower-scene nudity joke; anatomy exhibit

In the discussion (8)

Approx. transcript time · 00:32:47Read transcript

The stunt double’s conspicuously longer blond wig is distracting.
Vesper’s name is disliked by one response and strongly defended by others, who explain its evening association.
The stunt double’s hair is reiterated as a problem rather than the stunt work itself.
Giannini is saddled with excessive explanatory dialogue.
Sony Ericsson phones and repeated Vaio placement are conspicuously dated.
Bond’s poisoning, crash and torture within hours seem to demand a much longer recovery.
Craig reportedly changed the shower scene from underwear to clothed distress for character logic; the alleged missed nudity is jokingly lamented while the scene itself is praised.
The body exhibit dates the film to the mid-2000s .

The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot

Blue-swimwear reveal; corner-table dinner; Green’s dress entrance

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 00:33:38Read transcript

Craig emerging from the water in blue swimwear is the stated shot choice.
The bathing-suit shot is reiterated.
Bond and Vesper’s corner-table dinner at the hotel is another beautiful shot.
Green’s first plunging-neckline dress appearance is another choice.

The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film

Bond falling in love too quickly; obvious Vesper betrayal

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:13:01Read transcript

Bond falling in love after a very short acquaintance is challenged as unconvincing.
The short romance is defended through an often-cut medical-bed scene implying weeks of recovery, while the effect of torture on physical intimacy remains questioned.
Bond’s claim Vesper has no tell seems absurd when her distress and password reaction visibly signal betrayal.

Is There a Better Title for This Movie?

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:19:50Read transcript

No better title is needed; the book’s title works.

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

M should lose her job; MI6 incompetence; R-rated Bond

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:20:23Read transcript

M should lose her job after the embassy incident, a compromised accountant and the missing$150 million; too many fall guys would be required.
MI 6 is consistently badly run across these films.
An R rating could make the film darker, sleazier and sexier, though its existing violence was already a major shift and the necessary additions are uncertain.

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

Alex Dimitrios and his wife

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:24:57Read transcript

Alex Dimitrios shares the overacting choice.
His wife shares the overacting choice.
The horse is jokingly blamed for excess.

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

Ivana Miličević; Tobias Menzies, at the time

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:25:34Read transcript

Giannini and Wright are considered too recognizable, though Giannini prompted recognition in Book Club 2.
Miličević is selected, with Banshee recalled.
Menzies qualified at the time but has since become too famous.

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

Sébastien Foucan; Judi Dench, eligibility disputed; Miličević; large poker player

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:26:24Read transcript

Foucan’s opening athletic performance is the first choice.
Dench receives another choice, though her importance may make her ineligible; the big-picture admonition is especially admired.
Miličević as the villain’s girlfriend is another choice.
The large poker player’s emphatic five gesture is another favorite.

Apex Mountain

Craig, disputed; Green; Aston Martin DB9; modern-film tuxedos, qualified; classy dead bodies

In the discussion (9)

Approx. transcript time · 01:31:10Read transcript

Craig receives two affirmative responses for becoming an A-list star, with a dissent preferring the 2011 marriage and 2012 Skyfall period.
Green receives a qualified yes as her biggest film and apparent breakthrough.
The Aston Martin DB 9 receives yes.
Bond’s peak is placed in the 1960s Dr. No, Thunderball and Goldfinger era.
High-stakes poker receives no.
Tuxedos receive a qualified modern-film yes, with older films and Rat Pack competition acknowledged.
Classy dead bodies receive yes; the anatomy exhibit clarifies the category after hammock and trunk guesses.
Emotional shower scenes are mentioned without a clear affirmative answer.
Montenegro is mentioned without a clear affirmative answer.

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

Untouchable; all-Black Bond with Kaluuya

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:35:25Read transcript

The film is considered untouchable.
An all-Black version with Kaluuya receives enthusiasm, though producers are suspected to be uninterested.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson is reported as the next-Bond favorite at the time.
Connor Swindells is proposed as a future Bond, inspired by SAS: Rogue Heroes and allowing several years to mature.

Is This Movie Better With…?

Buscemi or Jackson at poker; Buscemi as Mathis; Wayne Jenkins impression

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:36:19Read transcript

A Wayne Jenkins impression briefly enters the discussion.
Steve Buscemi at the poker table is a better-with choice.
Samuel L.Jackson at the poker table is a better-with choice.
Buscemi could also play Giannini’s role.

Just One Oscar

Eva Green; Mads Mikkelsen; Daniel Craig

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:37:02Read transcript

Green receives a supporting-actress choice.
Mikkelsen receives a supporting-actor choice.
Craig receives another acting choice.

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

Venice boat; car; poker chips and million-value plaques

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:42:53Read transcript

The Venice boat is a memorabilia choice.
The car is acknowledged as the obvious recurring memorabilia choice.
Poker chips, especially the million-value rectangular plaques, are selected; the transcript calls them block cards, not a separate request for playing cards.

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

Memorize bank details; proper dinner jacket; protect your genitals

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:43:21Read transcript

Memorize a bank-account number.
Wear a properly fitted dinner jacket.
Wearing a protective cup is a joking life lesson.
Protecting one’s genitals matters more than the poker pot, making surrendering the password preferable.

Who Won the Movie?

Bond franchise; Broccoli family; Mads Mikkelsen

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:43:56Read transcript

The Bond franchise receives the first final choice.
Barbara Broccoli or the Broccoli family receives the next final choice.
Mikkelsen receives the final alternative for his international breakthrough, followed by Hannibal and a Rihanna video.

Podcast choices

Speaker not identified: James Bond franchise
Speaker not identified: Broccoli family
Speaker not identified: Mads Mikkelsen