30 replies to this topic

[jesi]

I am a pathetic moviegoer, I admit. I

[Scottlee]

The torture scene isn't bad at all. You don't see any battered parts or blood. It's all pyschological.

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

I laughed all the way !!! The dialogue it's so great !!! (No, No !! To the right !!!) I completely forgot that James was being tortured.

[Dr Nobody]

My wife didn't like it because it wasn't extreme enough, she didn't like the humour of it. I did, even though it is very different from the book, in a way she is right, but I think it shows Bond humiliating his attacker even as he is being hurt. In this film, humour is a weapon against the villain, not just light relief as in previous films.

[Skudor]

I think it's perfect. I could criticise the humour, but it works so well and shows a perfect side of Bond: the ability to get back at the torturer (even though it looks like Le Chiffre is gaining the upper hand again just before Mr White pops in to drop off a little piece of lead).

Of all the great things in this movie the torture scene definitely ranks amongst the absolute highlights. I've seen the movie four times and the audience absolutely cracks up at the ball scratching joke. It's so extremely well done. Humorous but not flippant. Just perfect.

[Judo chop]

IMO, the scene could have gone one of two ways. One way was the way that it did go. The other way would have been minus the laughs going for a real torture sequence; a stubborn, defiant Bond being beaten to the point of passing out, finally knocked over and left unconscious beside a pool of his own blood.

Although it's not what I expected to see, I'm quite happy with what we have been given. They went the more light-hearted route and nailed it. As Skudor said, "just perfect".

[JackWade]

The torture scene was not graphic at all. In fact, I talked to someone who got to see an advanced screening, and when they told me it was hilarious, I was in shock.

Audience reactions weren't bad. When you see LeChiffre swing the rope under the chair indicating what he's going to do, there were some "oohs" coming from the audience. And of course there were some "ooohs" when he got hit, but that was all. Of course, everyone was cracking up when Bond said what he did.

[Blonde Bond]

First time I saw CR, I laughed. The second time I saw CR, I laughed even harder. So did rest of the audience.

It wasn't what I expected,after reading the novel. But the great acting and humor saved it from being too weak sequence.

[Damien Hunt]

Watching at first, I was in shock. i almost wanted to throw up. I was jaw dropped thinking about the immense amount of pain. Of course, when he started taunting Le Chiffre, then I started to laugh. All in all, it was a very well thought out and filmed scene.

Edited by Damien Hunt, 07 December 2006 - 12:08 AM.

[Matt_13]

The first wack got a ton of groans, then when the famed dialogue came the whole theater erupted in laughter. It was fantastic.

Oh, and it takes place on the lower decks of Le Chiffres yacht.

[George Kaplan]

I was quite curious - having read the book a number of years ago - how they were going to handle the scene. To that end I think they did what they had to do to make the torture work and yet also be something that wouldn't risk turning off or revolting the audience.

I think they walked that fine line very well.

As to personal reactions, I winced at first, laughed at the appropriate time for release and went on.

[dennisbolt]

I don't think it was Le Chiffre's boat. It looked more like unused barges or cargo ships in a harbor. Le Chifre's boat is in the Bahamas. When I first heard that they had changed from carpet beater to rope, I wondered how it was going to be done, but it makes complete sense considering the location.

[Nimsworth]

The humour aspect of the torture scene is what made it work. It showed the resiliance of 007. He literally has a chance of having the old cash and prizes in a condition that it can't recover from yet all the while he not only withstands the pain but taunts Le Chiffre as well.

Might have had to wait till Dec. 7 to see it but it was worth it. I thought it could have been longer though.

[BMT-216A]

when i 1st saw bond sitting down into the chair i thought he was probably naked and that guy got out the rope and i was a bit confused and asked my mate 'whats he doing' (to me it looked like he was just going to hit his bum with the rope) then my friend said hes gonna hit him in the balls, and i was like what?!??! thats kinda kinky for a bond movie...

normally im pretty bad with torture scenes-holding onto the seat etc (ive never seen rape before) but this time it didnt seem to affect me as much. i think cause i never saw his balls or any blood or anything.. the rope may have well been hitting 007's bottom or the bottom of the chair.. but the humour relieved me even more thankfully! the rest of the cinema laughed when he started joking! hahah, i think half of their laughter was because it was acutally funny, but the other half was a relief laughter- for example, say theres a crowd of ppl (eg in a church) and they see a drunk guy come in and the audience gets scared cause he mite do something violent, then when he goes away someone can make the most lame or normally unfunny joke and everyone will be laughing from relief~~

many cheers from the audience (and me) for bond (and the director) handling that so well!!!!!

Edited by BMT-216A, 07 December 2006 - 02:50 PM.

[Mr.Kiss Kiss Bang Bang]

IMO, the scene could have gone one of two ways. One way was the way that it did go. The other way would have been minus the laughs going for a real torture sequence; a stubborn, defiant Bond being beaten to the point of passing out, finally knocked over and left unconscious beside a pool of his own blood.

Although it's not what I expected to see, I'm quite happy with what we have been given. They went the more light-hearted route and nailed it. As Skudor said, "just perfect".

Just my thoughts!

[rogermoore007]

That's the most unsettling (for men) and by far the funniest torture scene I have ever witnessed

[Gri007]

My friend couldn't understand why it was so painful to have his rear smacked

[00Twelve]

My friend couldn't understand why it was so painful to have his rear smacked

"A tip for your friend..."



All I can say is that 1)Major props go to the foley artists for this scene...the sound of the rope against Bond's pills was nearly sickening...and 2)The "itch" bit was so surprisingly perfect...I kept myself free from that spoiler, so it was utterly hilarious! Still, the tension was still too high to really laugh out loud.

[DaveBond21]

Audience reactions weren't bad. When you see LeChiffre swing the rope under the chair indicating what he's going to do, there were some "oohs" coming from the audience. And of course there were some "ooohs" when he got hit, but that was all. Of course, everyone was cracking up when Bond said what he did.

Yes, same reaction in Sydney last night!! Some "Oh"s from the blokes in the audience at first, with the rope swinging and then some real laughter during the great lines!!!

[Nimsworth]

A big risk with a scene like that is when you've got someone getting a shot in the balls the nturtal reaction is generallyto laugh. For all the cringing from the males in the audience ultimately someone finds it hilarious.

I'd hate it if they played it as serious and suspenseful and everyone was giggling during the scene.

[bill007]

One of the best parts of the movie. Bond is former SAS, so torture isn't new to him at all. Dr. Nobody has a good point (above), as Bond is using humor as a weapon against Le Chiffre. The studio used the parallels with the novel very well.

[Killmaster]

while in the past bond has sometimes used dry wit or outright hostility to counter instances of being "mistreated" by the bad guys, i felt that some of the dialogue during the torture sequence was a bit too over-the-top in the humor department. for me, it detracted from the deadly seriousness of the moment.

besides, after being whacked four or five times in the jewels, how was bond able to talk at all, let alone carry on an intelligent conversation??

[Lounge Lizard]

A big risk with a scene like that is when you've got someone getting a shot in the balls the nturtal reaction is generallyto laugh. For all the cringing from the males in the audience ultimately someone finds it hilarious.

I'd hate it if they played it as serious and suspenseful and everyone was giggling during the scene.

Very good point. Haggis, Campbell and Craig anticipated this properly; by making Bond defiantly humorous the filmmakers succeeded in winning over the audience and creating the funniest scene in the movie, without ever diminishing the pain Bond suffers (although he still has a superhuman pain endurance level), or the 'Flemingesque' rapport between victim and torturer.

[DanMan]

It's one of the greatest scenes I've ever had the luxury of experiencing in the movies. The fact that it's extremely disturbing and hilarious at the same time is quite an accomplishment for Campbell and Craig. The audience laughed and clapped and supported Bond the whole way through. People where cringing and laughing at the same time, I don't think I've ever seen such a reaction to a scene before.

[Bondian]

I thought the torture scene was the bollocks.

[Skudor]

while in the past bond has sometimes used dry wit or outright hostility to counter instances of being "mistreated" by the bad guys, i felt that some of the dialogue during the torture sequence was a bit too over-the-top in the humor department. for me, it detracted from the deadly seriousness of the moment.

besides, after being whacked four or five times in the jewels, how was bond able to talk at all, let alone carry on an intelligent conversation??

He's James Bond. That's why.

[Genrewriter]

It's one of the greatest scenes I've ever had the luxury of experiencing in the movies. The fact that it's extremely disturbing and hilarious at the same time is quite an accomplishment for Campbell and Craig. The audience laughed and clapped and supported Bond the whole way through. People where cringing and laughing at the same time, I don't think I've ever seen such a reaction to a scene before.

That was pretty much the reaction in my theater as well. A truly amazing combination of scene and audience reaction.

[Mamadou]

Having read the book twice, I could tell when the scene was being set up (i.e. when he crashes the Aston and is put in Le Chiffre's car), so I started bracing myself early by planting my feet and really gripping my armrests (I decided not to hold my boyfriend's hand or he'd still have fingernail marks in it). I and my boyfriend were cringing in our seats, and I was practically doubled over with my eyes shut. Then I heard, "I've got an itch down there," and thought, "They're not! They wouldn't! They didn't!" and started watching. Then, as the scene went on, I started laughing. Yes, it was the relief laugh at first.

I really never thought I'd ever laugh at that scene. That is pure gold writing.

[Willowhugger]

I didn't like it. I assumed they'd use a car battery or something on him. Beating Bond with a rope seems a bit...tame by comparison.

[ComplimentsOfSharky]

I didn't like it. I assumed they'd use a car battery or something on him. Beating Bond with a rope seems a bit...tame by comparison.

comparison to what?


Ever get your balls smacked around by a piece of knotted rope?