Spoiler alert: While it's hard
to imagine that the torture scene in Casino Royale is much
of a surprise to anyone, that's what we're talking about here. So, hold
off if that sort of discussion might spoil anything for you.
For the rest of us− I wanted
to let you know that the words, "Don't Le Chiffre me" have
already crossed my lips since seeing the latest James Bond 007 film
feature yesterday. It's a guy thing, calling someone on what is, I
admit, usually a verbal jibe. A step down the line makes it an attack
below the belt.
To be "La Chiffred" (pronounced
"la-sheef-ed") connotes the even greater context conveyed through the
Casino Royale torture scene blocking. La Chiffre, an opponent
who cheats to get the upper hand. After which he attacks only when his
henchmen have secured his position. Then, with no sense of boundaries,
come his low blows, so to speak.
James Bond 007, secure in his
masculinity and unyielding to such an unworthy opponent, mocks Le
Chiffre.
For now let's say its a verb, when
used, that can have some grey area. It may be calling a spade a spade in
some dialogue, suggesting the question, "You're crossed a line. Do you
really want to go there?" Or, more harshly, "You've already passed the
point of no return: Stop before your friends see you scratching around
in a way that's more humiliating to you than anyone else." (I'm skirting
the exact dialogue voiced by Daniel Craig as Bond here, since I'm sure
you'll remember it yourself.)
When you see it start to appear on
the Internet, remember that you read about it here, first.
