The reason why Robert Shaw was awesome in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE isn't that his character was really anything remarkable....in terms of gimmicks, which Bond villains usually are, his character isn't much....but damn, he made it awesome with his presence, his charisma, and was up there in the testosterone with Connery.

Really, maybe thats a reason why I dug the hell out of CASINO ROYALE from 2006, because Craig/Mekkelson practically are given room and allowed to use their remarkable screen chemistry, as seen in the torture scene and the spectacular poker showdown.