The Quantum of Solace

[Alexander]

I like the Craig "reboot" and just saw Quantum of Solace. Have to say that, despite some moments here and there, the new film seemed to be marking time. This script seemed to lose the thread of the plot at times; during the last section I sometimes wondered what in the hell the "big picture" was and why we should care. It seemed like Bond was just jumping from one setpiece to the next without any time set aside for context. I know, some would say that that only describes almost any Bond flick, but I didn't get that feeling from Casino Royale; while not a flawless film, watching it was much more satisfying because I felt much more invested in the plot and characters. And what was wrong with the action scenes in QoS? They had a frantic energy to them, but I didn't have a good sense of what was happening or being carried along. In the last Bourne movie, by contrast, though many yelled "Shaky camera!" and "Too much cutting!" nevertheless I always had a sense of exactly WHAT was happening in each action sequence, and where it was going. In QoS, however, I had the distinct impression of someone desperately hurling a huge pile of kitchen implements (including the sink) at my head in an attempt to impress me.

Mind you, I wouldn't say it was a BAD Bond film, but, yeah, just marking time until the next installment of Bond 2.0 (Craig.) I just hope the next one has a better script and a much better director. Someone who knows how to handle action sequences at least.

QOS has it's flaws, no question, I just disagree with Ebert's assessment of the film as somehow betraying Bond.

[jazzbo]

Gemma Arterton is credited as Strawberry Fields in the final credits.

A flawed film, yes. I hope there's a next one and that it's better.

[AllenLowe]

my favorite Bond character is still Alotta Vagina -

[Tom Storer]

I just saw it and enjoyed it as I do most Bond films, as light entertainment. Sometimes I see 'em, sometimes I don't. All the car chase, boat chase, and, this time, plane chase sequences benefit from improved technology. I confess I was slightly disappointed by the outrunning-the-ball-of-flame scene: in every Bond film I can remember there's a scene in which there's a huge explosion, and Bond literally outruns the expanding ball of flame from the explosion--racing flatfooted down a corridor or passway, looking over his shoulder repeatedly as it gains on him slightly, and then leaping into a car or boat and gunning off in the nick of time as the building finally explodes for good. This time we saw what's-his-name, the bad guy, partially outrunning a ball of flame as the hotel in the desert obligingly explodes section by section at the end, but not for long. I hate the idea that balls of flame might lose their magical slowness in Bond films.

[Guy Berger]

my favorite Bond character is still Alotta Vagina -

And Woody Allen was the best Bond villain. (For that matter, I saw a TV edit of Austin Powers that changed Ms. fffagina's name to Alotta Cleavahgeh.

As far as this thread - can't be bothered to think this much about an action movie. Craig is an excellent bond, but this movie was so-so. CR, on the other hand, was superb.

I liked Strawberry Fields better than the Russian.

Guy

[BruceH]

I like the Craig "reboot" and just saw Quantum of Solace. Have to say that, despite some moments here and there, the new film seemed to be marking time. This script seemed to lose the thread of the plot at times; during the last section I sometimes wondered what in the hell the "big picture" was and why we should care. It seemed like Bond was just jumping from one setpiece to the next without any time set aside for context. I know, some would say that that only describes almost any Bond flick, but I didn't get that feeling from Casino Royale; while not a flawless film, watching it was much more satisfying because I felt much more invested in the plot and characters. And what was wrong with the action scenes in QoS? They had a frantic energy to them, but I didn't have a good sense of what was happening or being carried along. In the last Bourne movie, by contrast, though many yelled "Shaky camera!" and "Too much cutting!" nevertheless I always had a sense of exactly WHAT was happening in each action sequence, and where it was going. In QoS, however, I had the distinct impression of someone desperately hurling a huge pile of kitchen implements (including the sink) at my head in an attempt to impress me.

Mind you, I wouldn't say it was a BAD Bond film, but, yeah, just marking time until the next installment of Bond 2.0 (Craig.) I just hope the next one has a better script and a much better director. Someone who knows how to handle action sequences at least.

QOS has it's flaws, no question, I just disagree with Ebert's assessment of the film as somehow betraying Bond.

And I'm with you on that. Sure, starting with Daniel Craig and the 2006 Casino Royale, it's a new Bond, a reboot, as you say, and maybe Ebert just can't get on board with that. But personally I think it's a good move, both commercially and conceptually, and high time too.

[Jazzmoose]

Eh. I'm not sure I agree. You don't have to accept it for yourself and you don't have to go see the films, but on some level you MUST acknowledge that these films are there and that this IS the new reality for 007.

No, there is another path: I just don't care. I would agree back when Roger Moore replaced Connery that I had to accept the fact that Connery was gone and Moore was the new Bond. But as I quit watching Bond movies after Live and Let Die, "the new Bond" just doesn't have any involvement with my reality at all. It's just another action movie to skip for me. Mind you, I'm not criticizing the new movie at all; I have no information about it and won't see it. It might be great; it just has no relevance for me. If I get some desire to watch a Bond flick, I'll grab a Connery.

Well, guess who just saw Casino Royale and is here to eat his words...

Craig is (unless this first film was a complete fluke) one of the top three Bond actors, I can't wait to see Quantum of Solace, and I'll catch the next Bond flick in the theater, the first since I saw Live and Let Die and assumed the whole thing was a cruel joke everyone was pretending to be in on...

[BruceH]

Quantum of what, now?

[ejp626]

Quantum of what, now?

There was a whole column cracking on what a silly title this is. My favorite: A soupçon of stupidity.

[DukeCity]

Well, guess who just saw Casino Royale and is here to eat his words...

Craig is (unless this first film was a complete fluke) one of the top three Bond actors, I can't wait to see Quantum of Solace, and I'll catch the next Bond flick in the theater, the first since I saw Live and Let Die and assumed the whole thing was a cruel joke everyone was pretending to be in on...

I was never a huge Bond film fan. Saw a couple of them on the big screen (can't even remember which ones). But Casino Royale caught my attention, and I liked it a lot. I think Craig makes a great Bond, and I saw QoS pretty early on in its theater run. I liked it, but not as much as I liked CR.