I've found my Solace with Quantum

i expect u2 die

And so the first sequel in Bond history received one of the most aggressively mixed reactions upon release. I myself was torn; leaving the cinema I thought it was superb, but as I re-watched Casino Royale, the only Bond film I consider a masterpiece, my feelings towards QoS couldn't help but dwindle in comparison.

I always wanted to watch the two films back-to-back, as a single film, and finally got the chance last night after QoS's DVD release. I'm pleased to say that it was a fantastic experience!

Casino Royale, I've always felt, ends with a decidedly 'empty' sense. Yes, the last scene is iconic, but the impact of Vesper's death, and Bond's grief, remains. With this so vivid and fresh in mind during the opening of QoS, the viewing experience is far more effective. No longer does the erratic car chase hold the responsibility of opening the film effectively. Instead, the idea that it represents Bond's emotional confusion no longer seems quite so pretentious - it works really well.

This is not to say that QoS is suddenly a 'great' film; as a standalone, it has its flaws, but in the arc of the 'Vesper' story, it fits into place very effectively. As Loeffelholz said in his review, this is the explosive 'third act'. Any complaints that Bond is 'cruel', or 'has no fun' are suddenly irrelevant, as Casino Royale brought us these aspects in spades. The sense of 'balance' is suddenly restored - the epic, 2 and a half hours of Casino Royale bring so much fun, enjoyment, and class, that the unforgiving intensity of QoS feels entirely appropriate.

One of the greatest complaints surrounding QoS is its 'wafer-thin' storyline, favouring Bond's emotional journey. I agree wholeheartedly with this complaint, yet when watching these films together, that emotional journey IS the storyline, the thread binding the two films together, so a more distinct 'plot' within QoS may have proven distracting. I found it really interesting how such a flaw suddenly translated into an advantage. I've no idea to what extent this was Marc Forster's intention, and it may be absurd to suggest this was his 'master plan', but his unapologetic style, when following Casino Royale directly, seems to make much more sense.

For me, Casino Royale no longer ends with Bond standing over the incapacitated Mr White. It ends with him dropping the loveknot, walking through the snow, and leaving the story behind him. And in that context, the final Gunbarrel works like a dream.


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Loeffelholz

Well said, IEU2D {[]

Herr Michael

I agree wholeheartedly.

I just finished watching both back to back after picking up my copy of QoS today.

First time I'd seen it. Trying to stay away from here with all of the talk has been difficult.

Thunderbird 2

i expect u2 die wrote:

For me, Casino Royale no longer ends with Bond standing over the incapacitated Mr White. It ends with him dropping the loveknot, walking through the snow, and leaving the story behind him.
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I actually came to that smae conclusion seeing those final two scenes at the cinema for the first time. QOS actually does round out the end of CR in that respect very well, and neatly ends Vesper's story. I was just thoroughly peeved at having to sit through an hour and a half of extemely sharp, jarring and confusingly bad editing which hurt my eyes to get there! Even now I still don't know what actually happened during the car, boat or plane chase sequences.

QoS's one strength is its character moments for Bond, Mathias, and M. Its a shame they are mere drops in the pond in the scale of the overall production.

Thunderpussy

I thought the last scene of QOS Bond dropping the necklace in the snow, had the same feeling as the bullet smashed windscreen at the end of OHMSS.

walther p99

just finshed watching QOS on blu-ray and it might have become my top fav bond film, i love all the imagery in the film such as the loveknot in ther snow,bond holding camille in the burning hotel...scenes like this ive always wanted to see in a bond film and now have.