Quantum of Solace Reviews

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  • Mr_IceMr_Ice USPosts: 137MI6 Agent
    Well yeah, (really that depends on how many beers I've had) but if you're in the fight, your not also watching it. Unless you've got some foo that don't have!
  • morgsmorgs Posts: 2MI6 Agent
    I've just seen it a second time and, well, I'm just not sure I can think of it as a Bond film. I loved CR, and the whole reboot idea was brilliantly done. And because it was a fresh start, you could get past the lack of the traditional Bondian elements like the gadgets and character because you expected to see them being introduced and their origins explained. So, for example, there was no gunbarrel logo opening because that was explained at the end of the teaser - when Bond shoots the guy down the barrel of his gun in the washroom. There's no 'shaken not stirred' line because Bond has just invented the drink and hasn't worked out his preferences yet. There is no Bond theme because Bond isn't yet the Bond we know, he hasn't 'earned' his theme yet.

    I expected QoS to develop these ideas further and I'm hugely disapppointed that it didn't. Its almost like QoS is an afterthought to CR, the deleted scenes from the end, rather than a fully-fledged moving on of Bond's story. I see what they are trying to do character-wise, but there isn't enough time spent on character to really achieve this. They missed opportunities to explain the development of Bond's character, for example elements where the Bond theme kicks in to say 'this is another moment where Bond is becoming Bond', or which explain his development into a snob - in CR he was unrefined, Vesper bought him a Dinner Suit and he looked uncomfortable with it - in QoS he suddenly has developed a taste for expensive hotels - where did that come from? The gunbarrel logo which should have opened QoS having had its provenance explained in CR, is tacked on at the end like an afterthought.

    Nice moments are the growing relationship between Bond and M and particularly between Bond and Leiter. The whole Mathis-Bond relationship could have been handled brilliantly, there was real chemistry between these two. Their friendship, growing out of hostility, could have been seen to really grow into a father-son Bond (like the relationships with Kerim Bey or Columbo) and Mathis's death should have been a complete bombshell to Bond. Daniel Craig made more out of these scenes than the scriptwriters and director gave him, but I can't help thinking that Martin Campbell would have had the audience in tears.

    For me the producers mucked this one up. They looked too much at Bourne and for once tried to follow instead of lead. The whole thing looks hastily edited, the quick-cut edits of the action scenes reduce what looks like amazing work by the stunt team and second unit to epileptic fit-inducing nonsense. The car chase, boat chase and anti-climactic hotel scenes are confused and forgettable. The Tosca gunfight and the rope fight between Bond and Mitchell are, however, superb and give an annoying flavour of what might have been...

    Commercially? I'm sure a huge success. A Bond film? I'm not sure. An opportunity wasted? Definitely.
  • morgsmorgs Posts: 2MI6 Agent
    edited December 2008
    :)
  • Bond_James_BondBond_James_Bond +++ Classified +++Posts: 569MI6 Agent
    edited December 2008
    Have to disagree with you dear boy, this is the 2nd part of CR and shows real develoment of the character. Ideally the two films should have been one but that was impossible. QoS is the bridge to the bond we all know and the more times i see it, i realise how good this bond film actualy is.
    The name's Bond_James_Bond
  • ToshTogoToshTogo Rep. of South AfricaPosts: 103MI6 Agent
    Watched QOS for the 3rd time last w/end, its improved from my last screening, but its still not the movie it could be. It really is a missed oppurtunity
  • sd259sd259 AustraliaPosts: 1MI6 Agent
    very american very 'james' bourne. same stunt coordinator as well. jumping from houses into balconies sort of stuff. confusing plot and the grimmest, darkest and most violent bond to date. not as bad as die another day but considering the class of craig he needs a better director. john boorman or ridley scott and a better screenplay. how about martin amis in his father's footsteps (colonel sun)? keep the series british.
    This never happened to the other fellow.
  • darenhatdarenhat The Old PuebloPosts: 2,029Quartermasters
    edited December 2008
    morgs wrote:
    I expected QoS to develop these ideas further and I'm hugely disapppointed that it didn't. Its almost like QoS is an afterthought to CR, the deleted scenes from the end, rather than a fully-fledged moving on of Bond's story. I see what they are trying to do character-wise, but there isn't enough time spent on character to really achieve this. They missed opportunities to explain the development of Bond's character...

    I agree with you morgs. Michael Wilson has had an itch to do a 'Bond Begins' story dating at least to 1986 when Dalton came on board. More and more I'm beginning to realize why it's not a great concept. Fleming never wrote a Bond Begins story to the degree that EON has attempt to do, and I think the reason why is due to the tried and true artistic method of in media res in which storytellers skip all the silly bits and get to the interesting and pertinent aspects of the story. After watching QoS, I was thinking, what's the point of all this if it's all intended to set up a character we already had in the previous films? I liken it to watching a friend's video of their recent Hawaii vacation and all it is two to four hours of the plane trip to get there. Why? IMO there are better things to be done with a fully-developed Bond than watching a fledgling one stumble around.
  • bluemanblueman PDXPosts: 1,667MI6 Agent
    edited December 2008
    darenhat wrote:
    morgs wrote:
    I expected QoS to develop these ideas further and I'm hugely disapppointed that it didn't. Its almost like QoS is an afterthought to CR, the deleted scenes from the end, rather than a fully-fledged moving on of Bond's story. I see what they are trying to do character-wise, but there isn't enough time spent on character to really achieve this. They missed opportunities to explain the development of Bond's character...

    I agree with you morgs. Michael Wilson has had an itch to do a 'Bond Begins' story dating at least to 1986 when Dalton came on board. More and more I'm beginning to realize why it's not a great concept. Fleming never wrote a Bond Begins story to the degree that EON has attempt to do, and I think the reason why is due to the tried and true artistic method of in media res in which storytellers skip all the silly bits and get to the interesting and pertinent aspects of the story. After watching QoS, I was thinking, what's the point of all this if it's all intended to set up a character we already had in the previous films? I liken it to watching a friend's video of their recent Hawaii vacation and all it is two to four hours of the plane trip to get there. Why? IMO there are better things to be done with a fully-developed Bond than watching a fledgling one stumble around.
    Just going on the last 30+ years of Bond films pre-CR, gotta disagree, at least as it's turned out in practice. The reboot may not be perfect, but it's a helluva lot more interesting/entertaining than any Bond since the 60s.

    But more to the point: QOS tells one of the best Bond-centric stories in the series IMO. I didn't take it as this is how Bond became the Bond we all know and love, rather it was Bond dealing with a personal issue, which he does from time to time albeit to varying effect. CR may have had that veneer of first-time-out-the-gate, but QOS feels like an old friend kicking ass in his inimitable style.
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,988Quartermasters
    edited December 2008
    At any rate, the barn door is open and the horses have fled...to the tune of over

    [Dr. Evil voice]

    One Billion Dollars! *

    * Disclaimer: CR and QoS combined world box office. Does not reflect universal approval of Bond fandom.
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • Napoleon PluralNapoleon Plural LondonPosts: 10,239MI6 Agent
    Never mind that, how does Loeffs get to write so small?

    I agree with darenhat about the runup to a character we already know, it's taking its time. But it's not like they did anything great of late with the developed character of the Brosnan films imo. There's been this long struggle of introspection v extrovertism since Timothy Dalton took over imo, and finally intropection has won. By which I mean, it's all about Bond now and his internal dilemmas. Bond used to be a mere cipher. Now the villains are the ciphers simply to allow Bond to exist.
    "This is where we leave you Mr Bond."

    Roger Moore 1927-2017
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,988Quartermasters
    Never mind that, how does Loeffs get to write so small?

    I agree with darenhat about the runup to a character we already know, it's taking its time. But it's not like they did anything great of late with the developed character of the Brosnan films imo. There's been this long struggle of introspection v extrovertism since Timothy Dalton took over imo, and finally intropection has won. By which I mean, it's all about Bond now and his internal dilemmas. Bond used to be a mere cipher. Now the villains are the ciphers simply to allow Bond to exist.

    A fair point.

    :v
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • bluemanblueman PDXPosts: 1,667MI6 Agent
    Really? When was Dalton's Bond introspective? Moribund and melodramatic, maybe... ;)
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,988Quartermasters
    edited December 2008
    blueman wrote:
    Really? When was Dalton's Bond introspective?

    I'll not speak for NP (far be it from me :) ), but to some extent---as with the Current Guy---it seems to be one of those things you either see, or you don't.

    For me, the primary example commences in TLD, in that moment when he realises that Kara is the supposed 'sniper'---that flash of recognition, and the refusal to complete his mission as assigned. Subsequently, via dialogue, his motivations are explained, and Dalton's delivery carries the material, but clearly this indicates some considerable reflection on the part of the character. It's also quite an example of 'Fleming,' inasmuch as it's a function of the story being (fairly faithfully) told as well as a performance issue.

    Still, it's one of the things Dalton got right, IMRO, and if we're going to credit one guy, might as well credit another. It's only fair, since many of Craig's best moments in this regard---particularly in QoS---are apparently invisible to so many :#

    But, back on topic...I liked the new movie :D
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • bluemanblueman PDXPosts: 1,667MI6 Agent
    blueman wrote:
    Really? When was Dalton's Bond introspective?

    I'll not speak for NP (far be it from me :) ), but to some extent---as with the Current Guy---it seems to be one of those things you either see, or you don't.

    For me, the primary example commences in TLD, in that moment when he realises that Kara is the supposed 'sniper'---that flash of recognition, and the refusal to complete his mission as assigned. Subsequently, via dialogue, his motivations are explained, and Dalton's delivery carries the material, but clearly this indicates some considerable reflection on the part of the character. It's also quite an example of 'Fleming,' inasmuch as it's a function of the story being (fairly faithfully) told as well as a performance issue.

    I stand corrected, just totally missed that bit. Remind me, was it before or after Bond's car turned into a giant ice skate?
    But, back on topic...I liked the new movie :D

    Yeah, me too, even though it's a total BO dud.
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,988Quartermasters
    blueman wrote:
    I stand corrected, just totally missed that bit. Remind me, was it before or after Bond's car turned into a giant ice skate?

    Before. But I liked the Batmobile-style afterburner B-)
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • phil1972phil1972 Posts: 2MI6 Agent
    What do people want from the Bond Movies? Personally, I prefer this toughened new Bond! A man who hurts and can be hurt. A man who has to deal with reality of life. Gone, is the Bond who has to rely on fancy(none realistic) gadgets, they were good in their day but it's time to get back to the Ian Fleming books. For those that have read them, you will read that, Bond, strangled Goldfinger and Blofeld to death and kicked Tee Hee, from Live and Let Die to death. These are brutal deaths but THEY ARE BOND!! I love all the bond films but Daniel Craig is a very welcome change to the series. The Jason Bourne films have built themselves on the likes of Bond and have been secessful to. This new Bond, has taken back its rightful place and made him what he is - a highly trained man, who kills without remorse if necessary. I'm glad for the realism in these new films and welcome it. Well done Daniel Craig for injecting new life into this much loved character!!
  • CLAELUISCLAELUIS Posts: 16MI6 Agent
    hi,totally agree with what you have said. I was dead against craig as bond but was chuffed with Caino Royale.Was so excited about Quantum but was one big let down-didn't enjoy it one bit-was over before it began and was so detached from bond was unbelievable-put on 3 old bonds straight afterwards and thought now thats bond and how its supposed to be,Quantum of solace????????????????????????????????-do not get it!!!!!!!!!!
  • zaphodzaphod Posts: 1,183MI6 Agent
    CLAELUIS wrote:
    hi,totally agree with what you have said. I was dead against craig as bond but was chuffed with Caino Royale.Was so excited about Quantum but was one big let down-didn't enjoy it one bit-was over before it began and was so detached from bond was unbelievable-put on 3 old bonds straight afterwards and thought now thats bond and how its supposed to be,Quantum of solace????????????????????????????????-do not get it!!!!!!!!!!

    Agree with you. Loved CR, but did not 'get' QOS at all. I think that we have more or less done this to death. All we can say for sure is that QOS really divides opinion. On the one hand we have a strong contingent of genuine Bond fans/devotees with strong arguements who see it as truly 'Bondian' and a neccessarry stage in the evoloution of the character, and another (of which I'm one) that hardly recognises the character at all. I had hoped that watching on DVD (Blueray) would open up the subtle nature of the thing that is clearly visible and evident to many. For me it just looked like more of a half-baked 'rush job' than it did in the big(er) screen. So I'm none the wiser. Bottom line is it either works for you or it doesn't. I'm pleased that so many have found more to enjoy than I could.

    Roll on Bond 23 {[]
  • CaptGnarlyCaptGnarly Posts: 1MI6 Agent
    I go into each movie with a totally open mind. (Well actually I'm like "This can't be worse than DAD, here goes!")

    What I have done is watch CR and QoS together, back to back, as one movie. Like a play with two acts. The first slowly setting up the story that escalates into the brutal second act. If you consider it one movie, it rules!
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,988Quartermasters
    CaptGnarly wrote:
    I go into each movie with a totally open mind. (Well actually I'm like "This can't be worse than DAD, here goes!")

    What I have done is watch CR and QoS together, back to back, as one movie. Like a play with two acts. The first slowly setting up the story that escalates into the brutal second act. If you consider it one movie, it rules!

    I'll buy that, Cap'n {[] Welcome to AJB, the best Bond site anywhere B-)
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • GoldenbuttGoldenbutt Posts: 5MI6 Agent
    blueman wrote:
    I stand corrected, just totally missed that bit. Remind me, was it before or after Bond's car turned into a giant ice skate?

    Before. But I liked the Batmobile-style afterburner B-)

    Casino Royale was the best Bond ever.
    It was a hard follow up so QOS looked a little weak but I still think it surpassed many of the previous Bond films by a longshot.

    I mean, as fun as Bond can be, a lot if it is total garbage. it's not like QOS had to try that hard to beat some of the Moore disasters and the last 2 Brosnan flicks. Those sucked so bad. Words fail me. An invisible car. Get real.
  • fire and icefire and ice EarthPosts: 149MI6 Agent
    Jo please dont say they were pierce bond film he he ;-)
    '...exceptionally fine shot...'
  • brengleabrenglea Posts: 1MI6 Agent
    Hey, it seems like you really know a lot about what you are talking about. I was wondering if you could explain one part of the movie to me. It was the only part I didnt understand. At the end when Bond is about to interrogate Vesper's boyfriend, and the girl he's with is Canadian Intelligence. What exactly was Vesper's boyfriend doing with her, why was she there, what was that whole exchange between the three of the in his apartment about. How she was gathering information? or something along those terms?
    my email is brenglea@hsc.edu. id really appreciate it. thanks again!
    cheers!
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,988Quartermasters
    brenglea wrote:
    Hey, it seems like you really know a lot about what you are talking about. I was wondering if you could explain one part of the movie to me. It was the only part I didnt understand. At the end when Bond is about to interrogate Vesper's boyfriend, and the girl he's with is Canadian Intelligence. What exactly was Vesper's boyfriend doing with her, why was she there, what was that whole exchange between the three of the in his apartment about. How she was gathering information? or something along those terms?
    my email is brenglea@hsc.edu. id really appreciate it. thanks again!
    cheers!

    Welcome to AJB, brenglea {[] You've found the greatest online James Bond community on the internet, and we hope you'll stick around.

    To answer your question: Yusef, Vesper's ex, is an operative of Quantum, the nefarious organization out to profit by causing chaos in the world. In QoS, he's doing with Corinne, the Canadian agent, what he did with Vesper. Once the girl falls in love with him, he fakes his own kidnapping---in order for his girlfriend to give up top-secret information to save his life. This is why Vesper betrayed Bond in CR, and at the end of QoS Bond puts a stop to it.

    Hope this helps! Cheers -{
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • salt _ 2000salt _ 2000 Posts: 14MI6 Agent
    I just started watching it my initial feelings are that the action sequenc,es are cut to much like a commercial and the scenes that have no action are while stylishly shot , trashed by pointless cutting.aprt form that fundamental discomfort .I like the style of it. Just a shame the cutting never slows,

    not even Moulin Rouge by Baz Lurmans or Nixen by Oliver stone used fast cuting all the way through.
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,988Quartermasters
    Finally got to show QoS to my parents last weekend; my mother, never much of a Bond fan prior to CR, is a big fan of Craig's take on the part. Although she's always felt that Roger Moore was the best looking Bond, she thinks Craig is the best :) She said she'd like to watch CR and QoS back-to-back. I said that I could arrange that... :007)

    My father appreciated the fast pace and the amount of action. "There weren't any dead spots," he said, although he continues to be of the opinion that Craig has a "different look" :))
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • Another LoeffelholzAnother Loeffelholz "a different position."Posts: 77MI6 Agent
    Finally got to show QoS to my parents last weekend; my mother, never much of a Bond fan prior to CR, is a big fan of Craig's take on the part. Although she's always felt that Roger Moore was the best looking Bond, she thinks Craig is the best :) She said she'd like to watch CR and QoS back-to-back. I said that I could arrange that... :007)

    My father appreciated the fast pace and the amount of action. "There weren't any dead spots," he said, although he continues to be of the opinion that Craig has a "different look" :))

    :)) Wish I coulda been there for that viewing. {[]
  • thesecretagentthesecretagent CornwallPosts: 2,151MI6 Agent
    phil1972 wrote:
    What do people want from the Bond Movies? Personally, I prefer this toughened new Bond! A man who hurts and can be hurt. A man who has to deal with reality of life. Gone, is the Bond who has to rely on fancy(none realistic) gadgets, they were good in their day but it's time to get back to the Ian Fleming books. For those that have read them, you will read that, Bond, strangled Goldfinger and Blofeld to death and kicked Tee Hee, from Live and Let Die to death. These are brutal deaths but THEY ARE BOND!! I love all the bond films but Daniel Craig is a very welcome change to the series. The Jason Bourne films have built themselves on the likes of Bond and have been secessful to. This new Bond, has taken back its rightful place and made him what he is - a highly trained man, who kills without remorse if necessary. I'm glad for the realism in these new films and welcome it. Well done Daniel Craig for injecting new life into this much loved character!!

    Spot on!
    Amazon #1 Bestselling Author. If you enjoy crime, espionage, action and fast-moving thrillers follow this link:

    http://apbateman.com
  • JDubyaJDubya Florida USAPosts: 9MI6 Agent
    I accept it as a Bond film I am just disgusted wit the super fast cuts between shots in the action scenes - and the "artsy for the sake of being artsy" crap. I didnt mind the different fonts for different cities (though London was bland and steamrolled over) but I did mind the scenes where youre learning about this organization and it cuts to some opera crap (sorry guys who like opera)

    CR was absolutely James Bond, QoS is quality of service protocol and I wish my phone system had it - this movie was enjoyable but tell me you would watch it as many times as Goldfinger or Moonraker - I havent and probably wont.

    DC is grand - cant wait for Bond 23 - and if its terrible I will still be excited about Bond 24 and so on. Id give anything for a few more Moore or Connery films - literally.

    Cheers to all - there wasnt a single post here I didnt agree with somewhat - I was very excited about this Quantum org, but hoped it would be revealed to be SPECTRE or SMERSH rather than something "new" to the series. I would be elated if they started remaking the old movies since the new story is less Fleming and more Bond.

    Bourne movies? Maybe by way of editing and lack of wrist fired darts or explosive cigarettes but like I said - as long as its a Bond movie the producers will always get my buck.:x
  • Napoleon PluralNapoleon Plural LondonPosts: 10,239MI6 Agent
    Can we have this thread as a sticky? There'll always be some new guy arriving who imagines we don't have a review thread and he's the first one...
    "This is where we leave you Mr Bond."

    Roger Moore 1927-2017
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