So what’s all this talk about wanting to “old Bond” back? A lot of talk about the latest Bond movie, “Quantum Of Solace,” is that they miss the Bond who had all the gadgets, knew all the best wines, had his shaken not stirred martinis, and always bedded the most beautiful of women. Wait a second, isn’t that what we were all getting sick of after “Die Another Day?” Didn’t we want to see the Bond series revitalized? Isn’t that why “Casino Royale” was so damn good? That it didn’t give us the same old Bond and gave us a tough new one who you could for once say honestly was the best one since Sean Connery. Roger Ebert in his review of this movie said that he wanted the producers that James Bond is not an action hero. Not an action hero? Is that what you see here Roger? Because that’s not what I see here at all. Instead, I see a man who is devastated by loss and betrayal, and who is trying to keep his head on straight to his duty while trying to get his revenge. Maybe when we get the next Bond movie, we can get the Bond we know back, but this one has issues to sort through, and we cannot just see him throw those to the wind just because many of us expect the same old thing even after being sick of it for so long.
“Quantum of Solace,” as I’m sure you all know by now, is not the equal of “Casino Royale.” That previous Bond film was easily the best one in ages, and it did set the bar higher than we had ever expected for the next Bond movie. The early reviews for Daniel Craig’s second go around as 007 had me curbing my expectations before going to the theater, but I probably should stay in the habit of curtailing my expectations in general. It is a flawed Bond movie that has several problems that might derail any other movie, but what keeps it afloat is Daniel Craig’s great work as Bond, and how he gives an MI6 agent who is not just going through the motions. That, and his great interplay with M, played by the always great Dame Judy Dench.
“Quantum Of Solace” is a first in the Bond series in that it is the first direct sequel to the previous Bond movie, starting off just mere moments after Bond nearly shot off Mr. White’s leg in “Casino Royale.” The movie literally starts off with a bang as James Bond is in a high speed chase with minions of Mr. White right on his tail. This brings me to one of my criticisms which I kind of see as a double edged sword. A lot of the action scenes are filmed with a lot of the same shaky camera work we expect from movies like “The Bourne Ultimatum.” Seeing a James Bond movie instantly remind you of a Jason Bourne movie is not a good sign. At the same time, it gives the action sequences here a visceral urgency to where you feel those car crashes instead of just passively watching them. I love that!
The QUANTUM of the main title of the movie refers to the new evil organization that is the SPECTRE of the new millennium. Their goal is (of course) world domination and control over everything they can sell at a high price. As a result, the Bond villain of this movie is a man who wants control the world’s last natural resource, but it’s not the one that you would think. As played by Mathieu Amalric (“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”), Dominic Greene speaks to the public of saving the planet from global warming, but then we see him talk to an Army general about how they managed to talk some sense into the local government about not raising the minimum wage for workers since it would cut into his profits. Basically, he’s like the head of Wal Mart and someone we want to see get a huge bitch slap on a regular basis, perfect for today’s James Bond movie.
As Bond villains go, Dominic Greene is far from being one of the most threatening of the bunch, and he will not go down as one of the most memorable. Still, I love that glint of anger and overconfidence that Mathieu gets in his eyes, and he brilliantly shows to be the mirror to his ever so greedy soul. His work is more great proof of how some of the best screen acting can be done without saying a word. Seeing him getting pissed when Bond spoils his well laid plans is a kick.
The Bond girl this time around is Camille, and she is played by Olga Kurylenko. As Bond girls go, she will also not go down as one of the most memorable, but she is far from being one of the worst. Her performance during the first part of the movie is a little too stiff, and her character is a little underwritten. As the movie goes on though, she does get better when you get at her real motives which involve revenge against those who took her family away from her. The parallel between Camille and Bond are that they are both going after the same thing, vengeance. It makes their relationship towards the end of the movie all the more interesting. Olga may not hold a candle to Eva Green’s Vesper Lynd, but not many could anyway, so holding that against her is not entirely fair.
But the real key relationship of the movie is between Bond and M. The scenes between Craig and Dench are some of the best in the movie, and it is no love affair between these two. It’s a mother and son kind of relationship if you can picture as both being estranged from one another, and then trying to get back on track with each other. M wants to trust Bond but feels as though she cannot, and Bond wants to go after the one who almost had M killed. Talk about tough love.
Dame Judy Dench has been playing M since Pierce Brosnan debuted as Bond in “Goldeneye,” and it should be more than clear now that she has been a huge asset to this series. She has continued to be a strong presence in the long running franchise, and she has gotten even better since Daniel Craig took over the role. M is the kind of person who is not about take any bullshit from anybody no matter what country they come from or what government agency they represent. Dench is a real pleasure to watch in just about anything she does, and I love how she easily intimidates her male assistants who tremble in her presence. Her interplay with Craig is great, and they make for a great couple (albeit an unmarried one) in these films.
The movie also features some other strong performances that need to be noted. Jeffrey Wright returns again as Felix Leiter, the first actor to play the role consecutively in close to 20 years. His cool approach to the role is great, and hopefully we will see him playing Felix again in the next one. Giancarlo Giannini also returns from “Casino Royale” as Mathis. His role here could have been problematic as his character had betrayed Bond in the last film, and having him be the only person Bond can trust at the middle of this one could have been far fetched to say the least. But thanks to Giannini’s performance, the character’s presence is believable and welcome as his sadness over the death of Vesper gets him to team up with Bond. His final moment with Bond is actually quite touching as he encourages Bond to forgive Vesper and himself. These character moments in Bond films never get quite as much credit as the stunts, and “Quantum Of Solace” has them even while it could have used more of them to give us a rest from the action scenes.
Marc Forster, best known for movies like “Monster’s Ball” and “Finding Neverland,” takes on the directing chores this time around. He almost seems as unlikely a choice to direct a Bond movie as was Michael Apted when he came in to direct “The World Is Not Enough.” His handling of the action sequences gets frustratingly confusing at times as the editing is done in a very rapid fire kind of way, but they are still thrilling sequences if you can get past that. Marc doesn’t really bring anything new to the franchise, but he does keep things going at a steady pace. At under 2 hours long, this is the shortest James Bond movie ever made (although it did feel longer than that). Given how stringent the Broccoli family is about keeping the Bond movies confined to a certain formula, I’m not sure how much breathing room Forster was given with this one.
Screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade are back along with Paul Haggis who is doing his usual polish here on the script. Their work here is not as strong as it was on “Casino Royale,” and the characters in that one are what really made the movie so good as it benefited all the other elements of the film like the action sequences. “Quantum Of Solace” seems to exist more for the action sequences than the story which is a little frustrating, but they do still keep the central character of Bond very interesting and complex. They deal with the different layers of Bond and keep him from being simply one-dimensional. There is some good character work here, but a lot of minor characters suffer because of it, and not everything is as fleshed out as it could have been.
I also want to point out that David Arnold has been composing the scores for the Bond movies since “Tomorrow Never Dies.” I love his work in this franchise and how his scores really complement the action scenes in their ferocity. I also admire how he was able to move over seamlessly from the Brosnan Bonds to the Craig Bond movies in that he didn’t simply repeat the same musical themes over and over again. I ended up buying the soundtrack a couple of days before the movie was released, and it is a great listen for my money.
Speaking of music, I should bring up the title song to movie called “Another Way To Die” which is performed by Jack White and Alicia Keys. Everybody is trashing it, but it’s actually not bad. I like the fact that it actually sticks in the mind as opposed to other theme songs that go in one ear and out the other. Can you remember Sheryl Crow’s theme song for “Tomorrow Never Dies?” Off the top of my head, I sure can’t. I can barely remember Tina Turner’s theme for “Goldeneye,” and that was written by Bono and the edge for Christ’s sake!
In the end, “Quantum Of Solace” is not one of the best Bond movies, but it is not one of the worst. It has problems with the script and some of the characters could have been better developed, but the things that did work won me over for the most part. The one element that really made the movie work was Daniel Craig who continues to do great work as Bond. Craig gives the iconic character a rough edge and dimensions that were not as present in the character before. No, he is not the old Bond that we grew up with, but I am fine with that because this one is far more interesting. Stop whining about wanting the old Bond back. He may come back with the next movie now that Bond has moved on from his revenge cycle, but at the same time, I hope Craig doesn’t lose any of the edge he brings to the role.
Whatever happens here will be very interesting even if we have to wait another few years. All the same, JAMES BOND WILL RETURN…
*** out of ****
“Quantum of Solace,” as I’m sure you all know by now, is not the equal of “Casino Royale.” That previous Bond film was easily the best one in ages, and it did set the bar higher than we had ever expected for the next Bond movie. The early reviews for Daniel Craig’s second go around as 007 had me curbing my expectations before going to the theater, but I probably should stay in the habit of curtailing my expectations in general. It is a flawed Bond movie that has several problems that might derail any other movie, but what keeps it afloat is Daniel Craig’s great work as Bond, and how he gives an MI6 agent who is not just going through the motions. That, and his great interplay with M, played by the always great Dame Judy Dench.
“Quantum Of Solace” is a first in the Bond series in that it is the first direct sequel to the previous Bond movie, starting off just mere moments after Bond nearly shot off Mr. White’s leg in “Casino Royale.” The movie literally starts off with a bang as James Bond is in a high speed chase with minions of Mr. White right on his tail. This brings me to one of my criticisms which I kind of see as a double edged sword. A lot of the action scenes are filmed with a lot of the same shaky camera work we expect from movies like “The Bourne Ultimatum.” Seeing a James Bond movie instantly remind you of a Jason Bourne movie is not a good sign. At the same time, it gives the action sequences here a visceral urgency to where you feel those car crashes instead of just passively watching them. I love that!
The QUANTUM of the main title of the movie refers to the new evil organization that is the SPECTRE of the new millennium. Their goal is (of course) world domination and control over everything they can sell at a high price. As a result, the Bond villain of this movie is a man who wants control the world’s last natural resource, but it’s not the one that you would think. As played by Mathieu Amalric (“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”), Dominic Greene speaks to the public of saving the planet from global warming, but then we see him talk to an Army general about how they managed to talk some sense into the local government about not raising the minimum wage for workers since it would cut into his profits. Basically, he’s like the head of Wal Mart and someone we want to see get a huge bitch slap on a regular basis, perfect for today’s James Bond movie.
As Bond villains go, Dominic Greene is far from being one of the most threatening of the bunch, and he will not go down as one of the most memorable. Still, I love that glint of anger and overconfidence that Mathieu gets in his eyes, and he brilliantly shows to be the mirror to his ever so greedy soul. His work is more great proof of how some of the best screen acting can be done without saying a word. Seeing him getting pissed when Bond spoils his well laid plans is a kick.
The Bond girl this time around is Camille, and she is played by Olga Kurylenko. As Bond girls go, she will also not go down as one of the most memorable, but she is far from being one of the worst. Her performance during the first part of the movie is a little too stiff, and her character is a little underwritten. As the movie goes on though, she does get better when you get at her real motives which involve revenge against those who took her family away from her. The parallel between Camille and Bond are that they are both going after the same thing, vengeance. It makes their relationship towards the end of the movie all the more interesting. Olga may not hold a candle to Eva Green’s Vesper Lynd, but not many could anyway, so holding that against her is not entirely fair.
But the real key relationship of the movie is between Bond and M. The scenes between Craig and Dench are some of the best in the movie, and it is no love affair between these two. It’s a mother and son kind of relationship if you can picture as both being estranged from one another, and then trying to get back on track with each other. M wants to trust Bond but feels as though she cannot, and Bond wants to go after the one who almost had M killed. Talk about tough love.
Dame Judy Dench has been playing M since Pierce Brosnan debuted as Bond in “Goldeneye,” and it should be more than clear now that she has been a huge asset to this series. She has continued to be a strong presence in the long running franchise, and she has gotten even better since Daniel Craig took over the role. M is the kind of person who is not about take any bullshit from anybody no matter what country they come from or what government agency they represent. Dench is a real pleasure to watch in just about anything she does, and I love how she easily intimidates her male assistants who tremble in her presence. Her interplay with Craig is great, and they make for a great couple (albeit an unmarried one) in these films.
The movie also features some other strong performances that need to be noted. Jeffrey Wright returns again as Felix Leiter, the first actor to play the role consecutively in close to 20 years. His cool approach to the role is great, and hopefully we will see him playing Felix again in the next one. Giancarlo Giannini also returns from “Casino Royale” as Mathis. His role here could have been problematic as his character had betrayed Bond in the last film, and having him be the only person Bond can trust at the middle of this one could have been far fetched to say the least. But thanks to Giannini’s performance, the character’s presence is believable and welcome as his sadness over the death of Vesper gets him to team up with Bond. His final moment with Bond is actually quite touching as he encourages Bond to forgive Vesper and himself. These character moments in Bond films never get quite as much credit as the stunts, and “Quantum Of Solace” has them even while it could have used more of them to give us a rest from the action scenes.
Marc Forster, best known for movies like “Monster’s Ball” and “Finding Neverland,” takes on the directing chores this time around. He almost seems as unlikely a choice to direct a Bond movie as was Michael Apted when he came in to direct “The World Is Not Enough.” His handling of the action sequences gets frustratingly confusing at times as the editing is done in a very rapid fire kind of way, but they are still thrilling sequences if you can get past that. Marc doesn’t really bring anything new to the franchise, but he does keep things going at a steady pace. At under 2 hours long, this is the shortest James Bond movie ever made (although it did feel longer than that). Given how stringent the Broccoli family is about keeping the Bond movies confined to a certain formula, I’m not sure how much breathing room Forster was given with this one.
Screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade are back along with Paul Haggis who is doing his usual polish here on the script. Their work here is not as strong as it was on “Casino Royale,” and the characters in that one are what really made the movie so good as it benefited all the other elements of the film like the action sequences. “Quantum Of Solace” seems to exist more for the action sequences than the story which is a little frustrating, but they do still keep the central character of Bond very interesting and complex. They deal with the different layers of Bond and keep him from being simply one-dimensional. There is some good character work here, but a lot of minor characters suffer because of it, and not everything is as fleshed out as it could have been.
I also want to point out that David Arnold has been composing the scores for the Bond movies since “Tomorrow Never Dies.” I love his work in this franchise and how his scores really complement the action scenes in their ferocity. I also admire how he was able to move over seamlessly from the Brosnan Bonds to the Craig Bond movies in that he didn’t simply repeat the same musical themes over and over again. I ended up buying the soundtrack a couple of days before the movie was released, and it is a great listen for my money.
Speaking of music, I should bring up the title song to movie called “Another Way To Die” which is performed by Jack White and Alicia Keys. Everybody is trashing it, but it’s actually not bad. I like the fact that it actually sticks in the mind as opposed to other theme songs that go in one ear and out the other. Can you remember Sheryl Crow’s theme song for “Tomorrow Never Dies?” Off the top of my head, I sure can’t. I can barely remember Tina Turner’s theme for “Goldeneye,” and that was written by Bono and the edge for Christ’s sake!
In the end, “Quantum Of Solace” is not one of the best Bond movies, but it is not one of the worst. It has problems with the script and some of the characters could have been better developed, but the things that did work won me over for the most part. The one element that really made the movie work was Daniel Craig who continues to do great work as Bond. Craig gives the iconic character a rough edge and dimensions that were not as present in the character before. No, he is not the old Bond that we grew up with, but I am fine with that because this one is far more interesting. Stop whining about wanting the old Bond back. He may come back with the next movie now that Bond has moved on from his revenge cycle, but at the same time, I hope Craig doesn’t lose any of the edge he brings to the role.
Whatever happens here will be very interesting even if we have to wait another few years. All the same, JAMES BOND WILL RETURN…
*** out of ****
I think I'm going to refer to this as The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull of the Bond films. After Casino Royale, everyone went into this film with high-hopes, expecting an amazing movie. And as I watched Royale once more before I watched this film, I could definitely tell well. Casino Royale is the best Bond film in the series, and that's saying a lot, because it was never the Bond that we came to love. He never had those nice gadgets but used his weapons and smarts to beat his opponents.
I think I was most mad about Quantum of Solace because it relied on cheap action thrills than a good storyline. Where as there were some great action sequences in Casino Royale, there was a story with it with an excellent conclusion, and a great cliffhanger to boot. I think that if Solace stuck to Bond trying to get revenge for Vesper instead of other relationships with M and everyone else in the MI6 the film would have been much better. Casino Royale really did express how vulnerable Bond can get when he comes to a lady, but this film pretty much shows him snapping out of it without him feeling the least bit bad about her death.
The shakey-cam and the villain didn't really impress me too much either, but I did find the first couple action sequences to be the most entertaining. After the film past the fifty minute mark, I think I saw enough. If there will be a direct sequel to Quantum, I want there to be a great ending. The kind of ending that everyone felt that the Bourne series had (though I didn't really feel like that it had the right conclusion). I want something satisfying. I want to see Craig find the guys who did it and get the payback he deserves.
Oh, and great review
Bond is back in action as the director says the title may be odd, but the plot is familiar. Yet again I am surprised with the action and technology used by the movie Quantum of Solace .One was Bond's cell phone camera capabilities, it is very much related to the current political frame I think http://www.80millionmoviesfree.com Is where I saw and remarkable movie it will be.
I had very few problems with this film.
Yes it does feel like an extended third act to Casino Royale in many ways.
Still, they did bring the old Bond back, the one from the Ian Fleming books.
Excellent review.
OK. Perhaps my last comments were really a review of Casino not having seen QoS. Now I have seen it and there are so many problems with it I do not know where to begin. All the chases are herkey, jerky, shaky stuccato film clips. You can never really see what is going on. This is contrary to the taditional Bond flick replete with detail. And if Craig is gritty, moody, mean & vindictive one can still see a path by which he becomes a cooler if not cold uber-professional agent with a dry, sardonic sense of humor. This Bond clearly appeals to a feminine perspective that escapes me. I understood him not becoming 'involved' with the other women in the 2 flicks as having high standards and was at least relieved to see his response to Fields as, what we would term a normal orientation! (The women seem to love that Bond does NOT 'hook up' with the main girl in either film and broods ceaselessly like a forlorn Hamlet for his unrequited lover from Casino). Even the opening chase, usually one of the best, is almost visually incomprehensible. Car chase, rooftop chase, sewer chase, apartment knife fight chase, boat chase, plane chase, Chase-Morgan, certainly they all were purloined from the Bourne genre but somehow Bourne's were more believable.
The opening graphics were not as bad as I feared, but were definitely not 007 quality. Far too much of Craig shooting his Walther PPK .380; (don't make me go into why that is a problem). We have grown accustomed to the sultry, sexual/sensual and awesome graphical intro to the Bond films. This one was not of the same caliber. Ditto on the theme song. It was not a good as past songs but I was fearing worse and it was actually passable relating somewhat to the general theme of the film. The barrel scene was placed at the end of the film. I prefer the beginning but in either case it should be presented with high quality graphics and punctuated with 007 theme song riffs. It was not.
Lots of chases. Most are barely watchable. I actually liked the reference to the traditional 13th century Italian Palio horse race in which the riders can use their longer wooden canes to encourage their steeds or discourage their opponents; and the actual event was supposed to be occurring outside of the chase area.
The knife fight was lame. How did the baddie die anyhow? Please tell me not with the little pair of cuticle scissors Bond had. And if the death blow was to the only wounded area shown, the left jugular, where did all the blood go as Bond let him 'bleed out'. Not to worry the details because we are soon introduced to THE BOND GIRL. Well, a little anti-climatic because she is not quite as attractive as we are used to although she has very pretty lips. The rest of her seems strangely disproportionate for some reason. It's also strange that she would return to the baddie who just tried to have her whacked. That has little probability for success for someone who we later learn is "Bolivian Secret Service". Oh well, not to worry, we are off on another chase, this time with boats. It is perhaps the best done but for the last scene in which the grappling hook is somehow thrown onto the rubber speed boat and flips it from the front of Bond's boat over the top to the rear...... can't quite figure the physics out on that one. Not to worry, we've docked and Bond mysteriously hands the unconscious maiden who he has just rescued over to a dock attendant...what?
Well were off to track this baddie and somehow reconnected with the GIRL in Bolivia where we eventually learn that the baddie, Mr. Greene of the evil Greene corporation in conjunction with the even eviler Quantum Criminal Consortium LLC has concocted a plot wreaking with the venom of true corporate greed, evil capitalism and nefarious financier-ship; to wit, steal all the fresh water in where? Why Bolivia of course and sell it back to them Bolivians at double the price! MUAHHAHAHAHAHA (evil laugh). We learn at a big party that times are tough in Bolivia because it is costing a weeks wages for an average Bolivian to buy a gallon of clean water! As I remember, the average Bolivian earns about $0.25 per day making the water cost about $1.75 a gallon; pretty much on par with market values in Cleveland. Perhaps this is not the best country for our get richer quicker scheme.
No matter, we are off to the evil opera where the evil baddies are meeting to plan, well, evil. This is where we juxtapose a modernistic version of the Tosca operatic bloodshed whilst Bond dabbles in the real thing dispatching the body guards of the evil biggies who, now discovered & uncovered, are making a hasty retreat for the exits faster than attendees at an Al Gore speech.
No matter, while in Bolivia we are matroned by the closest thing to a real Bond girl, agent Fields. Unfortunately we never really figure out what is beneath that trenchcoat although it appears that Bond does. Also unfortunately for Fields and us, she is quickly eliminated by the baddies in what can only be termed as a 'crude' theft of the Goldfinger modus operandi. I would have expected more of a mess but why waste camera time on the slickened Fields when you can spend it on bathroom scenes with....who else....M of course. Perhaps the most difficult what seemed to be15 minutes of the film (as if minutes were hours Mr. Spock) was watching M in her bathrobe apply & remove cold creme. The threat itself would have sent Mr. Greene permanently into pro bono philanthropy. Not finished with us yet, M draws her bath and the tension in the theater built noticeably as we all began to fear that we would be greeted with an au natural scene of her slipping out of the robe into the tub. Fortunately we were spared that experience (wait for the unedited version coming to DVD soon!). However, it just calls into question what fob with a mommy complex of some sort is calling the shots in these films.
M continues to demonstrate why she should not be "M" vacillating from suspecting Bond to needing him back in 00 some 4-5 times during the movie. We did get a glimpse into the possible personality of M's hubby when he meekly announced, "the calls for you dear on your private line". Whatever.
M may welcome Bond back with open arms or have him captured or killed, no matter, the BOND GIRL is rescuing Bond in her getaway car, a 1964 VW Beetle. I guess the Bolivian Secret Service does not get to roll like the 00's in MI6. At least it was a 40HP!
No matter. We are now off to a hotel in the middle of a high plains Bolivian desert. Time to charter a plane...no, not the little Beachcraft Bonanza that would actually be faster and more maneuverable. Choose the DC-3 with a load of cargo on board. Watch out though, you'll get shot down by the Bolvian Air Force in a single engine Cessna. I guess the BAF doesn't get to roll like the 00's at MI6 either.
No matter because they are both jumping out of that crate with the only parachute. Somehow everything turns out ok after wrestling for 10,000 feet with the BOND GIRL & parachute falling at 120 MPH because the chute opens 20 feet off of our LZ, a nice big soft slab of granite. BTW, the BOND GIRL walks for miles on granite stones in her bare feat…she’s a hearty lass.
It’s off the hotel to find the baddies. The hotel, located in the high plains desert of Bolivia, is called the Plaza del Sol. It is completely self-sufficient and powered by...solar....no you idiot, hydrogen fuel cells. In fact, each room appears to have its own hydrogen fuel cell and its accompanying hydrogen supply tank. The maids must make your bed and refill your hydrogen tank when they replace the shampoo in the bath, I guess. Naturally the hotel, located in the high plains Bolivian desert is made substantially of steel & stone. Unfortunately, the steel & stone in Bolivia is not quite as durable as the steel & stone you and I have grown to love as we discover when Bond causes a baddie car to crash through a wall igniting a hydrogen tank. The rest of the hydrogen tanks ignite sequentially. Darn it, I hate when that happens, you just can't get good hydrogen tanks anymore. Again, unfortunately, the Bolivian steel & stone burns more like paper mache. Bond battles the Greene baddie but aborts to rescue the BOND GIRL who is caught up in her own subplot vendetta too trite to be explained here. Mr. Greene escapes into the desert only to meet a cryptic fate induced by other unknown baddies and Bond’s 10W-40 payback for the treatment of luscious Agent Fields.
You would be better off waiting for this to hit DVD. At least then you can slo-mo or replay the chase scenes making sense of them, spend more time with the slick Agent Fields and most importantly, FFW or skip over M's bathroom escapades. You have been warned.