I have to say that I would have gained more enjoyment if they had piled up £125 million of real money, stacked a few twigs around it, stuck a Guy on top and set light to it, than the 106 minutes I spent watching this crap. Graham Rye was right, I also give it 1/10 but that is only because of Judy Dench, without her it would be in the minus category.
The pre credit is so quickly edited you cannot get any idea of what it happening, I kept wanting to yell at the screen PULL BACK!!. I know various cars were smashing into each other but who was doing what to whom was a complete mystery. The end where Bond tells Mr White ‘You better get out” was a damp squib rather than the explosive intro to the main title it should have been. The failings of the theme song have been well documented elsewhere, and the Kleinmanesque credit titles are no substitute for the original.
The Sienna chase was a mess, I could not work out who was who, as it was cut so fast, and I am sure M was shot in the break out. Then we have a scene where Bond picks up Camille and we have lots of unintelligible dialogue at the harbour and that is where I made to leave the cinema as I had lost all interest. In fact even the worst bond films (AVTAK, Octopussy) have dialogue that is worth listening to, but most of the dialogue in Qos, particularly concerning Greene's plan, may as well have been spoken in Swahili for all the good it did.
Having been persuaded to sit it out to the bitter end, a few observations. I could not work out what the plot was, other than it revolved around water, (not sure where the oil came into it) Greene was a real sub villain not worth Bond’s time, there were no identifiable henchmen, in fact I don’t think any of his staff actually had any lines. Who was Camille? Another agent, an independent operator? Maybe I lost interest and missed the signals. People have complained about the product placement. I was not aware of any product placement other than Land Rover, but again maybe I was too far gone to care.
The only scene which did have any worth was the death of Mathis but even this was thrown away, and belonged in a different film. Craig has said they shot the “My name is”
line but it stick out like a sore thumb as being inappropriate, I am not surprised. The admittedly superb gun barrel came slinking along at the end, because the film did not deserve having it open the proceedings. Craig has said he would like to see the series return of Q and Moneypenny, but only once they (the film makers) have earned it. They have certainly not earned the gun barrel. I cannot work out after numerous test screenings, pre screenings etc how no one had the guts to say to the producers, the film was a disaster. Never did I suspect that Die Another Day would have a rival for Worst Bond Film ever made, and I find Die Another Day moving to SECOND place.
As for QoS resolving all the unanswered questions left at the end of Casino Royale.... I am still waiting.It answered nothing.
I am sure there is a Bond film out there, with a great pre credit, Daniel Craig Gun Barrel, great theme and credit titles and a story that is clear concise and exciting to watch… Bond 23 maybe, but I am not holding my breath whilst the existing hierarchy exists.
Casino Royale was a success despite the producers, not because of them. Martin Campbell was the genius behind that success. Get him back for Bond 23 and we have a fighting chance for a worthy successor to Casino Royale. But on the strength of QoS it is clear no one on the creative team has the slightest clue what makes a good film (let alone a good Bond film) but there are people around who could do the job with their eyes closed, their hands tied behind them and with half the budget, and still turn out a Bond film to knock spots off this travesty.
Edited by dr. watson, 02 November 2008 - 03:12 AM.
