11 replies to this topic

[Doctor Shatterhand]

After the successful and critically acclaimed Casino Royale, the film makers of the James Bond series were in a difficult position. How to make the next OO7 epic better than the last? Well I can tell you from the opening car chase to the fiery inferno ending, Quantum of Solace is Bond at his best.

Daniel Craig reprises his version of super spy James Bond with even greater depth than he did in “Royale”. He literally makes the audience watch his every move because you never know what he is thinking or doing next. From flipping cell phones and hotel keys into the corners of scenery, to his panache for acquiring motor vehicles, Craig keeps you guessing. His Bond continues to evolve with every scene, from the fast cutting conflicts with assassins to his cold, callous way of disposing a corpse. This Bond is not to be messed with.

Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson, the producers, deserve high praises for taking the series into a more artistic direction. Where director Martin Campbell painted his canvas in “Casino Royale”; leaving a bare section that is uniquely painted in by Marc Forster, the director of “Quantum”. Both have different styles and pacing, with some nice juxtaposition touches by Forster with scenes at a horse race and an Opera, but like a Monet painting you really cannot see the entire picture unless you step back and take it all in. After the unveiling, one can see the arc that Bond’s character takes in “Royale” and completes at the end of “Quantum”. His relationship with Vesper, the girl in Casino Royale, and why she betrayed him comes full circle and how he turns his chaotic world into a controlled force that makes him the cool agent under fire we all love.

Quantum begins with a beautiful aerial shot of mountains off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the scene quickly changes to Bond driving the Aston Martin DBS while being chased and attacked by unknown assassins in Alfa Romero cars. The editing is so brisk one can be forgiven for wondering if they are watching a Jason Bourne film. But that is where the similarity ends. The quick cutting is supposed to be chaotic and dizzy because it represents the current and confused world of James Bond. The countless kills he has done in the last few months and his mental attitude as to how he fits in this corrupt world. Who does he trust, who deserves to die? The body count continues to rise throughout the film until Bond changes from a destructive force into an agent who controls his aggressive behavior. In fact, he comes very close to shooting the Bond girl and himself when he realizes there is no other option. Fortunately for him, and the audience, he sees an escape and saves the day. A very unique scene in the 46 year old series.

Judi Dench gives yet another superb performance as Bond’s chief “M” and she alone contributes the key quote that sums up “Quantum”, “When you can't tell your friends from your enemies, it's time to go.” That line will echo throughout this film, for many who claim to be on Bond’s good side will indeed show their true deceptive colors.

The biggest surprise in this film is Olga Kurylenko, who plays Camille. A woman Fleming would have written, “A bird with a wing down”. Her back story is tragic and her motivation mirrors Bond’s in the revenge department. Olga, who is originally from the Ukraine, is terrific in this role and it is hard to believe that she is not Hispanic. She is completely believable and perhaps one of the best Bond girls in recent memory.

Gemma Arterton is the other female interest and is also excellent in her role as Agent ‘Strawberry’ Fields. She falls for Bond’s seductive charm and ends up in an iconic position that is both sexy and eerie.

Jeffrey Wright returns in the role of Felix Leiter, the second actor to play the part in two Bond films and the first time consecutively. His presence is always welcomed and both he and Craig seem to be enjoying their scenes together.

Giancarlo Giannini also returns as Rene Mathis, the MI-6 agent who was last tassered in “Royale”. He is the father-figure to Bond and the healing link between his violent world and civilization. A vital character in Fleming’s novels Casino Royale and From Russia with Love, he is the pivotal key to Bond’s sanity.

Other members of the cast include Jesper Christensen as the elusive Mr. White. David Harbour as arrogant CIA agent Gregg Beam, Anatole Taubman as bad hair day Elvis, and Joaquin Cosio as power hungry General Medrano. Every major character in the film is well developed. My only complaint is with the henchman ‘Elvis’. Somehow he got lost in translation. I was never too sure what he was doing there and even his demise is over too quickly. He is certainly an interesting henchman, but so under developed that he simply comes across as table dressing.

Lastly, kudos goes to the villain Dominic Greene, played exceptionally well by Mathieu Amalric. His first appearance looks benevolent but he is as deadly as they come. His character is more like Vladek Sheybal’s Kronsteen in “From Russia with Love”. A planner and a schemer who allows his men to do the dirty work but is not reserved to fighting dirty himself if necessary. He is the front man to Quantum’s latest conquest, the possession of 60% of Bolivia’s water supply and the control of its new President Medrano. It may not be the hijacking of NATO atomic bombs or the radiating of America’s gold supply, but when water is a scarce commodity in a desert region, owning it can lead to billions of revenue.

“Quantum of Solace” is the shortest of all the Bond films clocking in at nearly 105 minutes. It may be short in length but it is filled with superb film making that deflates the current competition of super spies with the initials of JB.

[jaguar007]

Your thoughts are similar to my own. After seeing it it made me think: Fleming decided to do something different and he wrote The Spy Who Loved Me. EON decided to do something different and made Quantum of Solace.

[ACE]

After the successful and critically acclaimed Casino Royale, the film makers of the James Bond series were in a difficult position. How to make the next OO7 epic better than the last? Well I can tell you from the opening car chase to the fiery inferno ending, Quantum of Solace is Bond at his best.

Daniel Craig reprises his version of super spy James Bond with even greater depth than he did in “Royale”. He literally makes the audience watch his every move because you never know what he is thinking or doing next. From flipping cell phones and hotel keys into the corners of scenery, to his panache for acquiring motor vehicles, Craig keeps you guessing. His Bond continues to evolve with every scene, from the fast cutting conflicts with assassins to his cold, callous way of disposing a corpse. This Bond is not to be messed with.

Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson, the producers, deserve high praises for taking the series into a more artistic direction. Where director Martin Campbell painted his canvas in “Casino Royale”; leaving a bare section that is uniquely painted in by Marc Forster, the director of “Quantum”. Both have different styles and pacing, with some nice juxtaposition touches by Forster with scenes at a horse race and an Opera, but like a Monet painting you really cannot see the entire picture unless you step back and take it all in. After the unveiling, one can see the arc that Bond’s character takes in “Royale” and completes at the end of “Quantum”. His relationship with Vesper, the girl in Casino Royale, and why she betrayed him comes full circle and how he turns his chaotic world into a controlled force that makes him the cool agent under fire we all love.

Quantum begins with a beautiful aerial shot of mountains off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the scene quickly changes to Bond driving the Aston Martin DBS while being chased and attacked by unknown assassins in Alfa Romero cars. The editing is so brisk one can be forgiven for wondering if they are watching a Jason Bourne film. But that is where the similarity ends. The quick cutting is supposed to be chaotic and dizzy because it represents the current and confused world of James Bond. The countless kills he has done in the last few months and his mental attitude as to how he fits in this corrupt world. Who does he trust, who deserves to die? The body count continues to rise throughout the film until Bond changes from a destructive force into an agent who controls his aggressive behavior. In fact, he comes very close to shooting the Bond girl and himself when he realizes there is no other option. Fortunately for him, and the audience, he sees an escape and saves the day. A very unique scene in the 46 year old series.
Judi Dench gives yet another superb performance as Bond’s chief “M” and she alone contributes the key quote that sums up “Quantum”, “When you can't tell your friends from your enemies, it's time to go.” That line will echo throughout this film, for many who claim to be on Bond’s good side will indeed show their true deceptive colors.

The biggest surprise in this film is Olga Kurylenko, who plays Camille. A woman Fleming would have written, “A bird with a wing down”. Her back story is tragic and her motivation mirrors Bond’s in the revenge department. Olga, who is originally from the Ukraine, is terrific in this role and it is hard to believe that she is not Hispanic. She is completely believable and perhaps one of the best Bond girls in recent memory.

Gemma Arterton is the other female interest and is also excellent in her role as Agent ‘Strawberry’ Fields. She falls for Bond’s seductive charm and ends up in an iconic position that is both sexy and eerie.

Jeffrey Wright returns in the role of Felix Leiter, the second actor to play the part in two Bond films and the first time consecutively. His presence is always welcomed and both he and Craig seem to be enjoying their scenes together.

Giancarlo Giannini also returns as Rene Mathis, the MI-6 agent who was last tassered in “Royale”. He is the father-figure to Bond and the healing link between his violent world and civilization. A vital character in Fleming’s novels Casino Royale and From Russia with Love, he is the pivotal key to Bond’s sanity.
Other members of the cast include Jesper Christensen as the elusive Mr. White. David Harbour as arrogant CIA agent Gregg Beam, Anatole Taubman as bad hair day Elvis, and Joaquin Cosio as power hungry General Medrano. Every major character in the film is well developed. My only complaint is with the henchman ‘Elvis’. Somehow he got lost in translation. I was never too sure what he was doing there and even his demise is over too quickly. He is certainly an interesting henchman, but so under developed that he simply comes across as table dressing.

Lastly, kudos goes to the villain Dominic Greene, played exceptionally well by Mathieu Amalric. His first appearance looks benevolent but he is as deadly as they come. His character is more like Vladek Sheybal’s Kronsteen in “From Russia with Love”. A planner and a schemer who allows his men to do the dirty work but is not reserved to fighting dirty himself if necessary. He is the front man to Quantum’s latest conquest, the possession of 60% of Bolivia’s water supply and the control of its new President Medrano. It may not be the hijacking of NATO atomic bombs or the radiating of America’s gold supply, but when water is a scarce commodity in a desert region, owning it can lead to billions of revenue.

“Quantum of Solace” is the shortest of all the Bond films clocking in at nearly 105 minutes. It may be short in length but it is filled with superb film making that deflates the current competition of super spies with the initials of JB.

Fantastic, well-observed review, Dr Shatterhand. As usual. I loved and agreed with your analysis of the PTS editing. Glad you liked the movie.

[MattofSteel]

Ex-freakin-actly.

Every new Bond film, while we as fans hope for the best possible product, does not have to be the absolute "thesis film" of the character, containing every single element, packed to the gills with stale familiarity. That's what kills a franchise. The producers only really owe the audience a satisfying experience and their supreme efforts to deliver that. If every film were a complete picture and reaffirmation of all 007's elements, there'd be no time for any new plot!

The notable differences in QoS from other films in the series will, I think, be regarded in the future as helpful to the franchise. A decidedly different piece amongst the familiar.

We have to remember, also - we're not just talking about making good films. We're talking about brand management on a franchise scale that is literally 50 years on and has the potential to run for as long into the future.

[bondrules]

He literally makes the audience watch his every move because you never know what he is thinking or doing next.

So true!

[manfromjapan]

Great review, Shatterhand.I agree with all your points. Also love your website.

Matt of steel: You are absolutely right.

[mccartney007]

Well said, Dr. S!

[Doctor Shatterhand]

DON'T READ THIS IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN QUANTUM OF SOLACE



Took my kids to see it last night and I have to say there is still more in the film that I didn't catch before.

Most notably is the closing shot of Craig walking off into the shadows. In fact the last shot of Craig is not him walking into the shadows of the night but out of the shadows and into the light. He has emerged into the agent we all know and love. He knows his calling and he leaves the past behind by dropping the necklace into the snow.

The snow is also symbolic, it is clean and pure and is covering up the horrid memory of Vesper by covering the necklace. The snow is white and therefore it is Bond's clean slate and he can now move on with his job of hunting down Quantum.

If you have not seen the film it is absolutely brilliant and definitely deserves a second viewing. I am surprised with some of the negative reactions to this film. Because it is such a departure from other Bond films just like OHMSS was a departure from the earlier films of the 60s. So why the negativity?

Also, the scene where Bond and Camille are trapped in the fire and Bond realizing that they are going to die and prepares to shoot Camille to put her out of her misery. The thoughts of Vesper's suicide and the act he is about to commit is mindblowing and an incredible moment in this 46 year old series.

DANIEL CRAIG RULES!

[delfloria]

Great review. Dead on. Especially your comments about the end.

[danman007]

Love your analysis, Dr. Shatterhand.
I just got back from seeing the movie, and the ending with Vesper's necklace in the snow and the scene with Bond and Camille trapped in the fire stood out to me as I was leaving the theater.
Quantum of Solace deserves alot praise for what it has done being a unique entry to the series.

I agree on another point..DANIEL CRAIG RULES!

[bleary_25]

Oh, thank you, Dr Shatterhand! After scrolling through review after review of hate, I am so glad to read such an positive review.

[Professor Dent]

Also, the scene where Bond and Camille are trapped in the fire and Bond realizing that they are going to die and prepares to shoot Camille to put her out of her misery. The thoughts of Vesper's suicide and the act he is about to commit is mindblowing and an incredible moment in this 46 year old series.

This is interesting. I think I was too busy trying to figure out how Bond was going to get out of the building to pick up on this angle. Will need to look for it next time around. Also, good review Doctor S.