Now I'm ready to give my review, it might not be as linear or well written as it should be, I apologise in advance. I may even ramble. Are you sitting comfortably? Good then I shall begin. . .
I deliberately stayed away from here because as the UK release date drew near I was becoming more anxious about the reactions of my fellow fans. I made the mistake of reading critic reviews and finding them frustrating or lukewarm to negative it was starting to affect me. My sun shiny optimism began taking hits so by the time I grabbed my best friend (and a blunt critic if I ever met one.) and took him to see QOS my enthusiasm was as dampened as my coat in the rain pouring on us.
I had a knot in my stomach as the lion roared. I took a deep breath. I don't remember breathing after that.
The movie exceeded my expectations. I suppose it took that last deep breath right away. I was on the edge of my seat the entire movie. I left the film besotted with the visuals, the sounds, and 007. I didn't care that the rain was still pouring down and I had a long walk, I was a very happy Bond girl.
There were some spoilers that I believed which turned out to be false, and seeing them falling like dominoes made me very happy as well.
I don't ever recall a movie where I heard myself talking back to the screen in a good way, quietly, oh I've made snide remarks out loud at other films. There were two instances I recall finding myself so wrapped up that I was talking to myself. One was the choice Bond has to make when he and Camille face burning to death. I was saying "No. . No. . No!" as he picked up the gun. I logically knew they'd get away, but part of me worried they or at least Camille wouldn't.
And the other time was when M said "We need you back." and Bond replied "I never left." I said to myself "Yes!".
Again Daniel Craig works his magic as 007. I cannot get enough of his Bond. He's got charm and charisma, stylish as all get out. We're reminded he's a killer. The fight scenes are brutal and well done. He really gave his body for his art, as the stunts he was able to perform were outstanding. One of the very few things that bothered me about CR was that I spotted the stunt double too easy. In QOS I couldn't.
I loved that M was given screen time.
I've said this other places but I didn't think anyone could out-creep LeChiffre until I saw Dominic Greene in all his slithery glory. Those soulless black eyes wide and empty. One of the favourite scenes of his is when Camille confronts him after throwing Bond out of her car. His turning it around on Camille and trying to schmooze her with all his talk about how he was starting to like her and it made him sad to have killed her. I've met people like that. People who send a chill down your spine just talking to them.
And I know he's there for comic relief but Elvis grew on me. He's just trying so hard to be hip and failing grandly at it.
Bond and Mathis, I'm sad how things turned out. I'm a girl, I cried my eyes out. I cried my eyes out every single time. I adored Mathis, and I've been a fan of Giancarlo for years after stumbling upon the movies he made in the 70's when I was in my late teens/early 20's. Mathis gets to me every time.
Love seeing Jeffrey Wright's Felix. Bond and Felix's scene in the bar was so Fleming to me.
Now the girls! I wasn't sure I would like Fields but you know I did. Everything about her worked. But hands down I thought Camille was the winner. She was tough but not too tough. She wasn't cocky. I don't understand when people called her dull. I thought Olga did a great job and was far from dull. She had chemistry with Greene and she had great chemistry with Bond. When she and Bond kissed before parting ways it was a fantastic moment. It was honest, I think is the only word I can come up with. It was a honest human moment between them. I wanted to see her again.
I never felt the plot was thrown together. That the water/oil change up was after thoughts. As Bond said, it was misdirection. Very Fleming.
Bond leaving Greene with that can of oil that gets to me too.
Finally Yusef and Bond finally meet. I absolutely loved this scene. Another movie might have used more shouting and violence, granted Bond is barely containing himself. Corinne saying thank you as she leaves with her life and career intact was a nice subtle touch.
Gun Barrel, loved it where they put it. It made me impatient for the next film.
When I had gone into the movie I worried it would never be as good as Casino Royale. When I left Quantum Of Solace it had climbed up through my top five to sit beside CR as my favourite film so far.
if I think of more I may add it on later.
Thank you for reading. Hope you enjoyed this.
