I didn't say Casino Royale got unanimous praise--heck, it doesn't get unanimous praise here. I said it got NEARLY unanimous praise (94 out of 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes).Er - no - CASINO ROYALE did not get "unanimous praise".Not all. Just to name one, Casino Royale got nearly unanimous praise when it came out. It got a 94 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes--the highest rated Hollywood (read non-independent) film of the year--and received a similar amount of praise from most movie-goers. Neither of which occurred with Quantum Of Solace. The reviews were mixed from film critics and while Solace does have its hard-core backers from audience members, there are many falling on the other side of the fence that dislike the film. I'll grant that they're maybe not an equal number, but they are a sizable amount--and an amount that dwarfs the Casino Royale naysayers."Largely mixed reviews"....? ALL Bond films get largely mixed reviews.
TIME MAGAZINE :
"This is a Bond with great body but no soul"
That would be wrong to suggest that in the same way it is wrong to suggest SOLACE was disliked by all critics (it wasn't at all).
Besides, reviews of Bond films are sort of redundant and have been since some people criticised FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE. Bond doesn't need reviews.
And I hate to burst your bubble (or your tomato) but RottenTomatoes is a benchmark of absolutely nothing. It has no industry standing, and is only a tool for film boys to tell each other they are right. And you need to be careful when using blanket statements like "most movie goers" as unless you have interviewed all of them, generalisations replace fact and your opinions replace the consensus. And I mean that about any film, not just ROYALE - which I highly rate and love, by the way.
And I didn't say that Quantum Of Solace was disliked by all critics. I said the film's reviews were mixed, meaning a significant portion were positive and a significant portion were negative.
I will grant you that Bond does not need reviews. He's bigger than critics. After nearly 50 years of generating good will among the public with 22+ films and the producers trying to give the people what they want--a good time--most cinema-goers know what they have in Bond and will go see his films regardless of the critics' reviews.