Jump to content


This is a read only archive of the old forums
The new CBn forums are located at https://quarterdeck.commanderbond.net/

 
Photo

Quantum of Solace - the most feral Bond film


58 replies to this topic

#1 Pierce - Daniel

Pierce - Daniel

    Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • PipPip
  • 719 posts

Posted 11 February 2011 - 11:59 PM

Today I decided to rewatch QOS, it was the fist time I had seen it since buying the DVD almost 2 years ago.
So...how was it. Well I really enjoyed myself. The opening of the film is so well done, and the shots used are inspired, I think the Aston chase may in face be the best pre title sequence, from the moment you see the mountain and the sea and the music starting to rise up you know your on to a winner.

Jack White's song has aged well imo, and fits really well. One thing I really noticed is the energy around those opening minutes, what with pretitles and the main titles playing, I couldnt keep the grin ff my face and then things went a little wrong.

The probelms with the film seem to come out in the first half. This is mostly down to poor editting choices. The film moves too quickly, and the story suffers for it. The film totally forgets t give us a plot till around half an hour into the film and due to this bad story telling device, we end up with a prolonged scene with Green, Camille and Medrano. It runs too long adn the whole plot is crammed in, so essential the film dosent need to worry about dealing with any more plot points untill another half hour in. This is a major flaw as Bond spends so little time on screen in Haiti.

The action is brilliant though and I really love it, but you need something for it all to hinge of and Solace dosent have it in the opening half, theres nothing too engaging about it. Though there are great scenes, I love the Mr White interrogation, it plays so well and anything with Judi Dench is stellar.


The films second half is very good mind, bascially from the moment Bond gets to Tosca and meets Mathis. Forster shows his genius in the Tosca scenes, it carrys such great energy to it, and is relentless. I loved it, the music throughout it really set you on the edge of your seat. It is possibly one of the best segments in any Bond film, and is so artfully done.

One thing Forster does so well is capture the locations, yu really get a sense of the travelling as you go from one country to another. He really gets to the nitty gritty of each location, almost like hes shooting an enirely new film when we find ourselves in a new locale. What adds to each location is David Arnold's score, to often before Arnold spent his days trying to copy John Barry, and failing. Here he seems to tear up he rule book and go for a completely new sound which is really fitting for the movie and very different, in particular the night at the opera music and the music that plays for the latter part of the Haiti segment when Bond is alone on the boat and rides back to port with Camille passed out ext to him.

Forster is a great director, and some of his angles are really well done, there are some odds shots int he film like when Mitchell runs through the square or the aston first pulls to the safe house, I really loved them, it all felt very Hitchcockian and abstract. One thing he does so well is rip such a great performances from his actors. Craig is on fire, there is something about him when he looks at the camera, he has such a presence. Olga is amazing, a real talent and brings so much to the role. Giannia and Dench are brilliant and the chemistry the pair share with Craig is evident on screen. Amalric is such a great villian, and I think it a sin Greene can't be considered to have a place in the villain hall of fame, I love his intense creepy aura, it reminds me of Peter Lorre. There's this great creepy little man syndrome ging on.

Craig though is the heartbeat of the film and carrys it entirely. He is bloody good. I love the reckless nature of his Bond, you never quite know what he will do next, hes never calculated, he just goes ina nd sees what happens. Its such a bold step to take Bond, casue hes typical seen as being the one man you can rely on to have a plan. Craig though brings this great feral energy. His Bond is like a wild animal that had been allowed to run amok with a gun. He is truly inspired in the part. Not only though can he do the physical side of things, but his acting is top notch. Mathis's death is so well handled and truly is handbreaking as is Bond holding Camille in the burning building. All the scenes with Dench sizzle and his moments with he has such a great relaxed nature with Giancarlo.

All in all the film has aged well in the last 2 years and makes for a good re-watch, if for nothing else then to simply seen Daniel Craig firing on all cylinders.

Edited by Pierce - Daniel, 13 February 2011 - 11:51 AM.


#2 JimmyBond

JimmyBond

    Commander

  • Executive Officers
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 10559 posts
  • Location:Washington

Posted 12 February 2011 - 06:51 AM

I'm not saying this to be a dick, but if you want people to read that you might want to put in a few paragraph breaks.

People generally don't like reading long walls of text.

#3 blueman

blueman

    Lt. Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPip
  • 2219 posts

Posted 12 February 2011 - 08:50 AM

I read it! Great write-up I thought (should this be a new paragraph?), nice insights into the acting, direction, and script - although I like the plot handled in those almost too brief bursts, kept me on my toes, much prefer keeping up with Bond than relaxing with him (ala those middle decades of the series, ugh!). "Feral" is a great one-word summation of QOS and Craig's performance in it, nice job. :tup:

#4 dogmanstar

dogmanstar

    Sub-Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • Pip
  • 446 posts
  • Location:Pennsylvania

Posted 12 February 2011 - 03:51 PM

Forster is a great director, and some of his angles are really well done, there are some odds shots int he film like when Mitchell runs through the square or the aston first pulls to the safe house, I really loved them, it all felt very Hitchcockian and abstract.


I really like your review here and though the word feral never came to mind, I'm continually struck by how great Forster's direction is. The scene that does it for me is the awful beauty and silence of the curtains in the hotel room in Haiti after a brutal moment full of death and horridness. In the cinema, it took my breath away and that scene still sticks with me--it moved me on a very emotional, gut, feral (?) level.

#5 Simon

Simon

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 5884 posts
  • Location:England

Posted 12 February 2011 - 04:09 PM

My eyes have just died and gone to hell, seeing that lot.

Could you go back in and throw in a few paragraphs and spaces, there's a good chap.

#6 byline

byline

    Lt. Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPip
  • 1218 posts
  • Location:Canada

Posted 12 February 2011 - 04:55 PM

Good grief, so the poster didn't double-space between paragraphs. There are separate paragraphs, so it's not like it was written as one long, rambling paragraph.

Interesting choice of words, "feral"; I would've used "visceral" because for me, that's closer to describing the experience that Forster was aiming for (and succeeding in getting in several, though not all, scenes). But feral is apt, too.

#7 Simon

Simon

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 5884 posts
  • Location:England

Posted 13 February 2011 - 01:15 AM

You're right. In this world where every opinion has to fight for space and be sold to the populace, presentation counts for nought!

Mild saracasm side, really, stick a few paras in bub. I'm not asking for art.

#8 Pierce - Daniel

Pierce - Daniel

    Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • PipPip
  • 719 posts

Posted 14 February 2011 - 03:04 PM

Sorted

I think Forster does a great job that seems to have been forgotton, the script though is not as witty and as CR, but appears to be more policitally driven in terms of the dialogue. Which is a welcome change, but Bond works best when the wit is there, though QOS does have a lot of zingers scattered throughout the script, I think the best dialogue is reserved for Amalric, who really goes with it, 'i have a pest' great line.

I think the quiet soft moments seems to be where Froster excells, so the fact they are so scarse is upsetting, but when they come, they really hit the film out the park. I mean take Mathis and Bond on the plane, or Mathis's death scene, Bond and Camille in the desert, the confrontation with Yusef, and my personal favourate, the mercy killing scene with Camille. That scene in particular really gets me everytime. The parraels with the Vesper shower scene are there, and it really just sums the movie up so well. Very powerfully moment.

#9 Simon

Simon

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 5884 posts
  • Location:England

Posted 14 February 2011 - 05:38 PM

Sorted

Many thanks sir - much appreciated.

Duly read and absorbed.

#10 Eric Stromberg

Eric Stromberg

    Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • PipPip
  • 612 posts
  • Location:City by the sea--2700 mi NW of GE

Posted 14 February 2011 - 09:42 PM

Excellent review and your points are well taken in my opinion. QoS will age very well. Forster made subtle, artful directorial choices and you point some of those out well. It's a pretty light touch he is working with for the most part and perhaps subdued compared to CR's more brash approach (which I also love). I think it is the right pitch for where the story with Vesper was ending up.

I have to say that I'm glad Forster did not return for another film right after QoS. I need a rollicking, full throttle 007 adventure after QoS and that wouldn't play to Forster's strengths. He really seems to excel in the quiet, gripping moments after the action's gone down and the consequences are hanging in the air around the characters. I'd like to see him back in the future though for the right Bond project.

#11 univex

univex

    Lt. Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPip
  • 2310 posts

Posted 14 February 2011 - 11:21 PM

Your views on QOS are spot on. Even if my expectations were not 100% met when I saw it, and even now, I still like it. (and it opens with a Alfa Romeo laiden pursuit, awesome!)

#12 JimmyBond

JimmyBond

    Commander

  • Executive Officers
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 10559 posts
  • Location:Washington

Posted 15 February 2011 - 06:36 AM

Sorted


:tup:

I read it too. I quite agree with all of it. I do have the sense from Craig's Bond that he is the type of person who plays things as they happen.

#13 witgob

witgob

    Cadet

  • Crew
  • 16 posts

Posted 20 February 2011 - 04:16 AM

I, too re-watched QOS after some considerable time last night (watched it on the telly - even though I've got it on DVD..). Anyhoo, it DOES stack up well. I'm not a huge action fan - I mean i like it, but loathe it when it drags on for too long (ie: the last PotC movie). The actions scenes were awesome.
I really liked the review above, and mostly agree with it. Loved the opening, later on a few slow bits, but that's OK. Agree about the quietness after the fight & death in the hotel in Haiti & Mathis' death. Really like the nods & parallels to CR (& Goldfinger), and the last scene was so un-Bond and powerful without adding all the stuff that made me turn off.
Olga Kurylenko was great for the part, and I hope we see more of her. Liked the Felix stuff, interesting. Lots of strings to follow for the future.
Roll on the next one!

#14 Vanish

Vanish

    Sub-Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • Pip
  • 236 posts

Posted 21 February 2011 - 02:16 AM

As someone who was initially a little let down by Quantum of Solace, I agree with this write up.

While it's not nearly as well constructed as Casino Royale, I think it's actually a "bolder" and, as the original poster says, a more "feral" Bond outing. I think time will be kind to it, especially as we have some distance from its release.

My main issues in regards to Quantum is the story, which seems to get frequently tangled up, and the lack of a compelling antagonist. Also, for being a "direct" sequel, it simply doesn't justify its ties to Royale, as it really fails to address any of CR's loose ends in any truly meaningful way. It's handled at the end of the picture, and by that point, it's an afterthought.

Otherwise, Craig is fantastic, the girls are great, I love David Arnold's score, and there are a number of classic little Bond moments throughout the movie that tend to get overlooked. It may not add up to a 100% satisfying whole, but I think it's an enjoyable Bond adventure more often than not.

#15 DR76

DR76

    Lt. Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPip
  • 1673 posts

Posted 09 March 2011 - 09:35 PM

The most feral? Hmmm. Maybe. However, I believe "LICENSE TO KILL" and "FOR YOUR EYES ONLY" can give it stiff competition in that description.

#16 solace

solace

    Sub-Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • Pip
  • 284 posts
  • Location:North of England

Posted 09 March 2011 - 10:14 PM

As someone who was initially a little let down by Quantum of Solace, I agree with this write up.

While it's not nearly as well constructed as Casino Royale, I think it's actually a "bolder" and, as the original poster says, a more "feral" Bond outing. I think time will be kind to it, especially as we have some distance from its release.

My main issues in regards to Quantum is the story, which seems to get frequently tangled up, and the lack of a compelling antagonist. Also, for being a "direct" sequel, it simply doesn't justify its ties to Royale, as it really fails to address any of CR's loose ends in any truly meaningful way. It's handled at the end of the picture, and by that point, it's an afterthought.

Otherwise, Craig is fantastic, the girls are great, I love David Arnold's score, and there are a number of classic little Bond moments throughout the movie that tend to get overlooked. It may not add up to a 100% satisfying whole, but I think it's an enjoyable Bond adventure more often than not.


I agree. QOS gets a good hiding which I dont think it deserves. I believe history will be kind to it. I watched this film not sure what to expect having first read so many not so great reviews on here but found I loved it.

#17 Capsule in Space

Capsule in Space

    Sub-Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • Pip
  • 228 posts

Posted 10 March 2011 - 04:56 AM

Before Daniel Craig, James Bond saved the world. Now he just provides less expensive water bills to Bolivians. Don't get me wrong, increasing the water supply to Bolivia is a noble cause. Such a subject could even make for a great documentary on Discovery Channel, but it also makes for the worst plot for a Bond film in the history of the franchise. I know many of you will disagree with me, and that is fine.

In short: horrible plot, horrible casting (i.e. Craig as Bond), horrible editing and direction (the opening car chase could induce vomiting with all of its shaking and jumping). The worse Bond film ever made. 0 out of 4 stars.

#18 The Shark

The Shark

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 4650 posts
  • Location:London

Posted 10 March 2011 - 02:52 PM

I agree with this thread's title. QUANTUM OF SOLACE should be put down.

#19 Mr. Blofeld

Mr. Blofeld

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 9173 posts
  • Location:North Smithfield, RI, USA

Posted 10 March 2011 - 03:20 PM

Get a room, you two... :rolleyes:

#20 Capsule in Space

Capsule in Space

    Sub-Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • Pip
  • 228 posts

Posted 10 March 2011 - 10:19 PM

Get a room, you two... :rolleyes:


We couldn't, even if we wanted to, because all the rooms in the hotel are being taking up by participants of the "Daniel Craig Fanboy Retreat". ;)

#21 jaguar007

jaguar007

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 5608 posts
  • Location:Portland OR

Posted 10 March 2011 - 10:24 PM

horrible casting (i.e. Craig as Bond),

Netgeek, is that you???

#22 Capsule in Space

Capsule in Space

    Sub-Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • Pip
  • 228 posts

Posted 10 March 2011 - 10:36 PM


horrible casting (i.e. Craig as Bond),

Netgeek, is that you???


Is "Netgeek" a name someone uses on forums? No, that isn't me. I don't have the experience, nor the ability, with the Internet to gloss myself "Netgeek". Ask Jim, I couldn't even get my signature image to work right, and I am still unsure if it is right. That's after taking about fifteen minutes trying upload the image in the first place.

#23 cpt. sir dominic flandry

cpt. sir dominic flandry

    Cadet

  • Crew
  • 14 posts

Posted 11 March 2011 - 09:05 PM

In my opinion it is easily the worst Bond movie ever made; a depressing mess that even many big fans of Craig admit is awful.

It must also be a candidate for the worst movie ever made too!

#24 Jim

Jim

    Commander RNVR

  • Commanding Officers
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 14266 posts
  • Location:Oxfordshire

Posted 11 March 2011 - 09:08 PM

In my opinion it is easily the worst Bond movie ever made; a depressing mess that even many big fans of Craig admit is awful.

It must also be a candidate for the worst movie ever made too!


Welcome to CBn.

#25 Jump James

Jump James

    Sub-Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • Pip
  • 293 posts

Posted 11 March 2011 - 09:17 PM

In my opinion it is easily the worst Bond movie ever made; a depressing mess that even many big fans of Craig admit is awful.

It must also be a candidate for the worst movie ever made too!


Well I for one love it and I am enjoying the Craig era. Seems to be very retro all this, Craig bashing.

#26 Mr. Arlington Beech

Mr. Arlington Beech

    Lt. Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPip
  • 1112 posts

Posted 12 March 2011 - 02:11 AM

In my opinion it is easily the worst Bond movie ever made; a depressing mess that even many big fans of Craig admit is awful.

It must also be a candidate for the worst movie ever made too!

What about a middle term... For me it's just a regular Bond movie, very far from the high quality shown in CR, but also above from the comic book level of the Brosnan era.

#27 Capsule in Space

Capsule in Space

    Sub-Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • Pip
  • 228 posts

Posted 12 March 2011 - 06:14 AM

In my opinion it is easily the worst Bond movie ever made; a depressing mess that even many big fans of Craig admit is awful.

It must also be a candidate for the worst movie ever made too!


I've seen some bad films, but QOS would be a tough candidate to beat in a primary run!

#28 00Twelve

00Twelve

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 7706 posts
  • Location:Kingsport, TN

Posted 12 March 2011 - 08:25 AM

There was definitely some of that "feral" energy in the movie which brought my mind back to the physical confrontations of the early Fleming stories (though nothing captures that atmosphere like the CR PTS). That being said, I'm certainly ready for some more fun and relaxation next time around.

#29 Bryce (003)

Bryce (003)

    Commander RNVR

  • Commanding Officers
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 10110 posts
  • Location:West Los Angeles, California USA

Posted 12 March 2011 - 03:05 PM

QoS has certainly grown on me. It's been running on my local movie channels here and I caught it again the other morning.

I did a little experiment a year ago or so. As an editor, I just blended it with CR.

It became the perfect four hour/six act Bond epic. It even turned around a few friends who were let down or didn't like QoS.

I took all of CR up to the end. At the "Bond, James Bond" I cut right to the opening shot of QoS and negated the title credits sequence. It actually rolls along quite fab.

The big part of people's disdain was that despite all the PR and interviews, the notion just didn't get through the fact that was not just another 007 adventure but a continuation of the previous film.

Clearly, as Bond fans, we got the message, but for the general public movie going masses, it didn't sink in.

I knew what the concept was and liked what I got.

#30 jaguar007

jaguar007

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 5608 posts
  • Location:Portland OR

Posted 12 March 2011 - 04:41 PM

I agree with Bryce that the film grew on me after a couple viewings. When I saw it at a midnight screening when it opened, it was followed by the theater showing a 9PM showing of CR, so I was able to catch both films one right after another. However, I sort of felt that may have done a disservice to QoS because I felt CR was very superior. My biggest problem with the first viewing was that everything happened so fast. After a few viewings I was able to let things sink in and enjoy the ride. I think there was a very good Bond film in there, but it was too short to really flesh out the story and characters and the action was edited a little too fast.

Bryce, oops, I meant to give you a +1 on your post but I think I accidentally gave you a -1. I am going to find a couple others posts of yours and give you a +1.