]I doubt anyone will be interested to read this after the flood of member reviews since last Friday – anyway, I’m mainly typing this to collect my own thoughts.
Leaving the cinema in London last Wednesday, I felt extremely disappointed. As a few CBNers can testify, I called the film ‘rubbish’ repeatedly. The main thing was, though, that I had completely not understood the story at all. The film seemed to move so incredibly quickly I felt myself wanting to press ‘rewind’ many times when watching it, just so I could figure out what the hell was happening, and mostly, why.
I thought it a bit unfair to really judge the film when there was so much I’d seemingly missed, so today I took the opportunity to see it again, here, in Amsterdam.
The subtitles helped. The subtitles helped enormously. My English is fine, but there were some characters (coughMedranocough) that I just didn’t comprehend at all, so at last, today I found out what the hell Greene and he were up to. In fact, I finally understood pretty much all of the story (although there are still a few things…), and so the film didn’t seem to move so fast today anymore, and suddenly, unexpectedly… I found myself…
…bored.
Yes. There is so little about this film that interests me. The only scene that really does that is the final one, with Yusuf. Because that moves the story along. That shows us Bond’s resolving something. The rest of the film… seems so pointless somehow. Supposedly there is some progress made with finding out more about Quantum, but we miss most of that. And of course, a coup is stopped and precious water returned to a people, but it hardly feels important. And then what are we left with, exactly? Bond’s personal development? I only see some vague hints of that in the scenes with Mathis (some of the best in the film) and finally at the end of the film. But I missed it in the rest of the story – and I’m honestly jealous of other fans who seem to find that deeper level throughout the whole film. And then the whole ‘trust’ thing. I mean, we get it. Quantum is everywhere. They have moles in many secret services. The CIA is being naughty, etc. I like the realism of this, but I still don’t see what it is Bond takes away from all this, exactly. After Vesper, he’s already learned his lesson, hasn’t he?
THE ACTION.
I like my action. But I like it a lot more if I can understand what is going on. The film would definitely have benefited from some pulling back with the camera. Oh well, I guess it’s what all the cool kids are doing nowadays.
I do very much dislike it when action scenes appear to be thrown in just because the filmmakers think the audience needs another action scene. The boat chase comes to mind. What, exactly is the point of this? Camille tried to shoot him 30 minutes earlier, so now Bond rushes in to rescue her? And what is it, exactly, that makes him decide she’s in danger, anyway? He couldn’t hear what Greene and Medrano were saying. And even if, maybe it would benefit him to know why Mr. White’s organisation wanted Camille dead, so then why leave her again at the nearest harbour (‘seasick’)? I don’t get it. Also, the dogfight/freefall scene. Unnecessary, IMHO.
THE GIRLS.
I’m really, really, underwhelmed by the Bond girls. When I think they should have been one of the more interesting parts of the film. I was dying to see how Bond would act towards women after Vesper. And then something really strange happens when Bond and Fields are in the hotel room. “I can’t find the stationary. Help me look?” I’m sorry, what? That almost sounded like something Roger Moore’s Bond would say. Not Daniel Craig’s Bond. He’s just kissing her back and smiling at her a lot. Let us not forget, people, that this is the first woman Bond sleeps with after the love of his life breaks his
ing heart. And no, I wasn’t expecting for him to break down in cry (oh please God no), but I would have liked to see SOME kind of… something. He should have been meaner to her. Not caring exactly what her name was or what she had to say. Just using her. I would have liked to see Bond consciously using her to make himself feel better for an hour or two.Camille. I don’t know. I’m terribly excited to get the Gala Brand thing and have a Bond Girl that doesn’t sleep with Bond, but… did it have to be her? I like her backstory, it’s tragic, but I don’t exactly see the madness in her that she would have if she really wanted revenge that badly. And aside from that, we don’t really get to know her. She’s fine, but she could have been much more memorable, I think.
SO…
This film is a film of moments for me. Little moments that I loved. Cool moments, harsh moments, touching moments, funny moments.
LIKE…
Bond and M. Great chemistry.
Bond flipping over the motorcycle. Damn yes.
Bond preparing to shoot Camille.
Teachers on sabbatical.
The hard-edged professionalism that is perhaps professionalism just to put up a wall and not face the horror of reality – patiently waiting for Slate to bleed to death, dumping Mathis in the garbage, etc.
Bond drunk.
Opening the trunk after the car chase.
Etc.
BUT…
But as a whole, the story is terribly forgettable. I’m not sure yet how I’ll rank this film in time. I’ll probably still prefer it over stuff like Moonraker, just because I don’t like the silliness of the Moore era and because Daniel Craig is made of awesome – he’s the best thing about Quantum of Solace. But honestly? Give me some of the Brosnan films over this any day.
It’s just a shame. A real shame.
Bring on Bond 23.
