11 replies to this topic

[avl]

It's doing good business, but reports continue that not everyone is taking Solace in Solace. That and Craig's comments about subterranean bases and hollowed out volcanoes got me thinking...

is QoS too serious for its times? Recession, economic doom and gloom - would a "larger than life" Bond film be a better fit with the mood of a public looking for a bit of escapism for a couple of hours?

Is QoS too gritty and edgy for its own good?

[coco1997]

Interesting question, but "DAD" was released in a post-9/11 world and most people thought that sucked, too.

[NotAnAcronym]

It would have been bad timing if it came out any later, as with Obama in the White House, I think most international audiences won't buy the "evil Americans" plot that easily...

[Invincible1958]

That's right.

In 2 years the worldwide "feeling" will be different than it is today. So Bond 23 has to be different again.

[Bondian]

It's doing good business, but reports continue that not everyone is taking Solace in Solace. That and Craig's comments about subterranean bases and hollowed out volcanoes got me thinking...

is QoS too serious for its times? Recession, economic doom and gloom - would a "larger than life" Bond film be a better fit with the mood of a public looking for a bit of escapism for a couple of hours?

Is QoS too gritty and edgy for its own good?

If we forget the revenge plot, Quantum of Solace would site quite nicely between Die Another Day and Casino Royale. IMHO, the style (ie cinematography) is on a par with Die Another Day. Some of the action just looks fake, and as for that fast cutting, most of the good stuff probably lies on the cutting room floor.

For me. Bond films have always been about escapism, glamorous locations, a great baddie and hot females. Licence to Kill had a kind of revenge aspect, but still had all the good ingredients that make a Bond film.

I accept the old formular should be updated. But not go to the extreme of stripping Bond of all his identity just to go in another direction.

[lavabubble]

is QoS too serious for its times? Recession, economic doom and gloom - would a "larger than life" Bond film be a better fit with the mood of a public looking for a bit of escapism for a couple of hours?

Is QoS too gritty and edgy for its own good?

I think it depends on what type of audience you're going for. The sort of people that want total escapism would probably find that better serviced by a comedy or something not so much a part of a franchise such as Bond where there isn't a lot of room for manoeuvre given the strong feeling and fan base about it.

Or they could just stay at home and watch the X Factor

[avl]

Well it is certainly a polarising film for fans...

Reports I'm getting from the real world are decidedly mixed. One person loved it (but felt it was definitely inferior to CR), another fell asleep during it, one thought the ending was lame, another gave the action 8 out of 10 and the plot 6 out of 10, 4 teenagers found it dull and unexciting...

I'm not feeling the love out there for this one...

[SecretAgentFan]

It would be very illuminating to know which films these people would rate better.

What about a teenager who thought QOS was lame but would say that TRANSFORMERS is the best movie ever made?

[avl]

Hey we were all teenagers once

My point, or concern, is that the people I mentioned, not Bond fans, but who like Bond and were all looking forward to seeing QoS. Their reaction has been mixed, at best. For all QoS' virtues it does not seem to be "going over" with the general public as well as we might like.

Of course I'm aware this is purely anecdotal - but as my work place's "token Bond fan" people tend to tell me what they think without my asking

CR was a decidedly emotional film and I'm starting to wonder if QoS is too "cool" - in a number of senses of the word - to succeed as a follow up

[SecretAgentFan]

Hey, in my mind I always will be a teenager!

What I meant to say was this: it´s all subjective. The general public´s like or dislike can only be measured in the box office. That seems to be pretty good, maybe even better than last time.

Also, every new Bond is another chance to win over those who did not like the last one. And I´m very sure that Bond 23 will be "warmer" and "more traditional" (although I must say that I find QOS at least as emotional as CR, if not even more so). Since the Bond films always are a sign of their times, the changing zeitgeist will influence the making of 23 as well again.

[Zorin Industries]

QUANTUM OF SOLACE will make more money than CASINO ROYALE. Why? Because it is a better film, a shorter film, a tighter film, a film with no real box office rivals and a Bond film is known entity. People go to see a Bond film that don't go to the cinema any other time of the year.

[David Schofield]

Because of inherant quality and the fact that it is an event movie, Bond is pretty recession proof.

Those effected by the recession will still treat themselves to a new Bond movie as a bit of escapism, and good night out. And those that see every Bond film three, four times or more are probably recession proof - pre-mortgage, living will parents, students or surviving on some kind EON/press handout or even being in the movie!