30 replies to this topic

[Harmsway]

Alright, after letting the flick sit a bit, I've finally pulled together a review. Make of it what you will:

QUANTUM OF SOLACE: A Review

[bondrules]

Excellent post Harmsway!

[CM007]

Alright, after letting the flick sit a bit, I've finally pulled together a review. Make of it what you will:

QUANTUM OF SOLACE: A Review

Have to say I really enjoyed your revies although I still think Connery is a far better actor than Craig.
Oh I noticed the trailer to Watchmen.Just started reading the comics or graphic novel,not sure what one calls them in English.A jolly good read I might say so.

[Loomis]

If there is any significant problem with Quantum of Solace, it's that, even at its brisk 106 minutes, it's too long. There are at least two action sequences that should have been excised at the script stage (a rather pedestrian boat chase and a dull airplane dogfight)

Agreed with all that.

I know I'm risking people's wrath even mentioning this, but how would you rank QUANTUM OF SOLACE against the Bourne films and particularly against SUPREMACY and ULTIMATUM (which seem to me to be closer to QoS than IDENTITY)?

[ACE]

The cinematic Bond franchise is something of a dinosaur. It's been around for close to 50 years, and now spans a massive total of 22 films. But even though you'd suspect Bond had finally run out of air, James Bond is still at the top of his game. 2006's back-to-basics, character-driven Casino Royale showed that Bond had plenty of previously untapped resources, and while not quite as coherent or groundbreaking, Quantum of Solace continues the trend by pushing Bond as a character.

Quantum of Solace picks up literally ten minutes or so after Casino Royale left off, thrusting us into the middle of a rollicking car chase through the Italian countryside. It's a stunning set-piece, with breakneck editing and stuntwork, and lets you know that this Bond means business.

Bond's out for some closure (hence the title, which essentially translates to "a measure of comfort") after the death of the love of his life, Vesper Lynd, in Casino Royale. But as much as Quantum of Solace presents a personal mission for Bond, it's not just a vendetta. In a terse conversation with his superior, "M" (played with great charm by Dame Judi Dench), Bond claims, "I'm motivated by my duty," and he means it.

Here, Craig cements his position as the best Bond actor the series has ever had. With his piercing blue eyes and rugged face, he brings a heretofore unseen level of weight to the character, while maintaining the charm, style, and elegance that made the character an icon. Never before has Bond been so interesting. But Craig's not only the "actor's Bond," but the ultimate "action Bond," as well, with his toned physique and relentless physicality in the action scenes. Craig's Bond tears through his foes like a twister through a Kansas barn.

And along the way, Bond bumps into a varierty of interesting faces. The foe this time out is Dominic Greene, played with creepy malice by The Diving Bell and the Butterfly's Matthieu Amalric. With his short stature and odd eyes, he's less the cat-stroking supervillain and more of the slimy businessman, a villain of our times. Greene's girlfriend is the exotic Camille (Hitman's Olga Kurylenko), who will be owned by nobody and has an agenda of her own. Giancarlo Giannini and Jeffrey Wright return from Casino Royale as Bond's allies Rene Mathis and Felix Leiter, respectively, and Gemma Arterton makes a brief, but amusing, appearance as Agent Fields (watch the end credits for her humorous first name).

The locations are dazzling, from the bowels, streets, and rootops of Siena, Italy, to a floating opera stage in Bregenz, Italy, to the stark and dusty deserts of South America. They're all captured beautifully, thanks to the sensibilities of director Marc Forster (Monster's Ball, Finding Neverland, Stranger Than Fiction). Forster's vision hearkens back to the Bond films of yore while retaining a decidedly contemporary edge, from Roberto Schaefer's elegant cinematography to Dennis Gassner's production design. If nothing else, Quantum of Solace is a remarkably pretty film.

But thankfully, it's not just a soulless vehicle. While Dominic Greene's plot, which has more than a few echoes of Roman Polanski's Chinatown, might not be the most engaging storyline in Bond history, it provides an adequate backdrop for Bond's development as a character. There are some terrific character moments sprinkled throughout, including a brief glimpse of a drunk, brooding Bond (a nice wink at the Bond of Ian Fleming's novels) and a grim homage to Goldfinger.

If there is any significant problem with Quantum of Solace, it's that, even at its brisk 106 minutes, it's too long. There are at least two action sequences that should have been excised at the script stage (a rather pedestrian boat chase and a dull airplane dogfight), but they're not enough to sink the film. Quantum of Solace is a great ride, and demonstrates that Bond isn't going out of style anytime soon.

Nice words, Harmsway. Glad you enjoyed it.

[bondrules]

These were the cons I posted on my review last week.

Cons

•M’s office. It looked like it came from DAD. I hated it.

•There are little things. Like the unnecessary boat chase, or the lack of explanation of why Bond decides to help Camille.

•The plane looked CGI’ed right before it becomes toast. The fall was a little out there.

•I'm sad Mathis is gone. I hate Fleming originals dying. And he was played brilliantly.

•I do think that the movie could have used a little more of those quiet moments.

•AWTD. It's an awful song, but it didn't bother me much while it played. I was too entertained by MK12's brilliant job.



I would think that Harmsway would agree with most of these points.

[Harmsway]

I know I'm risking people's wrath even mentioning this, but how would you rank QUANTUM OF SOLACE against the Bourne films and particularly against SUPREMACY and ULTIMATUM (which seem to me to be closer to QoS than IDENTITY)?

Hurm.

1. THE BOURNE SUPREMACY
2. QUANTUM OF SOLACE
3. THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM

As much as I prefer Craig's Bond to Damon's Bourne, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY is a better put-together flick than QUANTUM OF SOLACE is, and is more thrilling, to boot. But I'll give QUANTUM OF SOLACE the edge over ULTIMATUM.

[bondrules]

BTW, I gave QoS a 9/10...for me the pros outweigh the cons.

Edited by bondrules, 14 November 2008 - 10:37 PM.

[Loomis]

I know I'm risking people's wrath even mentioning this, but how would you rank QUANTUM OF SOLACE against the Bourne films and particularly against SUPREMACY and ULTIMATUM (which seem to me to be closer to QoS than IDENTITY)?

Hurm.

1. THE BOURNE SUPREMACY
2. QUANTUM OF SOLACE
3. THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM

As much as I prefer Craig's Bond to Damon's Bourne, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY is a better put-together flick than QUANTUM OF SOLACE is, and is more thrilling, to boot. But I'll give QUANTUM OF SOLACE the edge over ULTIMATUM.

I'd probably agree, even though I hold ULTIMATUM in much higher regard than you do. My ranking of Bourne and Craig-era Bond:

1. CASINO ROYALE
2. THE BOURNE SUPREMACY
3. THE BOURNE IDENTITY
4. QUANTUM OF SOLACE
5. THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM

[Harmsway]

I would think that Harmsway would agree with most of these points.

You don't have to guess, I'll let you know what I think of em.

•M’s office. It looked like it came from DAD. I hated it.

I didn't mind it, actually. I know some folks hate its very technological aesthetic, and futuristic MINORITY REPORT-style graphics table, but I thought it was an interesting change of pace. Could have used a bit more warmth, though.

•There are little things. Like the unnecessary boat chase, or the lack of explanation of why Bond decides to help Camille.

Well, I've already expressed my dislike for the boat chase. But as far as Bond helping Camille, I'm pretty sure it's because he has a thing for chicks in danger and knew that she was going to her death (after all, Bond had just realized that he was impersonating an assassin who was going to kill her). But I'm not quite sure why Bond dumps her immediately after saving her... I would have thought she would have been useful for information.

•The plane looked CGI’ed right before it becomes toast. The fall was a little out there.

The plane's appearance didn't bother me much, but the fall was a poor choice. Even moreso than its questionable appropriateness for a Craig Bond flick, it looked rather fake. At least MOONRAKER's was done for real.

•I'm sad Mathis is gone. I hate Fleming originals dying. And he was played brilliantly.

I didn't mind him dying. His death scene was one of the best moments of the film.

•I do think that the movie could have used a little more of those quiet moments.

I was fine with the quantity we had. Some of them could have been drawn out a bit longer than they were, but I don't think we needed some more of them.

•AWTD. It's an awful song, but it didn't bother me much while it played. I was too entertained by MK12's brilliant job.

While I loved MK12's location cards, I thought the title sequence was unimpressive. It's not the style I minded so much, but rather the lack of memorable imagery. It pales in comparison to Kleinman's work on CASINO ROYALE.

[MattofSteel]

These were the cons I posted on my review last week.

Cons

•M’s office. It looked like it came from DAD. I hated it.

Really? I kind of liked it. Lacked personality, but had a certain time-pushing quality to it that I feel will date well. Just wish we'd seen more of it.

•There are little things. Like the unnecessary boat chase, or the lack of explanation of why Bond decides to help Camille.


Boat chase didn't bother me in terms of uselessness. You pull that and the plane dogfight out, and you've got a REALLY empty film in terms of major set pieces after Sienna (outside of the climax).

RE: Camille. Bond was only there to spy on Greene and get that tracking thing from Elvis' phone. He manipulated his relationship with Camille (ie, business card) to get that. Had Camille not gotten herself into trouble, Bond would have probably just faded into the distance and waited for the report on Greene.

But James Bond is quite the classical hero, isn't he?

He saw this girl was clearly in over her head with some vicious thugs who were about to do whatever to her. So he intervened. He thought he was helping, being a very classically heroic James Bond - not realizing he was working against her entire plan (as their conversation in the sinkhole later reveals).

•The plane looked CGI’ed right before it becomes toast. The fall was a little out there.

This sequence does feel a tad out of step contextually, although not visually. As far as CGI goes, I thought it looked great. Hey, every film with even mediocre to good CGI is another step toward refining the technology until we have photorealistic CGI (which no one's going to change), so I say, let them try.

•I'm sad Mathis is gone. I hate Fleming originals dying. And he was played brilliantly.

Not really a fan of the idea either. I mean from a creative point of view I get it - what else could be done with his character? But I'll miss him, and I think that in the near future films, the producers might too.

•I do think that the movie could have used a little more of those quiet moments.

They were great, weren't they.

•AWTD. It's an awful song, but it didn't bother me much while it played. I was too entertained by MK12's brilliant job.

It's strange. Musically, it's terrible. At a visceral level, though, I don't mind it. It's trying to be a sort of contemporary Goldfinger, and I can appreciate their intention more than their final effort. And somehow - up against the perfectly satisfactory yet somehow forgettable main titles - the song works. Don't ask me to explain why.


I would think that Harmsway would agree with most of these points.

I know I'm risking people's wrath even mentioning this, but how would you rank QUANTUM OF SOLACE against the Bourne films and particularly against SUPREMACY and ULTIMATUM (which seem to me to be closer to QoS than IDENTITY)?

Hurm.

1. THE BOURNE SUPREMACY
2. QUANTUM OF SOLACE
3. THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM

As much as I prefer Craig's Bond to Damon's Bourne, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY is a better put-together flick than QUANTUM OF SOLACE is, and is more thrilling, to boot. But I'll give QUANTUM OF SOLACE the edge over ULTIMATUM.

I'd agree here. I loved Supremacy, epileptic seizures aside it was a masterful spy film. Ultimatum was slightly underhwleming from a script point of view, despite having some cracking action.

And before someone leaps on THAT quote and says "Don't you mean Quantum of Solace?", save it. I'll readily admit the script was thinner than CR's, but not necessarily worse.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Great Job Harms.

[marktmurphy]

I know I'm risking people's wrath even mentioning this, but how would you rank QUANTUM OF SOLACE against the Bourne films and particularly against SUPREMACY and ULTIMATUM (which seem to me to be closer to QoS than IDENTITY)?

Hurm.

1. THE BOURNE SUPREMACY
2. QUANTUM OF SOLACE
3. THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM

As much as I prefer Craig's Bond to Damon's Bourne, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY is a better put-together flick than QUANTUM OF SOLACE is, and is more thrilling, to boot. But I'll give QUANTUM OF SOLACE the edge over ULTIMATUM.

I'd agree with that. Ultimatum's action scenes and suspence set pieces beat every one of Quantum's, however there isn't anything else in the film- Quantum is more of a fully-rounded movie, even if I don't think that they'd properly worked out what they were trying to achieve with it.
Supremacy's a great filom, and although I love Casino Royale, there is a little too much of the whiff of compromise about it. I love a pure and simple concept, and Supremacy is probably purer.

[JimmyBond]

Excellent review Harms. Out of all the members on this site your review was the one I was most eager to read.

Only five more hours for me.

[Genrewriter]

Good review, I feel pretty much the same way.

[Harmsway]

Out of all the members on this site your review was the one I was most eager to read.

You're very kind. I look forward to your review, JB.

[Loomis]

QUANTUM OF SOLACE reminds me of films like MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II and MR. ARKADIN (CONFIDENTIAL REPORT), i.e. a somewhat messy blend of high art filmmaking and pure pulp melodrama. A movie with some wonderful visuals and flashes of true greatness, but undercut by confusion and cliché. A failure, then (perhaps), but at the same time a very, very interesting one.

I therefore believe that it will, in time, become a sort of cult movie within the Bond franchise. Brits of a certain age may agree with me that, while QUANTUM OF SOLACE isn't exactly suitable fun-for-all-the-family, Bond We All Know And Love™ fare to be screened after the Queen's Speech on Christmas Day, it's certainly possible to imagine it being presented by Alex Cox as part of a BBC Moviedrome season, alongside the likes of BAD TIMING, PERFORMANCE and THE WICKER MAN.

[Bureau Of Weapons]

I therefore believe that it will, in time, become a sort of cult movie within the Bond franchise. Brits of a certain age may agree with me that, while QUANTUM OF SOLACE isn't exactly suitable fun-for-all-the-family, Bond We All Know And Love™ fare to be screened after the Queen's Speech on Christmas Day, it's certainly possible to imagine it being presented by Alex Cox as part of a BBC Moviedrome season, alongside the likes of BAD TIMING, PERFORMANCE and THE WICKER MAN.

I can see where you are coming from. This is no TSWLM or OP to come after the Queen's speech on Christmas day, nor Boxing Day or a Bank Holiday either.

Although it remains to be seen in what slot the UK terrestial TV premiere of CR will receive. Channel 4 like to pride themselves on being a prominent film channel so I can easily see QOS getting a 10:00 Saturday or Sunday evening premiere.

[AgentV]

•M’s office. It looked like it came from DAD. I hated it.

I didn't mind it, actually. I know some folks hate its very technological aesthetic, and futuristic MINORITY REPORT-style graphics table, but I thought it was an interesting change of pace. Could have used a bit more warmth, though.

Well, welcome to the 21st century, bondrules. That type of MINORITY REPORT-style is not exactly as far-fetched as some of the stuff in DAD.

http://www.engadget....rought-to-life/

Considering the film's intention to keep itself grounded on a real-world -- from the economic and ecological issues, to actually having consequences to the character's actions (i.e. Bond can't throw a car off a roof ala TND and leave the consequences to ignorance) -- it wouldn't surprise me if they looked at the technological advancement of this MINORITY REPORT's table stuff and include it because of its possible existance in our future.

[SecretAgentFan]

Magnificent work, Mr.Harmsway. Balanced and honest.

And no, DLibra/Stamper, I don´t say this because it was a positive review.

[Bureau Of Weapons]

Magnificent work, Mr.Harmsway. Balanced and honest.

And no, DLibra/Stamper, I don´t say this because it was a positive review.

I wouldn't worry SAF. There's plenty of the naysayers who will pop up to offer a heartily "here here!" after all the bad reviews.

[Harmsway]

QUANTUM OF SOLACE reminds me of films like MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II and MR. ARKADIN (CONFIDENTIAL REPORT), i.e. a somewhat messy blend of high art filmmaking and pure pulp melodrama. A movie with some wonderful visuals and flashes of true greatness, but undercut by confusion and cliché. A failure, then (perhaps), but at the same time a very, very interesting one.

Interesting way to describe it. I wouldn't describe QUANTUM OF SOLACE as a failure, by any stretch - in my mind, it's a very definite success, just a flawed one - but there's something to that. Not that I'd actually describe MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II as having anything like "high art filmmaking."

I therefore believe that it will, in time, become a sort of cult movie within the Bond franchise.

It sure will. This is the new LICENCE TO KILL.

[Loomis]

Not that I'd actually describe MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II as having anything like "high art filmmaking."

No, I don't suppose you would.

Let me tell ya, being a MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II pusher has been a long and difficult road. You can lead a horse to water....

[Harmsway]

No, I don't suppose you would.

Let me tell ya, being a MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II pusher has been a long and difficult road. You can lead a horse to water....

In your mind, what do you see "high art" about it? I can imagine calling it stylish and underrated entertainment, but "high art" seems like pushing it.

[Tarl_Cabot]

QUANTUM OF SOLACE reminds me of films like MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II and MR. ARKADIN (CONFIDENTIAL REPORT), i.e. a somewhat messy blend of high art filmmaking and pure pulp melodrama. A movie with some wonderful visuals and flashes of true greatness, but undercut by confusion and cliché. A failure, then (perhaps), but at the same time a very, very interesting one.

Interesting way to describe it. I wouldn't describe QUANTUM OF SOLACE as a failure, by any stretch - in my mind, it's a very definite success, just a flawed one - but there's something to that. Not that I'd actually describe MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II as having anything like "high art filmmaking."

I therefore believe that it will, in time, become a sort of cult movie within the Bond franchise.

It sure will. This is the new LICENCE TO KILL.

That works for me.

[Kristian]

Excellent report, Harmsway.

Thing is, I actually loved the dogfight. Agree with you, though, on the boat chase. All I really saw was foam. Marc F.'s lensing could've benefited from some long shots.

Great review.

Edited by Kristian, 16 November 2008 - 11:29 PM.

[Loomis]

No, I don't suppose you would.

Let me tell ya, being a MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE II pusher has been a long and difficult road. You can lead a horse to water....

In your mind, what do you see "high art" about it? I can imagine calling it stylish and underrated entertainment, but "high art" seems like pushing it.

Well, don't forget that John Woo is - or at least was, back in the days when he still had a reputation, for nowadays there ain't much to distinguish him from directors like Rob Cohen, Lee Tamahori and Simon West - considered by many to be an auteur, with M:I-2 arguably the first of the auteur (or, since the word is much abused, "auteur") franchise movies, paving the way for, for instance, HULK to be directed by Ang Lee, BATMAN BEGINS to be directed by Christopher Nolan and QUANTUM OF SOLACE to be directed by Marc Forster.

So, yes, "high art" is, of course, pushing it, but what I'm driving at is that M:I-2 had a much better director than it had a script. As with Paul Haggis' name on QoS, Robert Towne's credit for M:I-2 belies the fact that the screenplay is, to put it very politely, flawed. Consequently, for all its faults, M:I-2 is a case of a director (occasionally) rising above his material and delivering a flick far more stylish than its script deserved. M:I-2 is hokey, B-movie dreck, but it does at least have its moments of beauty and flair and thus rates as decent entertainment. The same is true of QoS.

[kneelbeforezod]

Well, don't forget that John Woo is - or at least was, back in the days when he still had a reputation, for nowadays there ain't much to distinguish him from directors like Rob Cohen, Lee Tamahori and Simon West

...until now! Completely off topic but if you can play blu-rays, Woo's latest, "Red Cliff", is well worth importing... a thoroughly enjoyable return to form!

[Harmsway]

Well, don't forget that John Woo is - or at least was, back in the days when he still had a reputation, for nowadays there ain't much to distinguish him from directors like Rob Cohen, Lee Tamahori and Simon West - considered by many to be an auteur, with M:I-2 arguably the first of the auteur (or, since the word is much abused, "auteur") franchise movies, paving the way for, for instance, HULK to be directed by Ang Lee, BATMAN BEGINS to be directed by Christopher Nolan and QUANTUM OF SOLACE to be directed by Marc Forster.

M:I-2 the first of the "auteur" franchise flicks? The big quibble I have with that is that the first MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE was directed by DePalma, and I do fail to see how Woo is more of an "auteur" than him.

[Loomis]

Well, that's why I typed "arguably the first".