22 replies to this topic

[Santa]

OK, what was Greene on about here? Something about this doesn't work for me. It's a very personal comment. Now if Bond and Greene had some kind of history then fine, but it doesn't seem as if they have. How much can Greene know about Bond? A limited amount, surely? Fields is not dead yet so I can only assume he's talking about Vesper (and that's not too likely, if Quantum is made up of cells and departments, as has been suggested), and even so, that's one tragic misstep by Bond, hardly evidence that "everything he touches withers and dies". I'm sure MattofSteel or someone will come along and enlighten me , but it seems a pretty poor bit of dialogue to me, under the circumstances.

[DamnCoffee]

I never had a problem with the comment myself. It's certainly about Vesper. and I assumed Greene knew about him, since Quantum, 'have people everywhere'.

[deth]

maybe also referring to Solange...

[Santa]

I never had a problem with the comment myself. It's certainly about Vesper. and I assumed Greene knew about him, since Quantum, 'have people everywhere'.

OK, but even if we assume it's about Vesper, it's overstating things more than a little, isn't it? His girlfriend died. It doesn't mean "everything...". Very overdramatic, which doesn't fit Greene's character to me.

[Commander Shaun]

I believe he was referring to Vesper, as he knew her through Quantum?

[MkB]

Same here. I saw this line as a warning to Bond: "I know exactly who you are, and you'd better know who I am and what I can do".

Retrospectively, knowing about Fields fate, I saw it also as a menace: "If you tread on me, every(one) you touch will keep on withering and dying".

[DamnCoffee]

I never had a problem with the comment myself. It's certainly about Vesper. and I assumed Greene knew about him, since Quantum, 'have people everywhere'.

OK, but even if we assume it's about Vesper, it's overstating things more than a little, isn't it? His girlfriend died. It doesn't mean "everything...". Very overdramatic, which doesn't fit Greene's character to me.

Maybe he's reffering to the fact that he's a secret agent.

Fisher, Dryden, Mollaka, Solange, Dimitrios, Carlos, Obanno, Le Chiffre, Gettler, Mitchell and Slate have all fallen victim to Bond.

[MattofSteel]

I'm sure MattofSteel or someone will come along and enlighten me , but it seems a pretty poor bit of dialogue to me, under the circumstances.

Oh, so I've gained that reputation now, have I?

I think what's been said sums it up nicely. There's no doubt that Bond is known to Quantum, has probably been discussed at high levels, much the way he was known to SPECTRE or SMERSH in the novels. MHarkin just outlined the "trail of death" that's been following around, and no doubt Greene was getting in a personal dig about Vesper (before relating it to Camille's chances a second later).

Someone in another thread pointed out a great aspect of that scene, which I can't take credit for. They mentioned how Bond steps in and physically intimidates, with obvious superiority, Greene. All Greene has in response are these venomous words, which may or may not strike a chord with Bond. He's just trying to hurt him at an emotional level, to take advantage of his state, while getting a dig in.

I liked the line. Remember those old taglines, "everything he touches, turns to excitement?" I read it as a reference to that, much how the once iconic 'Gold' death for Jill Masterson was re-imagined (somewhat) as a sickeningly black, oiled death. It's a commentary on what Bond has become in the new world. No longer does he generate mindless excitement, there are REAL consequences to what he does, exemplified by Fields' death just a few scenes later.

Not that Greene was trying to give him a lesson in character, it was just a personal dig that played well in trailers .

[Santa]

I never had a problem with the comment myself. It's certainly about Vesper. and I assumed Greene knew about him, since Quantum, 'have people everywhere'.

OK, but even if we assume it's about Vesper, it's overstating things more than a little, isn't it? His girlfriend died. It doesn't mean "everything...". Very overdramatic, which doesn't fit Greene's character to me.

Maybe he's reffering to the fact that he's a secret agent.

Fisher, Dryden, Mollaka, Solange, Dimitrios, Carlos, Obanno, Le Chiffre, Gettler, Mitchell and Slate have all fallen victim to Bond.

The problem I have with that is that I find it very unlikely that Greene has all that information about Bond. We haven't seen any link between Le Chiffre and Greene other than that they work for Quantum which, being a secret organisation, must by necessity be cagey about the information it shares. I'd say at the most he knows about Vesper, not enough to be able to say "everything he touches..." - yes, he knows about Mitchell and Slate but as I can't see Bond being the slightest bit gutted about killing them, they don't fit what he's trying to say - it's not withering and dying when you want to kill them. Then it's a triumph, no? It seems everyone else is happy that Greene is talking about all this, however, so I am alone and lonely in my dislike of this one. Sigh.

[ImTheMoneypenny]

I'm sure MattofSteel or someone will come along and enlighten me , but it seems a pretty poor bit of dialogue to me, under the circumstances.

Oh, so I've gained that reputation now, have I?

I think what's been said sums it up nicely. There's no doubt that Bond is known to Quantum, has probably been discussed at high levels, much the way he was known to SPECTRE or SMERSH in the novels. MHarkin just outlined the "trail of death" that's been following around, and no doubt Greene was getting in a personal dig about Vesper (before relating it to Camille's chances a second later).

Someone in another thread pointed out a great aspect of that scene, which I can't take credit for. They mentioned how Bond steps in and physically intimidates, with obvious superiority, Greene. All Greene has in response are these venomous words, which may or may not strike a chord with Bond. He's just trying to hurt him at an emotional level, to take advantage of his state, while getting a dig in.

I liked the line. Remember those old taglines, "everything he touches, turns to excitement?" I read it as a reference to that, much how the once iconic 'Gold' death for Jill Masterson was re-imagined (somewhat) as a sickeningly black, oiled death. It's a commentary on what Bond has become in the new world. No longer does he generate mindless excitement, there are REAL consequences to what he does, exemplified by Fields' death just a few scenes later.

Not that Greene was trying to give him a lesson in character, it was just a personal dig that played well in trailers .

Everyone's answers have been solid on this, can't add too much on it, and once again mighty fine writing MattofSteel! Couldn't have said it better.

Greene is brain not brawn. He's physically outmatched so he does what anyone else could in that situation, trash talk, try to plant a psychological timebomb. Nasty comments is all he has at that moment.

[baerrtt]

I never had a problem with the comment myself. It's certainly about Vesper. and I assumed Greene knew about him, since Quantum, 'have people everywhere'.

OK, but even if we assume it's about Vesper, it's overstating things more than a little, isn't it? His girlfriend died. It doesn't mean "everything...". Very overdramatic, which doesn't fit Greene's character to me.

Maybe he's reffering to the fact that he's a secret agent.

Fisher, Dryden, Mollaka, Solange, Dimitrios, Carlos, Obanno, Le Chiffre, Gettler, Mitchell and Slate have all fallen victim to Bond.

The problem I have with that is that I find it very unlikely that Greene has all that information about Bond. We haven't seen any link between Le Chiffre and Greene other than that they work for Quantum which, being a secret organisation, must by necessity be cagey about the information it shares. I'd say at the most he knows about Vesper, not enough to be able to say "everything he touches..." - yes, he knows about Mitchell and Slate but as I can't see Bond being the slightest bit gutted about killing them, they don't fit what he's trying to say - it's not withering and dying when you want to kill them. Then it's a triumph, no? It seems everyone else is happy that Greene is talking about all this, however, so I am alone and lonely in my dislike of this one. Sigh.

You don't think a criminal organisation would share information within their own ranks regarding someone who appears close (relatively) to stopping them? Given supposedly they have people everywhere (governments, various intelligence agencies) a lone agent who evidently can't be bought or bribed would be a concern and any psychological (as well as obviously physical) measures that can be taken will be implemented by any one of their number (as Greene does).

[BlackFire]

Considering Quantum is everywhere, Mr. White could have told him everything about Bond in Bahamas, Montenegro and Venice.

[Harmsway]

Well, the full line is as follows:

"His MI6 says he's difficult to control, which is a nice way of saying everything he touches seems to wither and die."

So, first, I think it's clear that Greene is speaking in hyperbole. He's trying to use words to get at Bond - it's all he's got - so naturally he'll exaggerate. But it's also implied he's talked to someone in MI6, or seen Bond's MI6 file, which suggests that Greene does have some knowledge.

[Born_again_Bond]

OK, what was Greene on about here? Something about this doesn't work for me. It's a very personal comment. Now if Bond and Greene had some kind of history then fine, but it doesn't seem as if they have. How much can Greene know about Bond? A limited amount, surely?

As others have mentioned, I think that with "people everywhere", Greene knows Bond well by reputation. Don't forget, M's bodyguard Mitchell was a Quantum double-agent. He would have been in prime position to eavesdrop on bits of information about Bond, who was proving to be something of a maverick as a newly promoted double-oo.

Surely he would be relaying that back - there is a direct link there with the way Greene opens the salvo - "His MI6 says he's difficult to control, which is a nice way of saying everything he touches seems to wither and die." When M said of Greene " he is of extreme interest", Quantum may well have been saying the same thing about Bond!

I also think that it is as much a dig at Camille as it is at Bond. She has escaped his clutches, made a fool of him, and has turned up on the arm of a man who has the ability to strike at the heart of his well-laid plans and of course, she has her own agenda.

I'm rather inclined to think that Bond was not consciously using his physique to intimidate Greene. I think his body came along for the ride. It was his presence per se that had Greene rattled. By that time it was getting to the point where Bond was making a habit of turning up at the most incovenient moments.

[BlackFire]

Well, the full line is as follows:

"His MI6 says he's difficult to control, which is a nice way of saying everything he touches seems to wither and die."

So, first, I think it's clear that Greene is speaking in hyperbole. He's trying to use words to get at Bond - it's all he's got - so naturally he'll exaggerate. But it's also implied he's talked to someone in MI6, or seen Bond's MI6 file, which suggests that Greene does have some knowledge.

Actually is "How much do you know about Bond, Camille? 'cause he's a rather tragic case, he's MI6 and he's difficult to control, nice way of saying that everything he touches seems to wither and die!"

[Santa]

Well, the full line is as follows:

"His MI6 says he's difficult to control, which is a nice way of saying everything he touches seems to wither and die."

So, first, I think it's clear that Greene is speaking in hyperbole. He's trying to use words to get at Bond - it's all he's got - so naturally he'll exaggerate. But it's also implied he's talked to someone in MI6, or seen Bond's MI6 file, which suggests that Greene does have some knowledge.

That's right, that's the full line - and that's what's bothering me! I'd forgotten the full line but I think that's one reason why it doesn't sit well with me, because saying he's difficult to control is nothing at all like saying everything he touches seems to wither and die. It's just a bit of a non sequitur. It feels like they wanted to use the wither and die line so they had to find a place to shove it in. I should also add that I do see that Greene is just trying to shoot a verbal dart at Bond, but for me that kind of poo throwing only works if what the person is saying is true and hits a nerve, but I don't quite see that happening here. What he says seems to me to be patently wrong - if he'd said it after Fields/Mathis died I could see it having more weight, but not at that stage.

[HildebrandRarity]

That's right, that's the full line - and that's what's bothering me! I'd forgotten the full line but I think that's one reason why it doesn't sit well with me, because saying he's difficult to control is nothing at all like saying everything he touches seems to wither and die. It's just a bit of a non sequitur. It feels like they wanted to use the wither and die line so they had to find a place to shove it in. I should also add that I do see that Greene is just trying to shoot a verbal dart at Bond, but for me that kind of poo throwing only works if what the person is saying is true and hits a nerve, but I don't quite see that happening here. What he says seems to me to be patently wrong - if he'd said it after Fields/Mathis died I could see it having more weight, but not at that stage.

Why does a line in a movie you don't like "bother" you? Wouldn't it be simpler just to go to the next dvd in your currently-in-release collection and have a good time watching that movie?

Everyone's answers have been solid on this...

Also, as stated directly above by ImTheMoneypenny, you got many answers - notable among them Vesper (the most important death of all) - yet you aren't satisfied. If I were so entrenched im my postion, i'd just move on to the next movie.

[Eddie Burns]

Its there for the sake of being there. It doesn't have any impact. I think it's because it sounds good in the trailer.

Anyone find his little speech about 'ants crawling under my skin' and the whole piano teacher/student story that he left hanging in mid-air kind of forced? It was cliché Villain dialogue. Just laughable. Also his expression when on the plane with Felix and co. when he says 'I need you to get rid of him for me' is hilarious...he's trying to hard to look eeeeeeevil. Compared to Le Chiffre, Greene's lines were poor though I do love his 'I have a...pest' delivery.

Just my observation people, just my observation

[Mr_Wint]

Like most things in this movie, the line didn't work, and it has something to do with how Amalric delivers it. Too forced. It feels like someone is holding up the script behind the camera so he can remember the lines.

[MattofSteel]

Its there for the sake of being there. It doesn't have any impact. I think it's because it sounds good in the trailer.

Anyone find his little speech about 'ants crawling under my skin' and the whole piano teacher/student story that he left hanging in mid-air kind of forced? It was cliché Villain dialogue. Just laughable. Also his expression when on the plane with Felix and co. when he says 'I need you to get rid of him for me' is hilarious...he's trying to hard to look eeeeeeevil. Compared to Le Chiffre, Greene's lines were poor though I do love his 'I have a...pest' delivery.

Just my observation people, just my observation

You're entitled to it, and I happen to agree. I generally liked all his dialogue w/ Camille in that scene, but just specifically that bit about the piano teacher/student was stupid. Just an attempt to make him sound intimidating, but didn't work. "No, you've been drinking, so maybe you slipped" was far more effective.

Like most things in this movie, the line didn't work, and it has something to do with how Amalric delivers it. Too forced. It feels like someone is holding up the script behind the camera so he can remember the lines.

I respectfully disagree with all of that.

[byline]

Like most things in this movie, the line didn't work, and it has something to do with how Amalric delivers it. Too forced. It feels like someone is holding up the script behind the camera so he can remember the lines.

Again, different perceptions at play here. I found Amalric to be nearly perfect in the role. For me, Le Chiffre was a snake, Greene a spider. Neither one looked menacing till they struck and you realized how dangerous they really were. It was their relative normalcy that made them so eerily frightening.

I thought Greene's exchange with Camille on the dock -- the whole bit about the lyre -- was believable because he thought they were alone, and he was enjoying playing with her. It very much had a "cat and mouse" feel to it. He was enjoying doing a psychological number on her before handing her over to Medrano.

[Bondian]

Have had my balls whipped now so much for bringing up nods to previous Bond's that are there in Quantum of Solace, so one more would not make a difference.

It's just a throw-back to tag-lines to Goldfinger "Everything he touches turns to excitement/gold"

[blueman]

Doubt Greene wouldn't know about Bond if Quantum had hopes of turning him, re White's comment at the beginning of the film. Quantum were obviously interested in Bond back during the events of CR.

The line works on every level IMO.