117 replies to this topic

[danielcraigisjamesbond007]

I can understand Bond not saying anything about the throwing him off of the roof. But he didn't speak up about the shooting?!?!?! That's just lazy writing. What happened? Did the cat get Bond's tongue?

[bondrules]

I can understand Bond not saying anything about the throwing him off of the roof. But he didn't speak up about the shooting?!?!?! That's just lazy writing. What happened? Did the cat get Bond's tongue?

And it wasn't a split second thing. M is explaining that he was member of special branch, bla, bla, and Bond still is not denying it.

[DamnCoffee]

Yeah... and...

Bond: Who was he guarding?
M: Are you missing the fact that you KILLED a member of special branch, I need you to come in!
Bond: And I will.. I soon as I find the man sent to kill you!


i) He DIDN'T kill him!
ii) He STILL isn't denying it, after TWO opportunities!

[bondrules]

Yeah... and...

Bond: Who was he guarding?
M: Are you missing the fact that you KILLED a member of special branch, I need you to come in!
Bond: And I will.. I soon as I find the man sent to kill you!


i) He DIDN'T kill him!
ii) He STILL isn't denying it, after TWO opportunities!

The writers didn't want to bother into finding a suitable way for Bond to go rogue.

[danielcraigisjamesbond007]

Again, I feel that, with this type of dialogue, the writers might have rushed in order to get the script turned in before the WGA strike...Had there been more time, then maybe things wouldn't have been so...blah.

[bondrules]

Again, I feel that, with this type of dialogue, the writers might have rushed in order to get the script turned in before the WGA strike...Had there been more time, then maybe things wouldn't have been so...blah.

But they had an on-set writer. They were changing lines as they went. I can't believe they turned Bond rogue this way.

[Judo chop]

Yeah... and...

Bond: Who was he guarding?
M: Are you missing the fact that you KILLED a member of special branch, I need you to come in!
Bond: And I will.. I soon as I find the man sent to kill you!


i) He DIDN'T kill him!
ii) He STILL isn't denying it, after TWO opportunities!

Well, this conversation clearly doesn’t bother me as much as it bothers you. I get the sense that Bond is simply not eager to mince words and start a debate. He’s, “F-you, M. One, I don’t really give a crap what you think. Two, I don’t think you’d believe me if I did take the time to explain what happened. And three, I don’t have time. I’ve got bigger fish to fry.”

Bond isn't the type to get sucked into "b...b...but M! You're not being FAIR!" talk. He's a 'horribly efficient' machine. No time for talk. When he busts Greene and White open, that's when he'll be vindicated.

[bondrules]

Yeah... and...

Bond: Who was he guarding?
M: Are you missing the fact that you KILLED a member of special branch, I need you to come in!
Bond: And I will.. I soon as I find the man sent to kill you!


i) He DIDN'T kill him!
ii) He STILL isn't denying it, after TWO opportunities!

Well, this conversation clearly doesn’t bother me as much as it bothers you. I get the sense that Bond is simply not eager to mince words and start a debate. He’s, “F-you, M. One, I don’t really give a crap what you think. Two, I don’t think you’d believe me if I did take the time to explain what happened. And three, I don’t have time. I’ve got bigger fish to fry.”

Bond isn't the type to get sucked into "b...b...but M! You're not being FAIR!" talk. He's a 'horribly efficient' machine. No time for talk. When he busts Greene and White open, that's when he'll be vindicated.

That would make him a mindless terminator. I would hope Bond is as calculating as he is efficient. In QoS it seems the Bond crossed the line from impetuousness to dumbness.

[DamnCoffee]

That's how Bond was described in the reviews, wasn't it?

[bondrules]

That's how Bond was described in the reviews, wasn't it?

Says little, and when it counts he goes mute again...not very smart for a special agent. It's like the Hulk with a gun. Set him free then it's too late. It's like firing a missile from a sub. Not what I got from the books.

[Judo chop]

Yeah... and...

Bond: Who was he guarding?
M: Are you missing the fact that you KILLED a member of special branch, I need you to come in!
Bond: And I will.. I soon as I find the man sent to kill you!


i) He DIDN'T kill him!
ii) He STILL isn't denying it, after TWO opportunities!

Well, this conversation clearly doesn’t bother me as much as it bothers you. I get the sense that Bond is simply not eager to mince words and start a debate. He’s, “F-you, M. One, I don’t really give a crap what you think. Two, I don’t think you’d believe me if I did take the time to explain what happened. And three, I don’t have time. I’ve got bigger fish to fry.”

Bond isn't the type to get sucked into "b...b...but M! You're not being FAIR!" talk. He's a 'horribly efficient' machine. No time for talk. When he busts Greene and White open, that's when he'll be vindicated.

That would make him a mindless terminator. I would hope Bond is as calculating as he is efficient. In QoS it seems the Bond crossed the line from impetuousness to dumbness.

Why is it mindless? I can see his non-response as being perfectly calculated. He knows M has made up her mind. He calls her on it right away when she picks up the phone and says that he detects stress in her voice. He's very aware of the situation, and there's nothing more to be done about it.

When a woman has made up her mind about something...

[bondrules]

If I am being accused of something I didn't do, I will at least say "I didn't do that".......why didn't he call later, he had plenty of time to go to Bolivia, have sex with Fields....and don't forget M met him over there as well, couldn't he then deny that he shot the bodyguard? Bond was just too driven to think rationally.

I do hope that in B23 I can regain my respect for cinema Bond as a thinking-killing machine.

[byline]

Yeah... and...

Bond: Who was he guarding?
M: Are you missing the fact that you KILLED a member of special branch, I need you to come in!
Bond: And I will.. I soon as I find the man sent to kill you!


i) He DIDN'T kill him!
ii) He STILL isn't denying it, after TWO opportunities!

Well, this conversation clearly doesn’t bother me as much as it bothers you. I get the sense that Bond is simply not eager to mince words and start a debate. He’s, “F-you, M. One, I don’t really give a crap what you think. Two, I don’t think you’d believe me if I did take the time to explain what happened. And three, I don’t have time. I’ve got bigger fish to fry.”

Bond isn't the type to get sucked into "b...b...but M! You're not being FAIR!" talk. He's a 'horribly efficient' machine. No time for talk. When he busts Greene and White open, that's when he'll be vindicated.

That would make him a mindless terminator. I would hope Bond is as calculating as he is efficient. In QoS it seems the Bond crossed the line from impetuousness to dumbness.

Why is it mindless? I can see his non-response as being perfectly calculated. He knows M has made up her mind. He calls her on it right away when she picks up the phone and says that he detects stress in her voice. He's very aware of the situation, and there's nothing more to be done about it.

When a woman has made up her mind about something...

I agree with this. And, being a woman, I speak from experience!

Just watched "Casino Royale" and "Quantum of Solace" last night, as a back-to-back double bill. First time I've done that. For me, that's how "Quantum" works best, flowing directly out of "Casino Royale" (and maybe that was the intent). I noticed something I hand't noticed before: When I watched "Casino Royale" before, I always thought it was shot beautifully . . . and it is. But "Quantum" has a cleanly designed, polished look that is even better-suited to Craig's Bond, IMO.

The flash-editing and ultra-tight shots, which I think were relied on a bit too frequently, are really my only complaints about the film. Otherwise, the acting, the cinematography and the music are all extraordinary, IMO. Yes, the writing could have been better, but as others have noted, those problems may have come about due to Haggis rushing to get the script submitted shortly before the writers' strike. Given that logistical issue -- and it's a pretty big one -- I'd say they did remarkably well with this film.

[Judo chop]

why didn't he call later...
...and don't forget M met him over there as well, couldn't he then deny that he shot the bodyguard?

To what end? To make himself feel better? (To make you feel better?) By the time he meets M again, he proves himself in other ways.

[Harmsway]

Well, I'm not really on either side of this thing. But I think even the people who like the writing of this scene have to admit that it's a bit flimsy. Much like the writing in a lot of the flick. A casualty of going into shooting with an unfinished screenplay, perhaps.

But the bigger problem is really that the rogue Bond angle is tedious. It doesn't really add anything to QUANTUM OF SOLACE, beyond retreading old ground (ground that was covered pretty well in CASINO ROYALE, honestly). It would have been much more welcome to see M tell Bond to lay low and work outside of the usual channels, just because she's not sure who they can trust.

[Judo chop]

But the bigger problem is really that the rogue Bond angle is tedious.

Which is EXACTLY why Bond doesn't say anything!!!

M: "Bond, need I remind you that you have gone rogue and just killed another operative?!"

Bond:

[bondrules]

It would have been much more welcome to see M tell Bond to lay low and work outside of the usual channels, just because she's not sure who they can trust.

That would have worked. But they just had to hammer to death the rogue angle for no particular reason (out of whim?), and they were too lazy too find a suitable way to get Bond there other than making him behave like Forrest Gump on steroids.

Eon Formula (?)
South America = Rogue

[Judo chop]

For the record, I’m not saying the exchange or the concept as a whole is perfect. I’m just saying that the scene wouldn’t at all be improved by having Bond say something as limp as “Well I dropped him, but I didn’t shoot him” when he knows full well that 1) that sounds totally conjured, and 2) that M has already made up her mind regardless.

However you feel about the rogue matters, Bond’s silence does not indicate stupidity in any way. Silence is a significantly more intelligent response.

[Mr. Blofeld]

Silence is a significantly more intelligent response.

As opposed to Dench's blathering, I assume?

[danielcraigisjamesbond007]

The one piece of dialogue that I CAN'T stand is when M magically changes her mind after arresting Bond. She magically says, "He's on to something." WHAT THE ?! After the havoc that Bond's caused, he should be back in M's custody, but all of a sudden, Bond tells her something and M says, "He's on to something."
I think that it's very poorly done and unnecessary.

[DamnCoffee]

Hmmm I can't say I've had much of a problem with that scene. I think Bond makes her see sense so to speak, after it dawns on her that Greene has contacts within the CIA (Beam) and he that Bond has been set up.

[danielcraigisjamesbond007]

Yeah....but she changes her mind in a matter of thirty seconds or so. One minute she wants Bond to be taken away, then the next minute Bond is able to change her mind so she says, "He's on to something." Perhaps if that scene were a little more properly worded, or longer, then maybe it would have made more sense. But since it's too fast, I GROAN every time she says that...

Edited by danielcraigisjamesbond007, 12 April 2009 - 03:04 PM.

[Mr. Blofeld]

Hey, at least she sees sense for once, when you're not able to...

[007FANATIC]

Re-watched the film tonight with two buddies. We all agreed it improved on a second viewing, and for the most part I enjoyed the film.

It's still far from perfect, though. The editing looks ten times better on a smaller screen than in a cinema, but it's still deeply flawed and at times rather confusing. There are some ridicilous plot holes too that, or rather, plot flaws: for instance, why did Bond interrupt the Quantum members he listened to at the opera, instead of actually listening to them for a bit longer? That way, he might actually have learnt something about them, which would have been good for both him and the viewer.

Overally, I wish the "Bond goes rogue" angle would have been more in focus, as it is now it feels like an afterthought of some kind.

Also, as I've said before, there's way too much Judi Dench in this one. It's ridicilous how M can seemingly travel around the world to follow one of her agents like she does here (and in CR, for that matter). I really hope she only has a scene or two in Bond 23, it feels too much like "Team Bond" when she is involved to the degree she is here.

Craig's performance is even better than I remembered it, though the script really doesn't give him that much to work with.

I like the character of Camille and Olga did a fine job with the role, but I really don't see why she is so interesting that she needs to return in another film. Time will show, I guess.

Overally, I give the film a 7/10 rating. Good, but could have been better with a director with better eye for shooting exciting action (seriously, there is almost no suspense in any of the thrill-scenes in QoS) and a more focused script.

I saw the film six times in theaters, and I loved it just as much every time. 10/10 all the way!

[The Ghost Who Walks]

I've seen it once in theatres and twice on DVD so far, and it's kept improving with each viewing. I want to re-watch it again soon, which is a good sign.

[DaveBond21]

Also, as I've said before, there's way too much Judi Dench in this one. It's ridicilous how M can seemingly travel around the world to follow one of her agents like she does here (and in CR, for that matter). I really hope she only has a scene or two in Bond 23, it feels too much like "Team Bond" when she is involved to the degree she is here.

Agreed. I think Dame Judi features a lot because she is such a popular actress, and my wife certainly enjoys the scenes she is in. I think she is there for that particular reason, to keep the non-Bond fans' interest going.

I agree that M is in this one too often. I wonder what the other 00s get up to while M is jetting off everywhere?

[Mr. Blofeld]

I agree that M is in this one too often. I wonder what the other 00s get up to while M is jetting off everywhere?

I hope in the next movie, they feature an amusing scene where M jets after another 00-agent she's taken as a pet, leaving Bond cut off from communicating with her and grumbling in the dust!

[00Twelve]

Fact is that unless Dench has a shooting conflict or a sudden illness, her screentime isn't going to be cut dramatically. It may be a few minutes less, give or take, but she's a very valuable actress and Broccolson are going to use her as much as they can get away with.