70 replies to this topic

[Satorious]

I'm not a massive fan of the Fleming novels, and I found Casino Royale to be one of the best Bond films made...
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Also, Casino Royale is exactly what Bond is supposed to be. Along the lines of From Russia With Love, and On Her Majesties Secret Service. I'd rather have these over Quantum of Solace any day.

So you find the Bond films which are closest to the books the best movies, but you don't like Fleming?

I'm going to come out in defence of the Poker scenes in CR, which I found a welcome change of pace from the Slam-Bang numbness I felt during the Brosnan era. Taking aside the pre-titles, the free-running scene and the Hotel poker scene, I actually find the first half of the movie reasonably bland to rewatch. This changes once we get to Hotel Splendide and the Poker scenes. Sadly, it all rather falls apart in the last act (Venice) - but hey - it generally works.

I find QOS is a mess. I want to like it more than I did. I actually really liked it the first time I saw it. Sadly it doesn't seem to hold up as well after a few viewings (for me at least). I know there was probably once a reasonable movie in there somewhere, but the poor whiplash editing destroys it. It has no time to build up any tension or emotional depth as a result. I'd argue that CR did achieve this on some levels.

[DamnCoffee]

I'm not a massive fan of the Fleming novels, and I found Casino Royale to be one of the best Bond films made...
[cut]
Also, Casino Royale is exactly what Bond is supposed to be. Along the lines of From Russia With Love, and On Her Majesties Secret Service. I'd rather have these over Quantum of Solace any day.

So you find the Bond films which are closest to the books the best movies, but you don't like Fleming?

I don't not like Fleming. I just don't really like his style of writing. I just cannot get into it. I can understand why people do like his writing though, he is a great writer, in his own right. He has brilliant ideas and such. But... he's just not my cup of tea.

[Royal Dalton]

I think both films are awful. But Quantum of Solace possibly has a slight edge because Richard Branson isn't in it.

[0077]

I think both films are awful. But Quantum of Solace possibly has a slight edge because Richard Branson isn't in it.

You can only spot Branson for about 1.5 seconds, I can easily forget he's there.

[00 Brosnan]

I have always really liked Quantum of Solace and never understood all the hate from some Bond fans. Yes, the plot is thin and the second half of the movie does seem a bit rushed, but it is a worthy entry in the series and highly enjoyable. There are certainly worse films in the franchise's history.

It's hard for me to really say which is the superior film, Casino Royale or Quantum of Solace. CR is a far more balanced film with a better narrative, but the plot drags in certain areas, the action scenes aren't near as exciting as in QoS, and I'm still confused as to exactly why Vesper decided to kill herself for one and then two, at the last second frantically scrambles to reach Bond.

Quantum of solace though has some great action sequences, better than any in CR. I especially enjoyed the opening car chase. I love a good car chase, the sound of high performance engines screaming is like ecstasy. Both films have beautiful women and a decent score.

[jaguar007]

Quantum of solace though has some great action sequences, better than any in CR.

I have to disagree with you. Yes, QoS does have some great action scenes, but not much new or original. The freerunning sequence in CR is something new and exciting and I think far more memorable than any of the action in QoS.

[00 Brosnan]

Quantum of solace though has some great action sequences, better than any in CR.

I have to disagree with you. Yes, QoS does have some great action scenes, but not much new or original. The freerunning sequence in CR is something new and exciting and I think far more memorable than any of the action in QoS.

The free running sequence in CR was indeed "new and original" for the franchise, but in my book a good car chase with tires screeching, gritty mayhem, and engines screaming automatically tops a foot chase. The opening car chase I'm referring to in QoS actually was pretty "new and original" for the franchise. Yes, there have been car chases before, but nothing on that level.

There were obviously less action sequences in CR, but I found the one I enjoyed the most was actually the shortest. The sequence where Bond races down the road after Vesper, swerves, and flips 10 times is my favorite. As for the rest in CR, the free running sequence is great as you mentioned, but I found the airport tanker sequence really dragged (and it wasn't really new or original either).

[Jim]

Both of them entertained me, and I suppose that's all I can ask of two films, really.

[Automan]

Quantum of solace though has some great action sequences, better than any in CR.

I have to disagree with you. Yes, QoS does have some great action scenes, but not much new or original. The freerunning sequence in CR is something new and exciting and I think far more memorable than any of the action in QoS.

Aw come o the car chase is awsome

[Guy Haines]

what's funny about the poker game in Casino Royale, is that Martin Campbell even stated that he thought it was so boring and didn't know how to make it fun.

I think what made the poker game scenes was what was going on around the periphery. When a break was called you just knew something was about to happen - the stairwell fight, Le Chiffre threatened by the African terrorists, Bond and Vesper's confrontation about the "buy in", Bond losing his cool, about to knife Le Chiffre, Bond finally being properly introduced to Leiter, Bond poisoned etc.

I can understand the difficulties in making a card game exciting, although I'm sure it was managed it in other, non-Bond movies. (I'm just trying to think of one of two! )

[blueman]

Stairwell fight, best action scene in CR. Because like the Slade fight in QOS it was simply two men trying like hell to kill each other. It actually feels like it's from another film, most of the action in CR has a comic book feel to it which that scene doesn't. QOS seemed to invert that ratio, lots of (relatively) realistic action with much less intrusive comic bookishness. IMHO. And for me the less comic book in my Bond the better.

Also thought QOS pulled off its drama better than CR handled its drama, better scripted and acted IMO (Eva Green annoys more with each viewing, actually lessens Bond that he falls for her IMHO ).