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ローゼンメイデン 
November 24, 2008 | 
19 Comments
I finally saw this film over the weekend and it turns out to be a good Bond movie, at least for me. It's not as entertaining nor impressive as Casino Royale but I think it's a lot better than any of Brosnan's Bond adventures. Having said that, the film is not for those who have short attention span. The story moves at a very fast pace and you have to pay attention to the scant little dialogues scattered all over the film. But if you actually engage your brain while watching it, I don't think you'll have problem understanding the story, which is actually easy to understand. That's why I can't help but rolling my eyes when the so-called 'critics' and fans claimed that the movie's plot is hard to understand. If you don't pay attention then obviously you're going to have difficulty catching up with the film. I also don't understand the complaints about the lack of Bond's elements. I personally don't care if the gun barrell is at the start or at the end of the movie. I'm also glad that neither Q nor MoneyPenny actually present in this movie. Most of all, thank God for the lack of cheesy and tacky lines.
Quantum of Solace trailers (various sizes, MOV)
Admittedly, the film feels a bit underwhelming as a stand alone Bond movie. The film doesn't actually tell a new adventure but feels like a closing note for Casino Royale. At the same time, this is where watching Casino Royale prior to watching this one becomes important. The film basically starts a few hours after the ending of Casino Royale. Quantum of Solace also does not bother explaining much of what happened in Casino Royale. It makes an assumption that the audience has seen the previous film and understands why Bond is acting like he is now in this new film. His love for Vesper, his anger at her 'betrayal', and his need to find a closing to that chapter of his life continues in this film. Because of this, it's important to remember that every thing that he does in this film is a direct response to what happened in Casino Royale. His anger, his reluctance to get too close to anyone he actually bonds with, make sense if you consider what transpired in the previous story. In that sense, the film could not have been given a better title. Quantum of Solace literally means a measure of comfort, something that Bond needs after the death of Vesper.
Story-wise, the story concerns about Bond's need to investigate the organization who had their hold on Vesper. His investigation leads him to take Mr.White hostage and drag him to a secret MI6 base to be questioned. Much to his and M's surprise, Mr.White tells him that they have men everywhere, including MI6. This is quickly proven when M's loyal guard turns out to be a working for the very organization that White works for, Quantum. This is a transparent organization whose members consist of rich and famous people all over the world. Their method of conversation is also quite discreet, as seen in the opera scene where a bunch of them basically talks to each other using an ear piece. Anyway, along the way, Bond also finds out that Vesper's so-called kidnapped boyfriend, Yusef, is actually not dead and therefore, he's out trying to find the guy's whereabouts. In order to do this, he decides to tail a slimy corporate man, Dominic Greene (Mathieu Almaric). Greene has been buying land which seems deserted but after further investigation, Bond finds out that the land that Greene wants contain a major water resource which Greene wants to sell for a high price.
As usual, there are two Bond girls in the film. The first one is Agent Fields, who is reluctant to reveal her first name because it sounds ridiculous. You can find out about her first name by looking at the end credits. Agent Fields does not have a substantial part in the movie. She's basically just there to hit the sack with Bond and becomes a casualty. I think Gemma Arterton excels in the role despite it being a thankless but if you want to see her playing a substantial role, I'd recommend St.Trinian's instead. She commands the screen in that film. Olga Kurylenko is the main Bond girl, Camille. Camille is a rather unusual Bond girl and probably represents a milestone for the series because she's the first Bond girl who doesn't hook up with Bond. Throughout the story, her chemistry and Bond is actually more of a brother/sister chemistry than lovers chemistry. Because of this, that little kiss towards the end felt like it came out of nowhere. I also like her lines towards the end, "I wish I can set you free but your prison is in there", suggesting that she knows Bond has issues but there's nothing she can do about it because only Bond can free himself from his own problem
The most disappointing part of the film is probably the editing at the start of the movie. The opening sequence involving Bond being chased inside his Aston martin by a bunch of thugs were woefully edited. It's hard to enjoy the action when you can't see who is chasing whom and what's going on in the scene. It reminds me of the way Christopher Nolan directed his action scenes in Batman Begins or Dark Knight. I guess some directors are just not that good with directing/editing fight scenes. The main theme song, Another Way to Die is also not as good as You Know My Name and it's not until I hear the song along with the title sequence that I started to accept it as the theme song. Speaking of title sequence, MK12 did a very good job of it. It looks beautiful with desert theme and naked women silhouette. The title sequence actually reminds me of the old Bond film starring Sean Connery. Anyway, the film pretty much wrapped up the whole Vesper's storyline in a neat epilogue which shows Bond saving another potential 'Vesper'. Overall, while it's not as good as Casino Royale I thought this is a rather good film which wraps up the story.
Didn't enjoy this one as much as Casino. I think each Bond film should be a new adventure instead of continuing the previous chapter.
i thought it was pretty good. i lol'd when bond gave greene the motor oil
Love the movie. The actions are very intense. Like Zenthaus and probably everyone, this one is as enjoyable as Casino Royale/CR. The theme song was not that ok, but it kinda grow on me. Both CR and QoS are more realistic in plot and storyline, at least that's what I think.
Sorry for the second post, but what I meant was that "this one (the movie) is not as enjoyable as CR".
Sorry for the second post, but what I meant was that "this one (the movie) is not as enjoyable as CR".
I loved this movie. It was really awesome. And I had no problems understanding what was going on. ^^
I was disapointed. Too much from Bourne Ultimatum, which is a much better movie. Also, the shaky camera and fast editing, doesn't suite Bond. I heard that people were saying that QOS is a sequal to CR, so it is one movie. If so, the different direction the makers took kills it.
Disapointed, I have a few things I like in he movie, but it is very few.
I agree that the film did a good job of wrapping up the story from Casino Royale. It completed James Bond's transformation into 007, who is a perfessional secret agent instead of driven by anger and vengeance. They also killed off Mathis, further severing Bond's link to the past, although they had to explain their way around his apparently villainous role in the first film and recasted him as a helpful and forgiving friend of Bond's. Then recasted again as a closet homosextual in his dying moments. In that respect the film did tie up every loose end from Casino Royale including the career of the current incarnation of Felix Leiter the CIA agent.
Having said that, I think the film concentrated too much on closing the story of Casino Royale, and neglected some of the new characters, who were more or less rushed onto the bandwagon and hurriedly assigned motivations. Strawberry Fields was just ridiculous and Camille was introduced complete with back story all in the space of five minutes. It was as though they gave up trying to top Vesper in terms of Bond girls. And the Quantum organisation itself had a horde of new villians, each had about a nanosecond's screen time. The only new character who was up to standards was Dominic Greene, played by Tony Blair but his stunts were done by the Joker.
And I agree that the opening theme was disappointing, I had always thought the song was just for the Coca-Cola advert.
I looooooooooooooved the movie! Now, mind you, I am not a hard-core James Bond fan to start with, so I never had the issue of how he didn't quite fit what we expect of Bond. I mean, he's so... MALE! That's the best I can come up with! He's not particularly handsome but he definitely has 10 times more sex appeal and raw male aura than the others...
enough drooling...
That said, I thought the movie was good. Yes, a little long-ish (I was convinced it would be over at to pts in the movie) but it's a good action flick nonetheless, without being a better copy of the Transporter ("Coming to a theatre near you!")
The opening theme: who sings this??!? Her voice just wasn't that good and the song was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long...
that's it for me...
@Kethy-chan : "Another way to die" by Jack White and Alicia Keys
@Garten and everybody: you better watch this and see who is the better Bond...Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig? Nevermind the other four Bonds because they're old...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBg1DE0EZMo
as for the movie, I have no complaints but really I'm a bit disappointed that there is no Q and Moneypenny and I missed the traditional Bond movies that were created during Connery's time....
...also I was wondering why they put the gun barrel sequence at the end of the movie.....until I realize that Craig's Bond is beginning to become like the Bond that we knew since Connery.....
..well, Craig's gun barrel is all right unlike a certain someone (hint: the actor who took Connery's role in On Her Majesty's Secret Service)....
Not much of a bond fan.
Hmmm you should go and watch Clannad after story ^-^ it is turning out quite well I'm sure you will enjoy it.
@ Maki
OMG !! It's Alicia Keys??!? I am a HUUUUGE fan! I'm so dissapointed! *tears*
Not that good than the old Bond movies.
"Another Way to Die" sucked ass. They should have gotten stronger vocals.
mmm.. I don't know. I prefer the ones with Pierce Brosnan in them. I left the theater feeling disappointed. Not because I didn't understand it; I felt like, 'that's it??!!' I only remember the 'motor oil' part and of course, the chasing scene at the beginning.
I don't like Casino Royale too. I think the 'who's-the-Bond' factor affects my enjoyment of the movie/s.
Having a debate with my husband here. When Bond says that M was right about Vesper (basically that she did love Bond), how does he know? My husband says it is because the friend of his said it as he was dying in Bond's arm. But I think he knew for sure because of what happened in that closing scene with that Canadian spy (that looked like Vesper). But he thinks I am reading too much into that last scene. Could someone help me explain it. Or am I off?
Your husband's kind of right, in a sense. Basically, the end scene does not say anything to convince him Vesper loved him. He knew from the beginning of this film that the guy was an imposter, and realized himself throughout his mission of 'solace' (peace of mind), that she loved him. Yes, Mathus did help him be less embarassed of her betrayal to him and his true reason for his mission into Quantum organization, by voicing that she loved him. (Along with his dying words I'm sure had an impact). The scene at the end with the imposter's capture only concluded Bond's sense of avenging Vesper and severing his last ties with her.
Actually I just read elsewhere that it was the necklace that convinced him. In the last scene the woman is still wearing the love knot. Whereas Vesper was no longer wearing hers near the end of the last movie. Meaning that the relationship with that guy no longer meant anything to Vesper at that point. Makes sense to me.
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