QUANTUM OF SOLACE (2008)

Jack · April 20, 2009, 07:03:23 AM

Rented this a few weeks ago, gave it a 1.5/5. The machine-gun editing left the action sequences incomprehensible. The general writing/directing/editing left me with no idea what was going on in most of the scenes throughout the movie, and I certainly didn't care. Craig - what can I say? He MIGHT be a good Bond, but he barely had any dialog for the first two-thirds of this thing. After watching it, I can honestly say I've never seen him act. And what was with that exploding building at the end? I had no clue (as in most of the movie) why it kept exploding. Was it the local nitro glycerin storage facility? It was just comical.

Easily the worst Bond film I've ever seen, by a country mile. In fact, I'd have to say it's the worst big-budget action movie I've ever seen. I really enjoyed watching it on a thin strip across my TV screen. What was the aspect ration on this thing, about 5:1?

AndyC · April 20, 2009, 08:12:14 AM

Quote from: Jim H on April 20, 2009, 01:03:13 AM
For all the flack it gets, I loved how the villain in Die Another Day makes an out-and-out DEATH RAY. And the fact that he's an Asian guy using surgery to hide as a white guy! It's so typical of 60s era Bond, the kind of crap Austin Powers mined for material for three films. And Die Another Day gets tons of flack for that from people who say they love the Connery films. I don't quite get that one.

Die Another Day is the main exception. That one was classic Bond in most regards. Funny that my brother, also a fan of the old, cheeky Bond, had nothing good to say about the movie for the simple reason that somebody successfully captured and imprisoned Bond. I tend to agree that it goes against the established rules, but looking at the movie as a whole, and as one of the recent crop, it was the most faithful Bond film to come out since the mid-80s. It had the rich megalomaniac, the freaky henchman, the superweapon, the gadgets, the "friendly" competition between Bond and villain, and the exotic locales. That's Bond.

WingedSerpent · April 20, 2009, 10:54:14 AM

Quote from: AndyC on April 20, 2009, 08:12:14 AM
Quote from: Jim H on April 20, 2009, 01:03:13 AM
For all the flack it gets, I loved how the villain in Die Another Day makes an out-and-out DEATH RAY. And the fact that he's an Asian guy using surgery to hide as a white guy! It's so typical of 60s era Bond, the kind of crap Austin Powers mined for material for three films. And Die Another Day gets tons of flack for that from people who say they love the Connery films. I don't quite get that one.

Die Another Day is the main exception. That one was classic Bond in most regards. Funny that my brother, also a fan of the old, cheeky Bond, had nothing good to say about the movie for the simple reason that somebody successfully captured and imprisoned Bond. I tend to agree that it goes against the established rules, but looking at the movie as a whole, and as one of the recent crop, it was the most faithful Bond film to come out since the mid-80s. It had the rich megalomaniac, the freaky henchman, the superweapon, the gadgets, the "friendly" competition between Bond and villain, and the exotic locales. That's Bond.

I loved Mr. Kill from Die Another Day He existed soley to give Bond a snappy comeback. And he just says right out "I'm Mr. Kill". No other introduction. Not even a "hello" before it. Just out of nowhere "I'm Mr. Kill".

I always imagined him, just walking around introducing himself-and saying his name randomly to people.

AndyC · April 20, 2009, 03:25:05 PM

Quote from: Jack on April 20, 2009, 07:03:23 AM
And what was with that exploding building at the end? I had no clue (as in most of the movie) why it kept exploding. Was it the local nitro glycerin storage facility?

That was so confusing. I thought it was really weird to have an explosion in the first place, but then it just kept right on exploding. I had to look it up to understand that since this is an "eco-hotel" powered by hydrogen fuel cells, it apaprently has loads of hydrogen fuel stored in flimsy containers all over the place that blow up if they're disturbed. I didn't even know it was supposed to be a hotel. Whatever bit of dialogue explained that must have been lost amid the umpteen chase scenes, and the exterior shots were so bad I couldn't tell what that building was supposed to be. It actually had to start exploding before I figured out that this was the building they were in. The interior and exterior just didn't connect. Granted, my attention might have started drifting toward the end of the movie, but that's only because there was no plot to hold my interest.

Roger Ebert did a nice review of this movie: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081111/REVIEWS/811129989/1023

Jack · April 20, 2009, 04:16:11 PM

So that thing on the wall that they showed for 1/10th of a second was a hydrogen container

the ghoul · April 20, 2009, 06:16:32 PM

The only Bond movie I like is the original Casino Royale with David Niven and Peter Sellers. Niven is the best Bond ever.

HappyGilmore · April 21, 2009, 07:12:32 PM

Quote from: Torgo on November 20, 2008, 11:42:21 PM
If this hadn't of come after Casino Royale which was fantastic than Quantum of Solace might not see as much as a huge disappointment. I thought it was boring actually.

All Bond flicks are boring, so this wouldn't really differ from any others.

Terf · May 22, 2009, 12:43:56 AM

Saw it. Skimmed it. Didn't care much for it, but I think I decided I wasn't going to like it from the beginning. [One reason being that it carries over the story from the last film.]

Oh, and coincidently I saw Octop***y today on TV. The action was certainly cheesier [except towards the end], but Bond was WAY more charming.

BoyScoutKevin · June 16, 2009, 05:10:58 PM

Quote from: Terf on May 22, 2009, 12:43:56 AM
Saw it. Skimmed it. Didn't care much for it, but I think I decided I wasn't going to like it from the beginning. [One reason being that it carries over the story from the last film.]

Oh, and coincidently I saw Octop***y today on TV. The action was certainly cheesier [except towards the end], but Bond was WAY more charming.

Actually, of the Roger Moore James Bonds, that is my second favorite. My favorite, of course, being "The Spy Who Loved Me."

Doggett · July 04, 2009, 05:09:32 AM

I really enjoyed this the second time round.

But what's the point of having an iconic theme tune if you're not going to use it ?!?!
Bond fights on land, sea and air...so it's pretty cool, and I liked the slimy bad guy.

It did need an action director and better editing, though.