Quantum of Solace

[kurtis21]

Just got back from QoS and i LOVED IT!! I think it was a perfect sequel to CR. I loved the fact that they used CR to setup the story for QoS...that made this VERY action packed. It ALSO had a compelling story though. If you are a fan of ANY of the Bourne films....you will love this. A DEFINATE must see

[c00lbeans]

Entertaining movie, it had lots of potential but the directing and editing of the action was HORRIBLE.

Way to many close up shots with quick cuts and jump cuts to tell whats going on or to appreciate the awesomeness of the action. There were very little cuts or camera movements in the action that lasted longer then 1.5 seconds. The movie could have been 5 min longer if they didnt put 1200 cuts in each action sequence. I would not be surprised if this movie caused some seizures.

If you look at the resumes of the director, editors, and DOP they have very little action movie experience. For a movie with more action then plot they should have hired Micheal Bay to direct it.

[GreenScar]

Originally Posted by lrankine

Just returned from seeing QoS and I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed it! I recommend it to everyone, especially those of you who consider yourselves (as I do) "Bond Aficionados ." If you haven't seen CR yet I would strongly recommend that you see it before going to QoS or else you will find yourselves a little lost with everything that's going on. I'm sure we will get into the critiques soon enough so I won't risk being a spoiler just yet. While I understand why some people might say "it's no Casino Royale" I believe these criticisms are inaccurate and off the mark. CR and QoS should not be judged separately against each other but rather as a two part movie. From that perspective I believe this is one of the best Bond films yet! In any event I certainly looking forward to the BD release!

I agree with you 100%. I loved watching Bond grow as an agent through both movies. There is definitely a continuation that fits well. I was taken aback by the shaky cam/fast edit of the action, but the movie was just so dang good!

I wish film makers would stop it already with the cop out shaky/fast edit action sequences.

[GreenScar]

Originally Posted by alphadec

a bond film with out a "gun barrel" opening is no bond film.

The credits started with it. Thought that was cool.

[apollo92178]

QoS was off the hook. The actions grabs you by the gonads from the opening and doesn't let go. The story pulls you in and leave you at the edge of your seat for more. Combine it with Casino Royale and its a masterpiece. So far there wasn't been any good third movie but if a franchise can pull it off it will be BOND. And some of you guys need to remember this isn't your fathers James Bond or the Hollywood's but more Fleming's. We should start looking at Bond with a different mindset. You can't rehatch the same formula forever. Go see it, you be glad you did!!

[PanasonicPlasmaMan]

Just got back from watching it. Solace was a good movie but did not have the bond feel to it, Instead it reminded me more of a Bourne movie. Movie was entertaining I would give it a C.

[Gone2HiDef]

I saw it tonight. It is a lot like a Bourne film, which is why it mainly never went above a grade of B for me. I did like it, but after the masterpiece in story and direction that was Casino Royale, that success handicapped my enjoyment of QoS. I got my expectations too high instead of just relaxing and letting QoS be what it is, the continuation of the CR story. My friends I went with loved it tho', and I would like to see it again since I no longer have higher expectations about it. Btw this review on JoBlo mirrors my feelings about it too.

[PanasonicPlasmaMan]

Originally Posted by Gone2HiDef

I saw it tonight. It is a lot like a Bourne film, which is why it mainly never went above a grade of B for me. I did like it, but after the masterpiece in story and direction that was Casino Royale, that success handicapped my enjoyment of QoS. I got my expectations too high instead of just relaxing and letting QoS be what it is, the continuation of the CR story. My friends I went with loved it tho', and I would like to see it again since I no longer have higher expectations about it. Btw this review on JoBlo mirrors my feelings about it too.

I am glad someone else agrees

[Jack Torrance]

QoS taken by itself is a just a good action movie. But combine it with Casino Royale and it is absolutely excellent. It is a wonderful continuation and wrapping up of that story. And it sets the stage for future Bond's nicely, with the introduction of the QUANTUM organization, a nice throw back to the earlier Bond's that featured SPECTRE.

To the naysayers and the doubters... it really is a Bond movie. It's all there (save the gadgets, M, Q and Moneypenny, but that's what future installments are for). But it's a little more densely and tightly packed than expected, so maybe not immediately apparent... but it is there. IMO, time and repeated viewings will win over most of even the harshest critics of this movie. It's great and I can't wait to see this again and own it on blu.

[Lepidopterous]

I thought QoS was great. Well made and had a different feel to it. Definitely more dense and much shorter but it made for a better overall experience in that way imo. Also, Olga Kurylenko was


...and did anybody else notice Guillermo del Toro in the credits for additional voices? (I was talking with my friends after the movie and it caught my eye)

[jgdc74]

I saw it a few days ago and wasn't impressed.
The fight scenes were good but that's where it ends.

The film is a complete mess! Irritating camerawork, poor sound (yes I did see it in the cinema), poor editing, and poor direction. And what was the story actually about again? No disrespect to the actors and actresses, they did their best, it's not their fault. I think the director tried to make it like the Bourne films, but failed miserably.

I was really shocked that they let something this bad out.
I think Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson should apologise for this film!
Maybe they were rushed to get it out, I don't know.

And that scene with Fields covered in oil, was obviously ripped from Goldfinger! Even her pose on the bed was the same! What was the point of that?

As my friend put it: "It's an empty film. A bunch of action scenes put together with little to link them".

I mean, Die Another Day was bad, but at least it was entertaining and I could follow the story.

I'm hoping that someone will eventually release a re-edited version of QoS, a version that actually makes sense! Perhaps an "Alan Smithee" version!

[billypoe]

I didn't like the way they didn't wrap up the story lines. For example:

(I don't know how to make the spoiler tags. So the following two paragraphs are in white text. To see them just highlight them. THEY DO CONTAIN SPOILERS.)

Why didn't the film ever return to the underground dam? I know the producers don't want any more over-the-top, unrealistic action sequences, but honestly, the only way the desert people could get their water again is if someone blew up the dam. Sure that scene could have felt a little too much like Indy in the Temple of Doom, but how awesome could that have been? I was really expecting him to "go in and save the day" in regards to the dam. Also, the whole movie was about trying to figure out what Greene was up to. Wouldn't it have been more like Bond to ruin Greene's plans, destroy the dam, and leave Greene with a worthless piece of desert land? You can't argue that that's not what Bond would do; that's exactly what he did in CR with Le Chiffre and the plane--not to mention the card game.

Also, why did they never show Mr. White again? I certainly did not like the fact that the last time he was shown was at the outdoor play. If that means that he is going to show up again in the next movie then I have serious problems with that. First of all, I don't think he is the leader of Quantum, but he could be high up, like Blofeld's henchmen in the Connery films. However, as an unwritten rule in cinema, the "number two guy" always gets it in the end. White has now lived through two Bond movies. One of two things will happen in the next one: either he is not written into the script, in which case I will be very pissed; or he will return, in which case I may have to readjust my hypothesis--perhaps he is Daniel Craig's Blofeld.

[Kaixa]

For me, Bond has a complete different intentions in regards to Greene as evident to the final scene. He however needs to know what Greene is planning as it would not be right to strike a man who has support of CIA and even the British without further proof.

Pay attention to the scene after Bond abandons Greene in the desert. With Greene gone and the contract burn to bits, the land is back with the Bolivian people and its up to them to do as they please.

[Blu Man]

Good, but Casino Royale was better.

[Ectoplasm]

Wow, if I didn't know any better, I would have guessed that some people involved with the film were posting propaganda here.

I also give it a "C".

Don't bother going to see it in the theater. Rent or buy the blu-ray.

[Blu Man]

Originally Posted by Ectoplasm

Wow, if I didn't know any better, I would have guessed that some people involved with the film were posting propaganda here.

I also give it a "C".

Don't bother going to see it in the theater. Rent or buy the blu-ray.

No, It's worth seeing in a theater.

[Crim122]

I enjoyed it, but I cant really say how much. The action was great, despite the choppy chase scenes. But the story was so weak that it was almost non existent and not even detailed on. I will not be seeing it multiple times like I did CR.

[GreenScar]

I will try and comment with the way I saw things. Of course this is all opinion and I really need to watch Casino and Solace back to back to get a better view of things...

Originally Posted by billypoe

I didn't like the way they didn't wrap up the story lines. For example:

(I don't know how to make the spoiler tags. So the following two paragraphs are in white text. To see them just highlight them. THEY DO CONTAIN SPOILERS.)

Why didn't the film ever return to the underground dam? I know the producers don't want any more over-the-top, unrealistic action sequences, but honestly, the only way the desert people could get their water again is if someone blew up the dam. Sure that scene could have felt a little too much like Indy in the Temple of Doom, but how awesome could that have been? I was really expecting him to "go in and save the day" in regards to the dam.

[Show spoiler]The Dams were left so that Camille could continue on. I'm hoping she will be in the next installment as well. As you will recall in the end she asks what do I do know, and Bond refers to her taking down the dams (it gives her character purpose) The whole point of Camille can now continue instead of being a character with no weight to it when the film is over.

Also, the whole movie was about trying to figure out what Greene was up to. Wouldn't it have been more like Bond to ruin Greene's plans, destroy the dam, and leave Greene with a worthless piece of desert land? You can't argue that that's not what Bond would do; that's exactly what he did in CR with Le Chiffre and the plane--not to mention the card game.

[Show spoiler]Actually Greene was more of a tool in the plot IMO. It wasn't about him, and he wasn't the main villain. Remember Quantum is part two in a longer story. It is slowly revealing how large Quantum is. Greene's organization was most likely one project underneath the Umbrella of Quantum. The whole story was actually about Bond coming to terms with what occurred in Casino Royale. They are maturing him as an agent through these first two films. The guy at the end (his name escapes me at the moment) that he doesn't kill is the first suspect he doesn't just shoot in the head.

Also, why did they never show Mr. White again? I certainly did not like the fact that the last time he was shown was at the outdoor play. If that means that he is going to show up again in the next movie then I have serious problems with that. First of all, I don't think he is the leader of Quantum, but he could be high up, like Blofeld's henchmen in the Connery films. However, as an unwritten rule in cinema, the "number two guy" always gets it in the end. White has now lived through two Bond movies. One of two things will happen in the next one: either he is not written into the script, in which case I will be very pissed; or he will return, in which case I may have to readjust my hypothesis--perhaps he is Daniel Craig's Blofeld.

[Show spoiler]You may very well be right about Mr White here. He may very well end up being Blofeld, I would tend to think he would more likely be someone working for the Blofeld character. He's obviously formidable because he hasn't been made out as stupid, but he is also getting his hands dirty (ie CR) He probably had about the same amount of screen time in this one as he did in the last. We haven't seen the last of Mr White.

I think many are judging this film on it's own merits (which is fair to do) but it's intended to be a direct continuation of the last film in which it works and gives it better context. I'll say one thing, I am so drawn in right now I can't wait for the next installment to see where they take things.

Edit:

[Show spoiler]Also to the fact that Strawberry Fields ended up covered and drowned in oil, it was slight of hand on Greene's part. The CIA and everyone else thought it was oil that Greene was after but it was indeed the Water supply. He was throwing everyone off the correct path.

[Jellybeans]

I'll have to go check myself too. I still don't like Daniel Craig as James bond. My favorite Bonds were Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan.

[GreenScar]

Originally Posted by Dark Elf

I'll have to go check myself too. I still don't like Daniel Craig as James bond. My favorite Bonds were Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan.

If you haven't seen Quantum of Solace yet and you plan to, watch Casino Royale directly before. It's the way the movie was intended.