Why do people like Die Another Day and Quantum of Solace?

AnneHathawayHater

I mean, I know it's all opinion. But truth be told, Die Another Day and Quantum of Solace didn't wow a hell of a lot people the way films like The Dark Knight (2008), Casino Royale (2006) and Skyfall (2012) did. Quantum, and Die Another Day (I refuse to call it by it's acronym.) were looked at with such disdain by most people that it forced EON to try something new with Casino Royale and Skyfall respectively.

Firemass

I'm actually puzzled why people like The Dark Knight and Skyfall. Like you said, it's all opinion.

Don't forget that Die Another Day was a HUGE hit with both critics and audiences when it was released.

AnneHathawayHater

Firemass wrote:

I'm actually puzzled why people like The Dark Knight and Skyfall. Like you said, it's all opinion.

Don't forget that Die Another Day was a HUGE hit with both critics and audiences when it was released.

I heard somebody say that Skyfall reminds him of The Man with the Golden Gun novel by Ian Fleming.

Gassy Man

Skyfall seemed to me The Dark Knight meets Straw Dogs.

I think there are elements to any Bond film worth liking. Die Another Day, while a silly and trivial film in many ways, nonetheless has some effective moments, and I don't think the first half is bad at all. Quantum of Solace is acted and filmed very capably. Where it bogs down is in the director's decision to make an art film, with frenetic editing, and a script that both does not live up to the film that preceded it nor creates clarity -- I'm still not sure, for instance, if Mathis was a traitor or not, and Quantum ends up a more blurry organization than it was in Casino Royale. The reason both frequently turn up on the lower end of the list of Bond films for many fans is because the deficiencies in their opinion are greater than the deficiencies in other Bond films, even though the films are still certainly watchable.

AnneHathawayHater

Gassy Man wrote:

Skyfall seemed to me The Dark Knight meets Straw Dogs.

The original Straw Dogs or the remake?

chrisisall

Okay, I'll play.
I like DAD because of Brosnan (he never phoned it in- he always gave 100 %).
I like QOS because of Craig (and the writing of the film Craig contibuted during the writer's strike).

AnneHathawayHater

chrisisall wrote:

Okay, I'll play.
I like DAD because of Brosnan (he never phoned it in- he always gave 100 %).
I like QOS because of Craig (and the writing of the film Craig contibuted during the writer's strike).

Fair enough.

James Suzuki

How much input did Craig have on the QOS Script?
Do we know specfic scene he wrote?

chrisisall

James Suzuki wrote:

How much input did Craig have on the QOS Script?
Do we know specfic scene he wrote?

All we know for a fact is that actor Craig & director Forster wrote it together on the fly based on a story treatment/unfinished script. I think it turned out pretty great considering.

Absolutely_Cart

Why do people like them? They're considered two of the worst films in the series.

broadshoulder

QoS gets abit of a bashing from some. But the more you watch it the easier it becomes. I like the strong storyline with Bond given a twist at the end. I also adore the South American locations with the great expanses of the Atacama desert. the action scenes seem fine with me and Craig is at his height

Die another Day deserves its catcalling

What went wrong for Lee Tamahori? He bought into generic Bond and must have overuled the scriptwriters,. DaD was the work of one man - the director. It was he who brought in the cgi which wrecked the film. Each scene wrecked the film. You can count on one hand the scenes which did work. And he deserves extreme damnation for that Moneypenny masturbation scene at the end.

Thunderpussy

Who do people like them ?
We all have different tastes, also your age can be a big factor.
As a kid I thought MR was the best Bond ever, and didn't think
Much of FRWL etc.
For instance I can't see why people watch, Gogglebox, x-Factor,
TOWIE or Geordie shore. )

Moore Than

Some people prefer the more gritty realistic Bond films so will be drawn towards Quantum of Solace. Other people enjoy the more fantasy/fun films so will be drawn towards Die Another Day.

In my opinion, all the EON Bond films have at least some merit to them. For example, even DAD for all its criticism has a good PTS, very good title sequence, and memorable scenes such as Bond walking into the Hong Kong hotel in only his pyjama bottoms. Any film that has some merit deserves some appreciation. The more merit, the more appreciation.

Lexi

broadshoulder wrote:

QoS gets abit of a bashing from some. But the more you watch it the easier it becomes. I like the strong storyline with Bond given a twist at the end. I also adore the South American locations with the great expanses of the Atacama desert. the action scenes seem fine with me and Craig is at his height

Die another Day deserves its catcalling

I'm still puzzeled why people don't like QoS... it takes a bit of brain power... but for me, it's one of my favourite Bond movies. I prefer it to Skyfall.

DAD is just pure fantasy... I like aspects of it, but most is just too far away from reality... so agree with your statement.

Thunderpussy

QOS, is a lot of work. A shock to the system, when it first came out
I hated it with a vengeance ! Although over many viewings, and listening
To views from AJBers, also going back and reading the books again. I
Did a bit of a 180 with it. now it would be somewhere in the middle
Of my list of favourite Bond films.
So if I can change my opinion, there's hope for everyone. )

Sir Miles

I loved QoS from the off...great movie, I was surprised when (some) Bond fans didn't take to it...still, it made a shed-load of cash at the box office (DAD did too but that was down to it being an 'anniversary film') ...so it obviously found a big audience -{

BIG TAM

Like Russian Caviar is different to Peking Duck, but I love them both. )

Thunderbird 2

All art is about interpritation and perspective and the Bond films appeal to that aspect in all of us.

My opinion of DAD has radically changed since I saw it on the big screen, QoS has not, but I find QoS disappointing for different reasons than when I first saw it..

With DAD, it was only after a friend who is a writer made the following observation, that my understanfing clicked. "Its a Connery film until Bond travels to Iceland. Then with no pause, it left turns into a Moore era film." Its that jarring change that disruots the flow of the story, unless you are awsre of it.'. He was right. I just wish I had appreciated it ore when I was 27, and am pleased my opinion changed.

QoS. I hated it because I felt it was a let down after CR-06, which became and still is, my outright favorite Bond film. QoS was convoluted, too fast and had action scenes that were uncomprihensible. I watched it twice on the big screen and felt annoyed thst it hurt my eyes, ears and brain! The fact it didn't make sense was worse. My reasons for disliking it changed when one quiet Saturday I watched it on DVD, and slowed the disc to 1/6 speed for all the action sequences and any scene with lots of visual graphics. (M-Manf's) Apple table and wall screen, Bond's phone, Tannner's surveilance wall, M's bathroom.). It took ages, but the genesis of the story began to seep through and start to make sense. The nature of the action scenes started to unfold and flow as though I was looking at the storyboards. If Quantum is established to be an embrionic version of Spectre, or perhaps a rival dropped in a corporate shark tank, the story will be resolved.
This also had a positive knock on when I saw both the Vanish and the wrecked QoS DBS at Bond In Motion in April. I could appreciate the nature of both cars and how they were used alongside the other action and stunt vehicles.

However, that does not change the fact QoS is the only Bond film I literally cannot watch. Not without slowing it down. That is something I can't forgive director or film editor for.

Thunderpussy

Thunderbird 2 wrote :
"Its a Connery film until Bond travels to Iceland. Then with no pause, it left turns into a Moore era film."
) I'd never thought of that before, but it's true.

Higgins

Lexi wrote:

I'm still puzzeled why people don't like QoS... it takes a bit of brain power...

Well that does explain why TP and myself still don't like it ) ) )

Thunderpussy

) I actually do quite like it now, I must have gotten smarterer ! )

Higgins

or you are just sayin' to cover your arse

Thunderpussy

) my bottom is quite lovely
( it's on many internet sites ) )

chrisisall

Thunderbird 2 wrote:

"Its a Connery film until Bond travels to Iceland. Then with no pause, it left turns into a Moore era film."

I'm usually ready for the change- that's how I can enjoy it.

Thunderpussy

" Ready for the change" ? Is this a time of life thing ? )

chrisisall

That's an ageist comment. X-(

Thunderpussy

) aI have nothing but the deepest respect for the old coggers
Of AJB !

welshboy78

QoS is a mixed bag

I like majority of it.

Dislike PTS (car chase should have been edited better and more interesting with all that beautiful scenery instead of tunnels etc)
Dislike the Tarzan scene
Dislike the villain (not menacing enough, though I suppose thats kind of the point with Quantum etc a secret under the radar organisation however a bit like Elliot Carver I find it a bit disinteresting)
The script for the Bond girls are kinda dull (main Bond Girl not really a love interest)

Stuff I like:

DC is great and looks great in this wardrobe wise
Bond girl SELECTION are great but wasted (bit like Skyfall but not quite as bad)
Locations Locations!!!
Length of film - think its perfect for this film, could have been longer and would not have worked.
Finale - love the hotel and the final assault on Greene and his men
Mathis - though this should also be a dislike, I think for the "reboot" he was really the new Felix Leiter. I dont think he should have been bumped from the series. Would have been great to see him ommitted from Skyfall but make an appearance in SPECTRE when in Rome etc

Gassy Man

AnneHathawayHater wrote:

Gassy Man wrote:

Skyfall seemed to me The Dark Knight meets Straw Dogs.

The original Straw Dogs or the remake?

Original. The remake was anemic.

Absolutely_Cart

The more I think about QoS, the more I think about how hipstery it is. It's like it was made by an indie Tarantino-wannabe film maker from Soho New York with a denim jacket, newsboy cap and colored braids on his hair wanted to turn Bond into a grand artistic vision to re-establish modern-day political conventions.

I applaud it for its ambition and willingness to take risks though. But Craig saved it.

MilleniumForce

DAD: it's so bad it's good.
QoS: No idea.