Quantum of Solace Quick Reviews - No Spoilers

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  • AlessandraAlessandra Lake Garda, ItalyPosts: 633MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    To which Commandment No. 5:

    And when the brother and sister came down from the mountain, they carried a tablet saying:

    1- Thou shalt not cavil ( ;% ) at the casting of a short*, blond man to play the tall, dark 007.

    2- Thou shalt not quibble at the question of Q.

    3- Thou shalt not Miss Moneypenny.

    4- Thou shalt be thankful the theme song isn't incorporated into the score and must only be tolerated during the titles.

    5- Thou shalt honour the magnificence that is Dame Judi, and cancel the continuity conundrum that she gave orders to both Brosnan and Craig.

    6- Thou shalt be grateful for the small nods to Ian Fleming when they arise, and that QoS alone has more of them than all of Brosnan's put together**.

    7- Thou shalt not grumble at the great gaps between movies, nor shalt thou offer to take MGW's place if he feels he needs a rest.

    8- Thou shalt not dwell upon plot lapses in QoS, keeping in mind that these are in all Bond films and most films in general.

    9- Thou shalt not speculate upon the next title until the brother and sister have tossed a coin and announced their verdict.

    10- Thou shalt not post copyright images upon this or any other forum.

    * Okay, medium-sized.

    ** DAD mainly references the previous movies rather than the novels.

    :)) :)) :)) :)) Barbel I didn't know you had such skill for religious writing :)) :)) :)) :))
    Interesting comparisons between DAD and QoS, yes elements did remind me of DAD but QoS versions probably 300% better lol.

    What you said about bringing back traditional elements is true, which annoys me as to why people say its missing Bond things. Rubbish, QoS is more Bondian that CR was.

    Nothing is set in stone and nothing is rubbish, it's just a different point of view. I happen to think QoS is worse and less Bondian than even DAD (which was bad enough, but at least it had a very good first half, as far as I'm concerned, and much more Bondian feel to it than QoS, again for me). I didn't like CR either, but did find it was more of a Bond movie than the cheap Bourne clone I find QoS to be. That doesn't make my opinion (or yours or anybody else's) rubbish, it just makes us disagree on taste which hey, is perfectly acceptable in this world, especially since these are just movies :))

    Of course, one has to bear in mind the commandments above :)) :)) :))
    "Are we on coms?" (if you don't know where this is from... you've missed some really good stuff! :D)
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,856Chief of Staff
    Cheers, Alessandra, glad you liked that. And I've just spent the last two hours watching... the reviled (copyright Loeffelholz) Die Another Day! And thoroughly enjoying it up till the last third, when things started to get a bit silly. (I may wish to modify my earlier comment regarding nods to Fleming, though; there were more than I remembered)
  • heartbroken_mr_draxheartbroken_mr_drax New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
    Sorry for the tone I wasnt bagging somebodys opinion just stating mine through poor descriptive language {[]

    Went and saw QoS for 2nd time last night, I enjoyed being able to follow the plot and dialouge a lot clearer. I think I liked the acting scenes over the action scenes far more, however I loved seeing the PTS again!

    I still stick by my 4.5/5 and am really looking forward to seeing it again in a couple of weeks then on my DVD at home :)
    1. TWINE 2. FYEO 3. MR 4. TLD 5. TSWLM 6. OHMSS 7. DN 8. OP 9. AVTAK 10. TMWTGG 11. QoS 12. GE 13. CR 14. TB 15. FRWL 16. TND 17. LTK 18. GF 19. SF 20. LaLD 21. YOLT 22. NTTD 23. DAD 24. DAF. 25. SP

    "Better make that two."
  • darenhatdarenhat The Old PuebloPosts: 2,029Quartermasters
    Barbel wrote:
    ... the reviled (copyright Loeffelholz) Die Another Day!

    It's getting to the point where we won't be able to post without paying Loeff royalties! {:)
  • AlessandraAlessandra Lake Garda, ItalyPosts: 633MI6 Agent
    Sorry for the tone I wasnt bagging somebodys opinion just stating mine through poor descriptive language {[]

    Went and saw QoS for 2nd time last night, I enjoyed being able to follow the plot and dialouge a lot clearer. I think I liked the acting scenes over the action scenes far more, however I loved seeing the PTS again!

    I still stick by my 4.5/5 and am really looking forward to seeing it again in a couple of weeks then on my DVD at home :)

    It's no problem at all, I just wanted to make matters clear, and hey, as I said, it's perfectly understandable and acceptable to have different taste. Especially on stuff like this! :D

    And I mean it when I say it, I am glad you enjoyed... I don't take delight in people being disappointed, I am disappointed enough myself :)) I happen to agree with those who are disappointed but that doesn't mean I am happy to be bitter. Quite the opposite. I would be much happier to be in the "I'm estatic" group. But hey, maybe when Cavill takes over....:v (A woman can dream, that at least! LOL)
    "Are we on coms?" (if you don't know where this is from... you've missed some really good stuff! :D)
  • heartbroken_mr_draxheartbroken_mr_drax New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
    I can see why people are dissapointed with the latest one, I was happy enough to be happy with it!

    After seeing CR I felt that was missing something, and now QoS really completes it for me possibly thats why I like it so much.

    I would say the next one will be a knock-out, I think the depravation over the last two will work in 23s favour.
    1. TWINE 2. FYEO 3. MR 4. TLD 5. TSWLM 6. OHMSS 7. DN 8. OP 9. AVTAK 10. TMWTGG 11. QoS 12. GE 13. CR 14. TB 15. FRWL 16. TND 17. LTK 18. GF 19. SF 20. LaLD 21. YOLT 22. NTTD 23. DAD 24. DAF. 25. SP

    "Better make that two."
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    edited December 2008
    darenhat wrote:
    Barbel wrote:
    ... the reviled (copyright Loeffelholz) Die Another Day!

    It's getting to the point where we won't be able to post without paying Loeff royalties! {:)

    If only! ;% :v :))

    Quote away, boys and girls! It's gratis...for the site's enjoyment -{ ...or aggravation... :(|)
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • youknowmynameyouknowmyname Gainesville, FL, USAPosts: 703MI6 Agent
    Sooooo, after watching QoS a second time and thinking about it a little bit (plus looking at some forums here on AJB) I think I like it less than when I first watched it. There are some plot elements that could've been included and weren't (I am thinking of Elvis being used a little more in particular). So, my review of the film is slipping. I am going to see it later on in the month and will give it a semi-final _/5 then.
    "We have all the time in the world..."
  • division00division00 Posts: 9MI6 Agent
    I thought it was a great sequel to Casino Royale. It's ironic that the series' longest movie was followed with its shortest. Craig said at some point that you have to watch the movies together.

    This is why I like it: Casino Royale was more people-focused, giving the audience in the end this feeling of how Bond is going to go after this organization because of revenge for Vesper. Quantum of Solace (or a measure of comfort) is out to show that Bond is indeed "motivated by his duty" rather than just driven by revenge. This movie sets up nicely for either a trilogy or moving away from this story arc.
  • Commander KellCommander Kell Posts: 10MI6 Agent
    I absolutely loved this film. One of the best Bonds ever.

    I especially liked the cool arty bits of the film:

    The intro, flying over the water with intercut scenes of the Aston and bullets being loaded into the guns
    The bit after the boat chase where he's just speeding along with music playing
    The opera scene. Very well done.
    Holding her in the fire.

    9.5/10

    Now eagerly awaiting Craig's 3rd.
  • Scribe74Scribe74 San FranciscoPosts: 149MI6 Agent
    I saw QoS for the second time last weekend and enjoyed it even more . . . I think it's a brilliant film: gritty and violent. True, some of the action scenes are hard to follow due to the frantic editing, but this to me is a small complaint.

    Craig has definitely surpassed Connery as my favorite Bond. In QoS, we see Bond's tough side and his more humane nature (cradling a dying Mathis in his arm and his reaction to Field's death).

    I can't wait to see where Craig takes the character next!
  • KylemanKyleman Posts: 3MI6 Agent
    It was go, but if you liked Casino Royale then this will be a bit different. This is because it isn't as slow as that one and the story is not long out into it. They tell you the story and they fight there way though it.
  • 007 James007 James Posts: 5MI6 Agent
    I Maybe dislike this movie the most of all the Bonds. Even Die Another Day had some moments, but in this movie all, and I mean ALL the classic Bond elements seem to have been filtered out. For the first time ever, I had the feeling I wasn't watching a Bondfilm.
    Just this is the reason for me saying this.
    Furthermore,
    I didn't like the villain(s)
    I didn't like the editing
    I didn't like the music(I liked the song a bit, but the rest was crap)
    I didn't like the directing

    I think that was the major point, they just shouldn't have given the direction to that damn Marc Forster. Give it to someone good who actually wants it. Marc Forster told in an interview that at first he wasn't actually even feeling this movie!!
    I give it a 2/10
  • zaphodzaphod Posts: 1,183MI6 Agent
    007 James wrote:
    I Maybe dislike this movie the most of all the Bonds. Even Die Another Day had some moments, but in this movie all, and I mean ALL the classic Bond elements seem to have been filtered out. For the first time ever, I had the feeling I wasn't watching a Bondfilm.
    Just this is the reason for me saying this.
    Furthermore,
    I didn't like the villain(s)
    I didn't like the editing
    I didn't like the music(I liked the song a bit, but the rest was crap)
    I didn't like the directing

    I think that was the major point, they just shouldn't have given the direction to that damn Marc Forster. Give it to someone good who actually wants it. Marc Forster told in an interview that at first he wasn't actually even feeling this movie!!
    I give it a 2/10

    I'd expect a lot of flak if I were you. I think a number of us who are not fond of QOS have almost stopped posting as it's akin to heresy in these parts;)
  • HardyboyHardyboy Posts: 5,906Chief of Staff
    zaphod wrote:
    I'd expect a lot of flak if I were you. I think a number of us who are not fond of QOS have almost stopped posting as it's akin to heresy in these parts;)

    Are you confusing us with some other site? Loeffelholz doesn't call QoS "reviled" (TM Loeffs) for the heck of it!
    Vox clamantis in deserto
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    edited January 2009
    007 James wrote:
    I Maybe dislike this movie the most of all the Bonds. Even Die Another Day had some moments, but in this movie all, and I mean ALL the classic Bond elements seem to have been filtered out. For the first time ever, I had the feeling I wasn't watching a Bondfilm.
    Just this is the reason for me saying this.
    Furthermore,
    I didn't like the villain(s)
    I didn't like the editing
    I didn't like the music(I liked the song a bit, but the rest was crap)
    I didn't like the directing

    I think that was the major point, they just shouldn't have given the direction to that damn Marc Forster. Give it to someone good who actually wants it. Marc Forster told in an interview that at first he wasn't actually even feeling this movie!!
    I give it a 2/10

    I wouldn't worry too much about taking flak, 007 James ;) There are quite a few devoted Bond fans, both here and elsewhere, who feel exactly the same way. QoS is a singular Bond film, I think---especially in the way people seem to have very little middle ground. They either love it, or they hate it.

    I can understand both points of view: I really like the film, I can appreciate the artistic goals to which it aspires, and IMNO it largely (not totally) achieves them---but I can certainly understand why many feel otherwise. I find it a fascinating, if unapologetic, entry in the Bond film canon.

    BTW...wecome to AJB! {[]
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • zaphodzaphod Posts: 1,183MI6 Agent
    Hardyboy wrote:
    zaphod wrote:
    I'd expect a lot of flak if I were you. I think a number of us who are not fond of QOS have almost stopped posting as it's akin to heresy in these parts;)

    Are you confusing us with some other site? Loeffelholz doesn't call QoS "reviled" (TM Loeffs) for the heck of it!

    No I'm not confusing anything, just speaking from personal experience and by looking at some of the comments in various threads. That said now that the initial rush of seeing a new Bond film is largely over it does seem that more tolerance and balance has been evident lately both by those who like and dislike QOS which is a good thing.
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    edited January 2009
    Comments in various threads, indeed. Not at all pretty in spots...not quite Craig WarsTM Ugly, but quite close enough.

    Surely it's best to move on {[]
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • zaphodzaphod Posts: 1,183MI6 Agent
    Comments in various threads, indeed. Not at all pretty in spots...not quite Craig WarsTM Ugly, but quite close enough.

    Surely it's best to move on {[]

    Wholeheartedly agree.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    A Jason Bourne Movie With Daniel Craig
    Giving An Impression Of Stephen Segal.
    Working For A Large Cinema Chain, I've
    Not seen Many Happy Faces Leaving, The best
    Review I've heard was " It Was Alright "
    I think the next film no matter how good
    will pay the price.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • John DrakeJohn Drake On assignmentPosts: 2,564MI6 Agent
    edited February 2009
    Giving An Impression Of Stephen Segal.

    Craig was classier than that. I'm thinking Michael Dudikoff in American Ninja 2. By the way, this is how you impersonate Steven Seagal.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXx3_ykUpfY
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Got the QOS DVD Today and have to say it's a lot better the 2nd time around.I think on first seeing it I was so annoyed by the quick editing that I didn't really get into it.
    2nd time The editing still seemed very fast(just s couple of seconds longer on some cuts could make a big diffrence) and I still can't see how Bond made the Villans boat flip(It has been explained to me,But I still cant see it).
    I think this is a film that might grow on me, In the cinema I thought Bond drinking six vespers was him drowning his sorrows( to me a sign of weakness,and dosen't sit well with my view of Bond)But on seeing it again I Don't get that empression.
    ALL in all not as bad a film as I remembered and it will be moving up my favorites list,It's not perfect and I hope they make some changes to editing and alike for Bond 23.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • 82Benedetto82Benedetto Posts: 64MI6 Agent
    Quantum of Solace doesn't hold a candle to Casino Royale, but I don't think it's all that bad.

    For me, it was better than a lot of the other Bond films for a number of reasons. First and foremost, no corny gadgets.....it still felt true to Fleming's novels. Secondly, I think Craig is a phenomenal actor and my personal favorite Bond by far. The movie does move quickly and there is a lot to comprehend, but I still think it's much better than many of the other Bond movies out there.

    We must also keep in mind that Bond was not always the stone cold womanizer we see in later films. It may not feel like a typical "bond movie" because Bond did just lose someone loved.... I think quantum further shows us how Bond develops in this regard. It's a change of pace.

    Anyway, I thought the acting was fairly good and the soundtrack was good. I wasn't a fan of the editing, either.

    So my opinion - Not a bad film, but not the best. A good movie that stays fairly true to Fleming's bond and gives us a deeper look into the psyche Bond rarely shows.
  • Number24Number24 NorwayPosts: 22,331MI6 Agent
    I didn't like:

    - The editing in the PTS car-chase. Too
    confusing and Bourne-like.
    - Elvis the henchman. He is remembered only for his hairstyle - the weakest henchman yet?
    - The editing of the parachute jump into the sinkhole. A slower editing would sell the action far better.
    - I missed an inteligent gadget. Perhaps Bond using a listening device in the Port-au-Prince harbour?
    - The scene in MI6 HQ where the money trail is explained. Looked like something out of "Minority report".
    - The aritecture Perla des Dunas was perhaps a bit underused?


    I liked:

    - The acting, plot and visual style (other than some editing)
    - Mr. Greene. Very slimy. He didn't have to be physically imposing and a trained killler because of the nature of the sitiations where he met Bond.
    - I liked the title song. The song was like the film: fast and raw, but still very bondian. The Graphics of the title sequnce was very good.
    - QoS tied up the (love) knots from CR nicely.
    - Fields was a throwback to the Bond-girls of the seventies, but in the nicest possible way.
    - Finally Bond beds a redhair, for the first time since DAF?
    - The humor was smart and used sparingly.
    - There was an anti-US slant in QoS. Very good, but a bit overdue since Dubya has left the building?

    Scenes I particularely liked:

    -The fight in the Sienna art gallery
    -The whole opera scene.
    -The whole scene in the La Paz hotel after Bond
    gets the "run!" message.
    -Bond checking the pulse of his attacker in the Port-au-Prince hotel, calmly waiting for the pulse to stop.
    -When Bond "releases" Greene in the desert.
    -Dame Judi Dench
    -Bond switching hotels in La Paz

    Bottom line: Quantum of Solace is weaker than CR, but stil among my top 5 Bond films.
  • zaphodzaphod Posts: 1,183MI6 Agent
    3rd time lucky..

    I have not been a fan of QOS although I thought CR superb. I recently watched QOS again for the third time. While it's still a dissapointment after CR and will never be a favourite of mine (no point in re hashing reasons here) it is also a long way from the complete disaster I had thought it to be. Things that just did not add up started to hang together, and I saw some of the tiny details that have been clear to others. Admittedly I had to keep going back to so, because it really is a case of 'blink and you'll miss it'. whether you think this makes it an uncompromising Bond movie, or a confused one reamins a matter of personal taste and judgement, but I certainly got a lot more from it the third time around.
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    I'm glad you enjoyed it a bit more the third time round, zaphod! :) There're plenty of flaws there, no doubt about it...and the editing is probably the real villain of the piece :#
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
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