Quantum Title
Bondlike
Posts: 26MI6 Agent
Perhpas its a bit late to make htis point--But i am tired of so many people asking me what the phrase "Quantum of Solace" means. If the producers were not using Fleming material, but were wedded to the idea of using a Fleming title, why not just name the film the much more tantalizing and understandable, "The Property of a Lady" and make that title a reference to the algerian love knot belonging to Vesper--that Bond keeps? Granted, the phrase has already appeared in Octopussy, but that didnt stop them with "TWINE" or "LTK"--thoughts please
Comments
Why thank you!;) I missed my true calling in life-being a writer for EON....
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Crushing my dreams Number 24, crushing my dreams....
Mathis was the best choice to explain the title, but if you ask me how.. well it beats me.
Plus if you're clever enough to look up the word 'quantum' and 'solace', then you'll be able to see that it relates to the theme of the film.
That's a very cool idea, the combination property and the love knot.
Apart from that, I really like the Title QoS, it's only a missed opportunity that there wasn't a dialog or a song explaining/making use of the title.
The fact that the evil organization is named Quantum is clumsy to me, because the title makes it sound like they're some type of Retirement Home association.
Talk about evil
I was really surprised they went with this one...guess it just proves anything can happen. Recently Michael G. Wilson was asked about The Hildebrand Rarity, and he replied (paraphrasing), "Well, if we can get away with Quantum of Solace..."
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
At this point, I'm glad they're not shoehorning the title into the film through dialogue or whatever since that, too, is so formulaic, and it's too early to just go back to where Bond bogged down creatively these past years.
Look, he was ready to chuck his whole career away for Vesper. That's because he couldn't see any point in it any more-not in the face of love.
But when that fails, he still goes on. The question is why? Why go on in that crazy business of spy versus spy?
Bond is NOT out for revenge in this film at all. He does not kill White. He does not kill Greene. He doesn't kill the "boyfriend" at the end either. Bond is in control the whole way. Other people like M think he's out of it but he isn't. He really is interested in finding out who is behind Mr. White. That's what he wants-besides Vesper back alive again, of course. Not revenge. Justice. Not blood and pain-truth and honor.
But that's not going to happen. So where is his motivation? His own people, (MI6) and the other good guys, (CIA) don't care about right and wrong. They want results and they will get in bed with anyone to get them. And if Bond is sacrificed for the sake of oil, so be it as far as his bosses are concerned.
So, HOW do you find a reason to fight when your own folks won't back you? Or even worse when your own people will turn you over to be killed? WHY fight at all when you could be used to protect a villain as easily as a good person?
Without that sense of inner decency and doing the right thing no matter what there would be no reason to come back to the Service at all.
THAT's what Bond is looking for-a Quantum of Solace inside that will propel him to do his job with passionate focus and inner strength. Doesn't matter what his boss says. Doesn't matter what his friends say. Bond must know that he is following the right path because his heart says so. That is what he is seeking in seeking the truth about Greene and his people.
As someone who works against pedophilia on a regular basis I can sympathize with Bond's onscreen need to take comfort in what he does. So what is a Quantum of Solace for people who deal with bad things?
It is the measure of comfort you get from doing your best that makes it possible to go on even when you don't always get the Big Fish behind it all.
So for all the cops, fire fighters, EMTs, doctors, PIs and others who wonder if what they do makes any damn difference, may you find your Quantum of Solace that keeps you sane and fighting on, regardless...
Keep hope alive, Discovolante. I wrote "a possible exeption". I just ment this dream may not be certain to become reality, just like my dream of becoming a head of a major film studio.
But probably it will happen, at least if my dream comes true first!