Along with many other avid James Bond fans out there, I was thrilled to hear that the new film, ‘Quantum of Solace’ was to be gracing the big screen this autumn. With a long line of great films created from the equally fantastic books by Ian Fleming, expectations were running high once again for this new film. The upholding reputation of the James Bond series, makes every film released, a ‘must see’ or so I thought….As I eagerly waited for the opening scene to draw me in, I began to wonder how this new plot would unfold. Unfortunately, I was initially a little disappointed with the opening scene, which I felt was perhaps blurred by the strange theme to the film, sung by Jack White and Alicia Keys, which followed. It was the first time I had heard it, and as a great lover of the wonderfully composed theme songs to the whole series of James Bond films, I have to say I wasn’t impressed. Anyway, I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt and watched intently.
As an action film, overall it was very good. I thoroughly enjoyed each character, the plot was good, and the camera action was very well done. However, it was just an action film. There was no cool, calm and sophisticated Bond, no great traditional lines of; “The name’s Bond, James Bond.” Ok, so there was a moment of passion with a brunette sent to collect Bond, but aside from that he didn’t flirt as he usually would, or portray the gentleman we all know of him at all. The ‘bad guy’ was simply an entrepreneur who went about his business the wrong way, I didn’t feel frightened at all by anyone on the dark side, infact I was more afraid of James Bond drinking himself into oblivion and doing something stupid.
Most of the plot was based around 007 having a broken heart, and seeking revenge. As a result, there were several moments where he went off the rails a little and acted like a school boy. Ok, I’m sure most people can see the reality of this and the audience can empathise with the character, but for crying out loud, this is JAMES BOND! Like I said, don’t get me wrong, it really is a good film. It’s just not Bond. It has always been a little controversial since it was announced Daniel Craig was to be replacing the role of 007. He is a good actor, but can he live up to the expectations left by; Connery, Lazenby, Moore, Daltonand Brosnan. I felt like the directors and producers had tried to recreate a ‘Bourne’ feel with this film, possibly given the popularity. Yes, Bourne is good, but it’s different, and so Bond should have been left as it was intended.
In the meantime, I’ll let you decide for yourself, but the ‘Quantum of Solace’ has possibly just put a huge thorn in the whole Bond series…perhaps they should have quit while they were ahead, after all the films began in 1962, maybe it’s time 007 threw in the towel?….
November 16th, 2008 at 12:18 am
The thing is each actor with their delivery have reflected the zeitgeist of the times.
QoS does not happen after Royale, the story occurs in Cuba, among other places.
Dalton and Lazenby were closest to Fleming’s character. Bond is a flawed agent, just as all 00′s are (there’s about eleven of them)
It may be more useful to read the short story itself.
(I think) the next film will be either:
The Hilldebrand Rarity (A rare bird or fish I think)
“Risico” (Risk)
“The Property of a Lady”
the (very short)
007 in New York
or even based on the completely un-Bondian “The Diamond Smugglers”, which I think was borrowed from for Diamonds are Forever” anyway…
as that is all the stories that are left in the Fleming catalogue. Unless some obscure story turns up that the owners of the author’s estate find.
November 16th, 2008 at 12:38 am
Thank you Jonty, it will be interesting to see what happens next in the line of films. I love the whole Bond series, and I agree they all try and reflect the times, but I just felt a little like Bond lost his signature in the QoS, despite it being a good film.
November 16th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Quantum of Solace is entertaining at least… a lot of high quality visuals, but the movie as a whole could stand to lose six or seven fewer chase scenes
November 17th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
To me it felt like in this iteration Bond became all mouth and no trousers. I wanted more characterisation and dialogue. Casino Royale managed a good deal of plot, intrigue and characterisation alongside the action packed stuff, confirming that the two concepts aren’t mutually exclusive. I really like Daniel Craig as a James Bond, but we didn’t get to see him acting much this time round.
Entertaining, but ultimately one to forget. ***
November 17th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
I’m glad Q-Branch decided to replace the standard sidearm Walther-PPK .38″ with the updated design Walther P-99 .40″. Much as the PPK is a handy light pistol, it’s a bit long in the tooth and the slide can graze the top of the hand as it moves back with those of larger hands.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Bond’s third grazed knuckle of the week was the final straw.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
November 18th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
I’ve not seen this film yet. I’ve not rushed out to see it because of Casino Royale. On its own, Casino Royale was a decent film. But it just doesn’t fit in with the Bond way. Yes, the cars, the gadgets, the women are all stereotypical Bond, but that’s exactly why it works. It’s not Bond without all the gadgets, for instance. You can’t change that. And it’s not like it’s not working – there’s been 20+ films now, all of which have been a relative success.
November 19th, 2008 at 4:36 am
I think Jonth has slightly missed the point. Yes its loud and has lots of eye candy, and there isnt much “Bondishness” in it. But, seeing as the Bond canon officially had a reboot with Casino Royale (the agent earns his 00 status starting out remember?) the idea that 007 is finding his feet in the first too films is acceptable.
Hes brutish and a slightly messy killer in CR, and even more unsubtle in QOS. As the films come out, I would think that craigs character will mellow and the writers will have the chars sophistication increase with experience, re the ladies etc.
Falling in love with Lynd and her death affected him too much because he isnt hardened yet. Give it a few more movies, and we will be back to the 007 character we know.
It wouldnt surprise me to have existing stories re told with the new actor.
November 19th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
“Yes its loud and has lots of eye candy, and there isn’t much ‘Bondishness’ in it. But,seeing as the Bond [filmic] canon officially had a reboot with Casino Royale (the agent earns his 00 status starting out remember?), the idea that 007 is finding his feet in the first two films is acceptable.”
Indeed, though I would refine the oft-made hack favouritism of the ‘reboot’ point. Perhaps Casino Royale is more properly a ‘back to Fleming’ filmic approach that Dalton’s two films made some attempt to address.
I was not aware I was making any point or that there was a point to miss. I was however putting – or making an overture to put – Bond in his Literary (admittedly non-canonical!), sociopolitical and possibly psychosexual contexts. While Fleming’s novels could not be described as high literature or canonical (nor the adaptations), they are not Jeffrey Archer, Dan Brown or James Patterson either!
At least Fleming can write taughtly and journalistically, a model for all journos and writers to admire!
But I digress…
We have to be aware that films, and indeed novels for that matter, are often very much imbued with these Socio-political zeitgeists: ‘THX 1138′, ‘War Games’ in the former, J.D. Salinger’s ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ and Kerouac’s ‘On The Road’ in the latter are good examples.
The Hilldebrand Rarity and Risico could easily be made into films, particularly Risico, as it has a tense, filmic, somewhat noir-ish opening dialogue scene in the first chapter:
“In this bizniss, there is much risico.”
As Lynd double crossed him in Fleming’s novel and committed suicide over her anguish, Bond is both grieving, but cannot allow his grief to mar his mission objectives and is in a sense relieved she is dead at it’s conclusion when being debriefed by ‘M’ on the telephone from France,
“The bitch is dead now.”