James Bond: The Quantum of Solace

[Mike]

Starting 1 hour after James Bond: Casino Royale the film starts with Mr Bond being chased around a cool bit of road in an Austin Martin. This was a cool start to the film and gets off to the right start. As did Casino Royale to be fair! However, where CR failed to keep us entertained this film was perky, fast paced and action packed to the MAX. It was so speedy at some points it was hard to see what was actually going on. The length was also considerably shorter which was just what it needed to keep people entertained.

The downsides to this film were twofold:
1) The slightly confused story line. They were going for a 'what is going on' type feel but never really brought it together in a good understanding.
2) The frequent look a 'Ford' 'look a 'Land Rover' (also Ford) aren't they cool? If Bond can drive them and look this suave then so can you blatant marketing attempts! I honestly don't mind the villains running round in rubbish cars but NOT BOND! Honestly, stop being marketing whores.

Other than that it is a great action film to see in the cinema. Recommended with .

PS There was some off screen entertainment but I don't think we actually got to the bottom of what that was all about. I was thinking about the screeching going off and running around the cinema at about 3/4 the way through.

PPS I wonder if the people practically having it off next to Chrissie were able to tell us what was going on in the film!

[mr_e]

The pacing was definitely miles better than Casino Royale. It's also nice to see some continuity between Bond films, allowing some of the characters to be developed a little (the ones that survive, that is).

"What's that noise?"
"It's the fuel cells, the complex is built on them."
"Sounds dangerous."

Quality. Paraphrased a bit though.

What was so confusing about the story line? There was of course that secretive organisation we still don't know much about, but I assume that'll be dealt with in the next film. One of the action sequences was shot in a deliberately disjointed, almost flashback-like manner for that "chaos" feel, but otherwise most other stuff seemed fairly clear in the end.

I must be an advertiser's dream, because I usually fail to notice the product placement in films (even "Run Fat Boy, Run"). I'm worried this means I'll be inclined to buy Land Rovers in future because I've absorbed the message subliminally. Oh no! Having said that, a 4X4 would be more useful in a desert than a sports car.

Edit for rating:

Pretty much everything you might want from a Bond film, some dark humour in there for good measure as well. I'm beginning to like the more rugged, less super-suave version of Mr. Bond a lot.

[Mike]

. . . a 4X4 would be more useful in a desert than a sports car.

Sure would. They were driving land rovers around towns too. That and Ford Mondeo type cars. Don't forget though, they managed to get an Austin Martin driving on Ice on one of the recent films.

[mr_e]

I've only just realised... no gadgets! How the hell I didn't notice that before now, I have no idea. Not an invisible, ice-skating car in sight. Seems like the sensible-car Bond era may be here.

Maybe they were driving 4X4s in town because it was like, dead rough around there and they might need to drive into a desert at any given moment? Plus they have more boot space for bodies.

[stimpsonslostson]

Avenging Bond kicks MORE ass!

ps Mike, Austin Martin? I've got a mental image of bond tearing around in an old allegro.
pps MrE, surely the point of an invisible ice skating car is that its invisible. You may console yourself with the thought that there MAY have been one, but we couldn't see it!

[liz.brownlloyd]

I'm glad you all enjoyed it. I thought they tried to pack a little too much in and maybe could have done with 1/2 more to explain Vespa's boyfriend etc. Other than that really enjoyed it.



I'll have to take John or otherwise he will feel very left out!

[Bambi]

for the film


for Daniel Craig!

I really enjoyed it - it was very fast paced, lots of action. Not the biggest story line and i have to confess I was surprised when the end arrived as it wasn't the big bond climax I'd expected. But overall an enjoyable film that will no doubt end up in our DVD collection.

[mr_e]

Speaking to Stan last night, he preferred Casino Royale. I can begin to see his point: whilst it had its problems (too long), it was maybe a bit more memorable. There were no huge set-pieces, like destroying floating lairs or space-battles, so in a way I can see their point. Is the Bond franchise becoming more like the the Bourne trilogy, perhaps?

Phil: good spot! Totally didn't articulate myself well there. Maybe there were invisible hovering 4X4s in this one as well...

[Mike]

Watched again on the small screen and only gets a . Too much flash not much bang.

[Lizzie]

Boring!!! Couldn't wait for it to end !!!

DC doesn't have any of the wit or charm of previous Bonds that was so endearing.