Bond is back!!
November 24th 2008 05:28
I didn’t expect this film to be good, so I had low expectations going in. I walked out completely flabbergasted at just how well James Bond has evolved and excelled on our screens over the past forty years. I cant think of another character who has endured so well, for so long.
You can imagine my unrelenting joy that I was not, in fact, in the least disappointed in the new James Bond film, Quantum of Solace (2008). Not only was it action-packed, entertaining, visually compelling and supported by a strong cast, but it did not attempt to be more than what it is, rely on cliche, nor rest on the proverbial shoulder of its featured past.
Daniel Craig - I should stop right now, because I am about to unleash an amazing amount of joy and love for this man. He has brought so much to Bond, and bless him for it. This is a physically tough role to pull off – I don’t think he stood still for longer than a few seconds. He has it - the wit, charm and ruthlessness of a trained killer and lethal spy.
The film proceeds directly after we left it in Casino Royale (2007) wasting no time in the action stakes. The plot is surprisingly thin, but adequate to keep our interest. Seeking revenge for the death of Vesper Lynd, Bond battles Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), a member of the Quantum organisation posing as an environmentalist, who intends to stage a coup d'état in Bolivia to take control of its water supply. He meets Camille Montes (Olga Kurylenko), who is also on a warpath for other reasons.
Directed by first-time Bonder Marc Forster (Finding Neverland, The Kite Runner), who was hand-picked by Craig, said he wanted the film to be, unlike its predecessor Casino Royale, “tight, quick…like a bullet.” Which, if anything he succeeded in. The film is very fast paced and well edited. Though there is a sense of staleness in direction, like when Mrs Fields comes into shot (which could be just a casting error?) or when minor characters are inexcusably given too much screen time.
Quantum of Solace was shot in six countries - more than any other Bond film; Panama, Chile, Italy, and Austria, and also at the UK's Pinewood Studios. Quantum’s use of location is paramount to its success as the 22nd Bond title.
The story is based on an original idea by producer Michael G. Wilson, and was written with the help of the director and Academy Award winning writer/director Paul Haggis (Crash). The film’s title is taken from the name of a short story in Ian Fleming's anthology For Your Eyes Only (1960), and while literally beautiful somewhat awkwardly worked into the plot. Ultimately Quantum was made the name of the organisation introduced in Casino Royale. Truth is, the title’s pun would have been overtly apparent to the thickest of audiences, and glad it wasn’t pushed. Daniel Craig admitted, “Bond is looking for his quantum of solace and that's what he wants, he wants his closure. Ian Fleming says that if you don't have a quantum of solace in your relationship then the relationship is over. It's that spark of niceness in a relationship that if you don't have you might as well give up…[Bond is] looking for revenge [...] to make himself happy with the world again."
Further, this is a real ‘character study’ of Bond, in his early years. He is a man ravaged by the death of his love and must undergo the conflicting learned reality of revenge and retribution of the soul. Its not an Academy Award winning performance by Craig, but he sure know’s how to sell it.
While Quantum of Solace doesn't hold back with its action sequences and visual effects, Bond is somewhat sexually subdued in this one, which after Pierce Brosnan’s no holds barred, puke-fest romps in The World is Not Enough (1999) and Die Another Day (2001) is refreshingly grounded and ironically alluring. Olga Kurylenko gives a strong performance as a questionable "Bond Girl" and provides a long-awaited, clean slate for future, more realistic Bond conterparts.
“Bond 23” here I come!
Daniel Craig - I should stop right now, because I am about to unleash an amazing amount of joy and love for this man. He has brought so much to Bond, and bless him for it. This is a physically tough role to pull off – I don’t think he stood still for longer than a few seconds. He has it - the wit, charm and ruthlessness of a trained killer and lethal spy.
The film proceeds directly after we left it in Casino Royale (2007) wasting no time in the action stakes. The plot is surprisingly thin, but adequate to keep our interest. Seeking revenge for the death of Vesper Lynd, Bond battles Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), a member of the Quantum organisation posing as an environmentalist, who intends to stage a coup d'état in Bolivia to take control of its water supply. He meets Camille Montes (Olga Kurylenko), who is also on a warpath for other reasons.
Directed by first-time Bonder Marc Forster (Finding Neverland, The Kite Runner), who was hand-picked by Craig, said he wanted the film to be, unlike its predecessor Casino Royale, “tight, quick…like a bullet.” Which, if anything he succeeded in. The film is very fast paced and well edited. Though there is a sense of staleness in direction, like when Mrs Fields comes into shot (which could be just a casting error?) or when minor characters are inexcusably given too much screen time.
Quantum of Solace was shot in six countries - more than any other Bond film; Panama, Chile, Italy, and Austria, and also at the UK's Pinewood Studios. Quantum’s use of location is paramount to its success as the 22nd Bond title.
The story is based on an original idea by producer Michael G. Wilson, and was written with the help of the director and Academy Award winning writer/director Paul Haggis (Crash). The film’s title is taken from the name of a short story in Ian Fleming's anthology For Your Eyes Only (1960), and while literally beautiful somewhat awkwardly worked into the plot. Ultimately Quantum was made the name of the organisation introduced in Casino Royale. Truth is, the title’s pun would have been overtly apparent to the thickest of audiences, and glad it wasn’t pushed. Daniel Craig admitted, “Bond is looking for his quantum of solace and that's what he wants, he wants his closure. Ian Fleming says that if you don't have a quantum of solace in your relationship then the relationship is over. It's that spark of niceness in a relationship that if you don't have you might as well give up…[Bond is] looking for revenge [...] to make himself happy with the world again."
Further, this is a real ‘character study’ of Bond, in his early years. He is a man ravaged by the death of his love and must undergo the conflicting learned reality of revenge and retribution of the soul. Its not an Academy Award winning performance by Craig, but he sure know’s how to sell it.
While Quantum of Solace doesn't hold back with its action sequences and visual effects, Bond is somewhat sexually subdued in this one, which after Pierce Brosnan’s no holds barred, puke-fest romps in The World is Not Enough (1999) and Die Another Day (2001) is refreshingly grounded and ironically alluring. Olga Kurylenko gives a strong performance as a questionable "Bond Girl" and provides a long-awaited, clean slate for future, more realistic Bond conterparts.
“Bond 23” here I come!
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