Quantum Of Solace (Trailer included plus top 5 recomended Bond films)
November 19th 2008 11:40
For the last year I have been anticipating the release of Quantum Of Solace, ever since I discovered Marc Foster was at the helm of the latest Bond film.
Two years ago when Casino Royale came out it was a complete re-invention of the Bond franchise with Daniel Craig taking the role of 007. Casino Royale proved to be the best film in the franchise since From Russia With Love, returning James Bond to his original rough around the edges, blunt and flawed agent from Ian Fleming’s original book, allowing Casino Royale to have actual substance and not just thrills. It would appear in hindsight that Casino Royale was just the warm up to Quantum Of Solace, which has more artistic meat on it than the majority of art house films released this year but still all the kinetic action and commercial imperatives to make it a success.
In Q.O.S., we pick up right where Casino Royale left off, making it a sequel in the strictest sense and making it mandatory for you to see Casino Royale first. When we last saw James Bond, Vesper Lynd from the British treasury was hired to keep an eye on the money Bond was staked to enter into a poker game in Montenegro, with
$100, 000, 000 at stake, which would potentially be used to finance terrorism. Casino Royale ended with Vesper Lynd betraying Bond, who had fallen in love with her, and killing herself, leaving Bond as a cold wounded animal. Quantum Of Solace begins with Bond bringing in the man responsible for his troubles and upon interrogation M.I.6 (the British Intelligence) learn that there is an organization, who have people on the inside of the C.I.A. and The British Secret Service, leaving everyone under suspicion, especially the loose canon that is Bond.
From a pure narrative perspective, what makes Q.O.S. thrilling is the fact that Bond is now in the audiences perspective and we have to find out who these people are, which results in the most thrilling involvement of the audience. This makes for a slightly different routine to other Bond films in the past.
Marc Foster; the director of Monster’s Ball, Finding Neverland and Kite Runner, magically gives a depth to Q.O.S. that I didn’t think was possible. As an action director Foster proves to be an intense, kinetic one who still manages to find places for emotion and intelligence. Foster’s stamp is all over this film as he brings out a scope of multi-culturism which gives the film a world cinema feel. One of the wonderful touches Foster brings to the film are the constant involvement of extra’s, taking the time to let them be affected by the trouble around them and hearing their story.
Daniel Craig has made himself more at home than ever in the role of 007, it feels right and there is an intelligence to his performance and an emotional core which makes him the best Bond yet (yes, better than Connery and that isn’t easy for me to say). When we watch him it feels as if Bond had never been fleshed out correctly up till now. Obviously in this film the theme of Bond’s emotional journey is extended and sends the film into darker territory, there’s a grey area being explored this time, the very nature of what he does is explored morally and ethically. No one can be trusted and it makes for an exciting ride. It is also a deadly serious one, in fact it may be the most serious Bond film ever, with absolutely not a trace of cheese to be found anywhere. In Casino Royale money was at stake. In Quantum Of Solace, the very earth is at stake along with the character’s souls. I’m actually amazed at how much Foster got into this film thematically. There are still a good number of knife fights, car chases, jumping on top of moving trucks and body counts to be found, but they are not what linger in your mind after the film is over.
The whip lash fight choregraphy is indeed eye boggling like it was in Casino Royale but it doesn’t take us much of a front seat in this new film. The impressive set design never threatens to pollute the film’s earthly feel and is probably an exceptional example of a film as exciting as this one also exercising unbelievable restraint.
The best Bond film yet.
Really Long Link - click here to view the trailer (feel free to educate me on how I can include trailers on the actual page)
My Top 5 recommended Bond film's
1. Quantum Of Solace - I just explained why
2. From Russia With Love - Bond's ego put to the test, stripped down to minimal essentials
3. Casino Royale - Bond's ego put to the test, intellegent film with virtuosic film making
4. You Only Live Twice - Epic and overwhelming with Connery at his best
5. License To Kill - as exciting as Casino Royale, Bond goes rogue, Timothy Dalton is great, so is Benicio Del Toro and Felix Lighter gets fed to the sharks.
Quantum Of Solace directed by Marc Foster
Two years ago when Casino Royale came out it was a complete re-invention of the Bond franchise with Daniel Craig taking the role of 007. Casino Royale proved to be the best film in the franchise since From Russia With Love, returning James Bond to his original rough around the edges, blunt and flawed agent from Ian Fleming’s original book, allowing Casino Royale to have actual substance and not just thrills. It would appear in hindsight that Casino Royale was just the warm up to Quantum Of Solace, which has more artistic meat on it than the majority of art house films released this year but still all the kinetic action and commercial imperatives to make it a success.
In Q.O.S., we pick up right where Casino Royale left off, making it a sequel in the strictest sense and making it mandatory for you to see Casino Royale first. When we last saw James Bond, Vesper Lynd from the British treasury was hired to keep an eye on the money Bond was staked to enter into a poker game in Montenegro, with
$100, 000, 000 at stake, which would potentially be used to finance terrorism. Casino Royale ended with Vesper Lynd betraying Bond, who had fallen in love with her, and killing herself, leaving Bond as a cold wounded animal. Quantum Of Solace begins with Bond bringing in the man responsible for his troubles and upon interrogation M.I.6 (the British Intelligence) learn that there is an organization, who have people on the inside of the C.I.A. and The British Secret Service, leaving everyone under suspicion, especially the loose canon that is Bond.
From a pure narrative perspective, what makes Q.O.S. thrilling is the fact that Bond is now in the audiences perspective and we have to find out who these people are, which results in the most thrilling involvement of the audience. This makes for a slightly different routine to other Bond films in the past.
Marc Foster; the director of Monster’s Ball, Finding Neverland and Kite Runner, magically gives a depth to Q.O.S. that I didn’t think was possible. As an action director Foster proves to be an intense, kinetic one who still manages to find places for emotion and intelligence. Foster’s stamp is all over this film as he brings out a scope of multi-culturism which gives the film a world cinema feel. One of the wonderful touches Foster brings to the film are the constant involvement of extra’s, taking the time to let them be affected by the trouble around them and hearing their story.
Daniel Craig - giving a new intelligence to the role of James Bond
Daniel Craig has made himself more at home than ever in the role of 007, it feels right and there is an intelligence to his performance and an emotional core which makes him the best Bond yet (yes, better than Connery and that isn’t easy for me to say). When we watch him it feels as if Bond had never been fleshed out correctly up till now. Obviously in this film the theme of Bond’s emotional journey is extended and sends the film into darker territory, there’s a grey area being explored this time, the very nature of what he does is explored morally and ethically. No one can be trusted and it makes for an exciting ride. It is also a deadly serious one, in fact it may be the most serious Bond film ever, with absolutely not a trace of cheese to be found anywhere. In Casino Royale money was at stake. In Quantum Of Solace, the very earth is at stake along with the character’s souls. I’m actually amazed at how much Foster got into this film thematically. There are still a good number of knife fights, car chases, jumping on top of moving trucks and body counts to be found, but they are not what linger in your mind after the film is over.
The whip lash fight choregraphy is indeed eye boggling like it was in Casino Royale but it doesn’t take us much of a front seat in this new film. The impressive set design never threatens to pollute the film’s earthly feel and is probably an exceptional example of a film as exciting as this one also exercising unbelievable restraint.
The best Bond film yet.
Really Long Link - click here to view the trailer (feel free to educate me on how I can include trailers on the actual page)
My Top 5 recommended Bond film's
1. Quantum Of Solace - I just explained why
2. From Russia With Love - Bond's ego put to the test, stripped down to minimal essentials
3. Casino Royale - Bond's ego put to the test, intellegent film with virtuosic film making
4. You Only Live Twice - Epic and overwhelming with Connery at his best
5. License To Kill - as exciting as Casino Royale, Bond goes rogue, Timothy Dalton is great, so is Benicio Del Toro and Felix Lighter gets fed to the sharks.
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Comment by peeker
Film Peek Forum
I can't really relate to your point of view of the film, but surely QoS was a good addition.
To add clips put this in the text (without brackets and spaces) "[ HTML3456 ]"code"[ /HTML ]"
cheers,
peeker
Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I enjoyed it to, will critique it on my site soon.