Quantum of Solace Appreciation Thread- We Found a Better Place to Meet

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  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    doubleoego wrote: »
    QoS is a great film and doesn't try too hard to constantly tap audiences on the shoulder reminding them that this is a Bond film.

    On the flip side it's clearly directed by a man, self-confessed no less, who had no interest in Bond movies. I hate slavish homage as much as the next man, but I'm even less enamoured with those who are embarrassed to make a Bond film. Some awesome moments, but lacking the necessary DNA.
  • Not as good as CR and SF, there's still some really good study in this picture.
  • GBFGBF
    Posts: 3,197
    The main problem I have with QoS is its lack of strong and interesting villains. Everyone points at Bond's vulnerability in this film but he can still easily succeed over the poor villains in that film. I mean how are they presented here? The two main villains Greene and White are both put by Bond in the boot of Bond's car. How degrading is that? A good Bond film requires an equal match for Bond. Something QoS cannot deliver.
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    GBF wrote: »
    The main problem I have with QoS is its lack of strong and interesting villains. Everyone points at Bond's vulnerability in this film but he can still easily succeed over the poor villains in that film. I mean how are they presented here? The two main villains Greene and White are both put by Bond in the boot of Bond's car. How degrading is that? A good Bond film requires an equal match for Bond. Something QoS cannot deliver.

    As Hitchcock said, the better the villain the better the picture.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    edited March 2016 Posts: 9,020
    QOS just starts wrong.
    You get a theoretical car chase that could be the greatest thing since Ronin, but no, they think hyper fast editing is the latest craze and has to be in a Bond movie. WRONG.

    But that's it for the negatives. Everything else is splendid.

    Strawberry Fields, Felix, M, Tanner, Camille and Mathis - an incredible supporting cast for Craig and of course the baddies, Greene and the despicable Beam and Medrano.

    Luckily most of the action that follows the failed PTS is watchable despite the still fast editing, but it's nowhere near the insane level of the car chase.

    The score is fantastic! David Arnold outdid himself - AGAIN.

    The Opera sequence is a true classic that can be included into the hall of fame of the best Bond movie sequences.

    The greatest kill ever in a Bond movie. I can't put in words how awesomely cool that is:
    Bond leaving Dominic Greene in the desert with a can of oil. One of my absolute favourite scenes with Craig as Bond.

    Also, QOS is one of the view Bond movies I would have no difficulties re-watching immediately.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,960
    @BondJasonBond006, and that's your opinion on the negatives. Myself, I enjoy how the movie kicks off with that beautiful shot of the water, as the score gets more and more intense, leading up to all of the gunfire and engine revving sounds kicking in. It's frenetic, it's intense, it's exactly what I wanted. People complain about the frenetic editing of it, then some complain that the SP chase scene being too slow-paced and boring, so I'm not sure what else they should do. Is it really that hard for some to follow the PTS? I can replay the near entirety of it in my head with no issues, maybe had to see it two or three times in theaters to really nail down exactly what was going on when, but other than that, it's really not as bad as people make it out to be.
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    @BondJasonBond006, and that's your opinion on the negatives. Myself, I enjoy how the movie kicks off with that beautiful shot of the water, as the score gets more and more intense, leading up to all of the gunfire and engine revving sounds kicking in. It's frenetic, it's intense, it's exactly what I wanted. People complain about the frenetic editing of it, then some complain that the SP chase scene being too slow-paced and boring, so I'm not sure what else they should do. Is it really that hard for some to follow the PTS? I can replay the near entirety of it in my head with no issues, maybe had to see it two or three times in theaters to really nail down exactly what was going on when, but other than that, it's really not as bad as people make it out to be.

    I agree. The opening was sublime. Still, it's not perfect as it could have been executed better with more eye-friendly editing but damn it's an intensely gripping car chase.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,960
    Agreed that it could've been more eye-friendly, but personally, I wouldn't change a thing about it. Gripping, intense, brutal - in fact, that's how I describe almost all of QoS, which is something I really loved about it.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,789
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    Agreed that it could've been more eye-friendly, but personally, I wouldn't change a thing about it. Gripping, intense, brutal - in fact, that's how I describe almost all of QoS, which is something I really loved about it.
    Same here.
    In TLD Necros got the boot.
    In TND Stamper got the boot.
    In QOS both White AND Greene got the boot.
    I love booty call....
  • Posts: 1,631
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    Agreed that it could've been more eye-friendly, but personally, I wouldn't change a thing about it. Gripping, intense, brutal - in fact, that's how I describe almost all of QoS, which is something I really loved about it.

    Agreed. There's not much about Quantum of Solace that I don't like. It's a terrific film, for the reasons that you already stated as well as some others.

    I thought that they had really done a good job of building off of Casino Royale and setting up the franchise for an interesting road forward with Bond battling Quantum. It's a shame that all of that was forced to the side for the vision that Mendes had for the franchise, which really flew in the face of the concept of the reboot.
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,195
    QoS has worked it's way up my list; in a way it makes it's weaknesses more frustrating. It could have been the perfect companion/follow-up to CR. More time to polish the script and characters plus Martin Campbell returning as director could have made this a classic. Oh, and a better title song, even though I don't think it's as bad as most seem to feel.
  • doubleoego wrote: »
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    @BondJasonBond006, and that's your opinion on the negatives. Myself, I enjoy how the movie kicks off with that beautiful shot of the water, as the score gets more and more intense, leading up to all of the gunfire and engine revving sounds kicking in. It's frenetic, it's intense, it's exactly what I wanted. People complain about the frenetic editing of it, then some complain that the SP chase scene being too slow-paced and boring, so I'm not sure what else they should do. Is it really that hard for some to follow the PTS? I can replay the near entirety of it in my head with no issues, maybe had to see it two or three times in theaters to really nail down exactly what was going on when, but other than that, it's really not as bad as people make it out to be.

    I agree. The opening was sublime. Still, it's not perfect as it could have been executed better with more eye-friendly editing but damn it's an intensely gripping car chase.

    I agree as well. The opening is fantastic.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,960
    If I had to pick a part of the movie I don't particularly care for, I'd say it's the airplane sequence. It doesn't do much for me, though it's still pretty well done. It's just a part in the movie where it drags a little bit and I'm eager to get to the scenes that occur next. Once they land in the sinkhole, things pick up much more for me.
  • Posts: 7,405
    Nice to see the appreciation for QoS, which I am also a huge fan of. Its a pity this didn't transfer to the The Great Bond movie elimination game thread, where QoS exited far too early!
  • ShardlakeShardlake Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 4,043
    QOS has grown in stature over the years for me and that PTS is magnificent.

    If I was going to nail down the negatives I'd say the chase in Sienna is just too wild and all over the place, some complain about the car chase but it's fine for me, the chase is a step too far.

    Then the boat chase isn't great but after than QOS with the exception of the plane dog fight and awful sinkhole sequence is fine. Bond and Mathis sequences are great and the Bregenz sequence is masterful. I love the climax in the desert and Bond confronting Vesper's lover.

    Also this for me is Arnold's best score, he was really onto something here and a number of the cues are great, the scoring really went up a notch after the promising but patch CR score. Also the title tune is nowhere as bad as some say especially in light of that Sam Smith travesty.

    Also in light of the downright disappointment of SPECTRE I can see where QOS got it right and realise it's nowhere as a mess as that tonally awkward and underwhelming film.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,789
    Yes, QOS is the superiour film IMO, but both it and SP have tremendous re-watchability factors!
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    chrisisall wrote: »
    Yes, QOS is the superiour film IMO, but both it and SP have tremendous re-watchability factors!

    I find it hard to re-watch SP...and SF too for that matter. There's just this huge disconnect where on principle the films look so promising but then one realises how laborious a chore it is to sit through them. I'd just rather be doing something else. On the flip side, QoS as we all know is far from perfect but one of the advantages it has over SF and SP is that it doesn't outstay it's welcome for the negatives to really choke one to death.
  • ForYourEyesOnlyForYourEyesOnly In the untained cradle of the heavens
    Posts: 1,984
    It's grown on me, definitely, but I still can't bring myself to elevate it from the high-10's (and by that, I mean closer to 20 than 10).
  • ShardlakeShardlake Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 4,043

    doubleoego wrote: »
    chrisisall wrote: »
    Yes, QOS is the superiour film IMO, but both it and SP have tremendous re-watchability factors!

    I find it hard to re-watch SP...and SF too for that matter. There's just this huge disconnect where on principle the films look so promising but then one realises how laborious a chore it is to sit through them. I'd just rather be doing something else. On the flip side, QoS as we all know is far from perfect but one of the advantages it has over SF and SP is that it doesn't outstay it's welcome for the negatives to really choke one to death.

    I'd agree with you on SP, I've seen it twice and I can't say I'm relishing the next time hence why I've not bought the Blu ray on day of release ( a first in the Craig era that must tell you something).

    As SF I don't get the chore myself, I do think though I might be moving towards CR being his best film now but it's only marginal, neither film is perfect and has it's flaws but the pluses outweigh the minuses for me with both, the same goes for QOS although I still think it's more flawed than the other 2.

    SP is without a doubt the most flawed though, I know some think it a blast but I can see this film becoming more a chore as time goes on, it's just not exciting, it thinks it is but apart from the PTS which as great as it is I prefer the previous films openings.

    SPECTRE feels all surface and no depth and maybe that is why some here think it's so good because it dispenses with that element that is hallmark of DC's era but this is what made Craig's Bond and it's probably why I think he was better in the previous entries, it's not his performance it's what he's been given to perform.

  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,960
    SP has more rewatchability for me than SF does (now THAT one is a chore to get through), but none of them even match QoS. In fact, I'd even stretch to say that Bond may benefit from going back to a running time that's closer to two hours, not one that is borderline two and a half hours long, as there always seems to be a large section of the movie that feels unnecessary for me (i.e. the entire London finale in SP.)
  • Posts: 1,631
    QoS has a tremendous rewatch factor working in its favor, something that cannot be said for SP. I still haven't been able to get through that one on Blu-ray, despite several tries. QoS is a much stronger film, partly because it's shorter and to the point, but it also does a much better job of setting up a new villainous organization. For my money, SP pretty much fails in that regard, as well as in many other areas.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    @Creasy47

    While I agree on running time, SP never once seemed to me like a 2 hours 30 minute movie. It just flies by and I never felt the London segment is unnecessary.
    If anything than the venice segment in CR could maybe have been omitted for something shorter. But of course I also like that segment.

    QOS has one of the highest re-watching values, maybe it would even win in that category.

    It's a shame really, without that crime of an editing job, QOS probably would have been perceived much, much better by the general public. I think, the editing is the main if not sole reason why QOS is "disliked" that much.

  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    Posts: 15,713
    I agree 100% with my friend @Creasy47. A 2 hours running time is perfect as far as I'm concern.
  • Posts: 3,336
    Agree a bond movie should be around 2 hours. Then i can watch em more often. :D
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    Posts: 15,713
    The 2.5 hours run time I understood for CR and OHMSS, but not SF and SP. What's the point in having a longer run time if Bond wanders around MI6 for almost 30 minutes before getting his mission and going on location? I'm not against longer outings but IMO that should mean that the mission is longer, and not having overlong MI6 sequence. Look at the Moore films like LALD, TMWTGG, TSWLM, MR, FYEO or AVTAK. Within 5 minutes of run time after the Credit Sequence, Sir Rog is on location doing his job.
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    dalton wrote: »
    QoS has a tremendous rewatch factor working in its favor, something that cannot be said for SP. I still haven't been able to get through that one on Blu-ray, despite several tries. QoS is a much stronger film, partly because it's shorter and to the point, but it also does a much better job of setting up a new villainous organization. For my money, SP pretty much fails in that regard, as well as in many other areas.

    I salute this post.
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    The 2.5 hours run time I understood for CR and OHMSS, but not SF and SP. What's the point in having a longer run time if Bond wanders around MI6 for almost 30 minutes before getting his mission and going on location? I'm not against longer outings but IMO that should mean that the mission is longer, and not having overlong MI6 sequence. Look at the Moore films like LALD, TMWTGG, TSWLM, MR, FYEO or AVTAK. Within 5 minutes of run time after the Credit Sequence, Sir Rog is on location doing his job.

    That's because Mendes regrettably frequently wastes scenes.
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    Posts: 15,713
    @doubleoego if Mendes had directed 'Winter Soldier', the jogging sequence at the start would last 25 minutes before we get to the boat rescue. ;)
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    Haha perish the thought.
  • dominicgreenedominicgreene The Eternal QOS Defender
    Posts: 1,756
    Quantum of Solace is one of the best Bond films, and it's extremely underrated. This is BOND. Plain and simple. Sure, it's not the cinematic Bond we're used to, but it feels very Fleming with a mix of cinematic Bond. That's why so many people were disappointed with it, because it didn't feel like "cinematic Bond". Which is precisely why I enjoy this movie so much. It feels more like a Fleming novel (mind you, I haven't read many). That's why they're usually two types of Bond fans: those who cherish movies like FRWL, QoS, OHMSS, etc and those who love GF, YOLT, TSWLM, SP, etc. People who are quick to criticise the movie for not using the line "Bond, James Bond" and "Vodka Martini, shaken not stirred" forget FRWL.

    Random things I enjoy about this movie:

    - Soundtrack is amazing
    - Cinematography is second to Skyfall
    - Fast and doesn't waste time -- not a single second is wasted.
    - Masculine Bond kicks ass, pretty much an idol to introverted people like myself since he is one.
    - The whole movie feels very nostalgic for me, I'm not sure if anyone else feels this way.
    - Relationship between Bond and Camille is perfect: feels natural and unforced.
    - Action scenes are extremely entertaining (IMO)
    - No IN YOUR FACE homages EXCEPT oil covered girl -- despite what people say, I thought it was a great homage that actually worked.
    - Intelligent, real world plot, that has a place for 007's interference.
    -- Great villain that isn't over the top. Just simply a bad, slimy person you actually want to see go down, and not sympathise with unlike most Bond movies.
    - MK12 did an amazing job on the opening title credits IMHO -- better than Spectre.


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