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Quantum of Solace. Let's make it better!
I'm of the smaller pool that likes Quantum of Solace very much- it just isn't as good as Casino Royale, and in that regard, it disappointed as a follow-up.
But I was searching youtube and came across this:
It's the 'rejected' theme song for Quantum. I REALLY like this song and it would have actually helped the film as a whole- I remember thinking to myself 'thank god' then the opening credits were over when I saw it in the theatre. Not a good way to start a film IMO
Other than that, I've heard others mention: slow down the damn fights- add at least 15 minutes to the film....
What are your thoughts?
But I was searching youtube and came across this:
It's the 'rejected' theme song for Quantum. I REALLY like this song and it would have actually helped the film as a whole- I remember thinking to myself 'thank god' then the opening credits were over when I saw it in the theatre. Not a good way to start a film IMO
Other than that, I've heard others mention: slow down the damn fights- add at least 15 minutes to the film....
What are your thoughts?
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Comments
My suggestions:
1. Cut the car chase as it adds nothing plotwise and begin with the underground interrogation. Many people unfairly criticise films like AVTAK and TWINE but at least they set up their story better than this.
2. Give more screen time to Dominic Green.
3. Give his scheme a bit more clout. The environmental undertone may be a relevant issue but frankly is boring in Bond-land. (e.g. maybe have him poison the water)
4. Cut/slow down the other action sequences
5. Give more screen time to Fields.
6. Don't kill Mathis
Also I was disappointed they didn't dig deeper into the Quantum organization. The opening scene with Mr. White left me wanting more on that story. We still really have no idea what Quantum is about. By From Russia With Love, and Dr. No even, we already had a clear idea what Spectre was about. I would have had some more back-room Quantum scenes to make QOS more interesting.
Also it's not very Bondian, for Camille and Bond to be isolated in a desert together, and no sparks fly what so ever. He doesn't even get the girl in the end.
I agree with the ones I left alone, don't agree with the slashed out ones, and I'm uncertain about the underlined one.
Mathis shouldn't have died, and Greene deserved more screen time.
The action sequences also went a little too long in some scenes (chasing Mitchel in particular) and too short in others (when the CIA moves in on Bond after his meeting with Felix).
Fields was used well, and her death was also done well.
The car chase was a necessary beginning, with a great line at its conclusion. GF's PTS is the one that should have been cut.
Now, about Greene's plan, I actually think it works well. Put a dictator in power (General Mendrano), cause a drought, then extort money out of the dictator they put in power by providing him water & sewer. What else did it need?
Urgh.
At least it has a tune, something AWTD lacks.
Who the heck is Green?!
;)
1. Replace AWTD with WNLY from the game
2. Beef up the diolouge
The song would have made good CR credits music, though.
Compare this (my favourite gunbarrel):
to this (easily my least favourite):
1. I rather liked the car chase. The almost silent shot flying across the lake builds nicely into the chase. Obviously, I don't approve of the excessive automatic weapons useage.
2. Dom Green was a potentially interesting character (good casting) but simply not mad enough. The recent Craig-era tendency towards realism can be as unsatisfying as the Brozza-era fantasy nonsense.
3.Totally agree that Green's 'steal all the water' plan is pretty bland. It reminds me of Dr. Evil's '$1m' demand. He could have at least poisoned the water and threatened to kill everyone.
4. I seem to remember the action being not too bad. Final hotel show-down is not great though. Too much CGI for one thing.
5. Noooooo - Agent Fields was awful. I was actually happy to see her dead, which is surely not the idea.
6. Mathis was okay -acting a touch of eurotrash 'class' that is an essential ingredient of a quality Bond movie - but how many recurring characters does Bond need? I think he'd served his purpose.
Overall, QoS was moderately entertaining and mercifully short after the sometimes slumber-inducing CR. I think the plot and script faults are at least partly down to the writers' strike.
I just think that two lengthy chase scenes in under 15 minutes is pushing things a bit.
I liked the Miami airport scene. Dare I say I preferred it to the construction chase at the start. It was a well shot and exciting sequence and you really felt Bond was desperate to stop the would-be bomber. The icing on the cake was the bomber inadvertantly blowing himself to hell and Craig's evil grin.
2. The whole water plot was a bit weak. A little re-writing and we could have a better - more evil plot, still keeping up with current international issues.
3. As for Dominic Greene, he hasn't got the physical presence that you expect from a Bond villain. Just give us something to remember him by - a clever line if not anything else.
4. I rather liked the action, but the hotel scene wasn't what I hoped it would be. I don't know, maybe I didn't like the location that much.
5. Fields was a bit forgettable. More screen time would maybe solved that problem. Her death was clever enough, though. As for Mathis, I think he could have been given more screen time too, at least killing him of at the end of the film.
Other than that, I don't know, better theme song, a longer movie and better dialogue maybe?
I like the PTS car chase at the begnning of the film but it wasn't really needed. The PTS should of been when Bond arrives with White up to the point when Bond is hanging upside down, by the rope that's wrapped around his ankle, and he shoots the bad guy.
These are great suggestions.
1. Agreed. I think the car chase is irrelevant--who is chasing Bond exactly? Quantum underlings? Where did they come from? Inside White's chateau? Then where were they when Bond trespassed onto the property at the end of CR? Or did White alert them? How? Bond already had him pinned down in CR.
Open with the interrogation and foot chase/fall, leading into the titles.
2. Agreed. The early scenes with Greene and Camille are intriguing and creepy in a Thunderball way but don't go far enough. Did he fall for her while she is merely using him? Is she conflicted about having slept with him to get to Medrano?
3. Agreed. Energy schemes rarely work in Bond films (TMWTTG, TWINE)--it doesn't feel escapist enough.
4. Agreed. Everyone always decries the opening car chase, but I think the boat and plane sequences are just as much of a mess.
5. Agreed. It would have been more dramatic to see Fields in a bit of jeopardy by the villains--a la Della in LTK--before Bond discovers her body.
6. Very much agreed. After many missteps over the years (the rotating cast of Leiters, Jack Wade), they finally found the right actor and role for a believable recurring ally. Mathis should have been a much longer-term ally for Bond. This is the biggest mistake in the entire film for me.