Westside Steve Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Quantum Of Solace Sony PG 13 106 min James Bond is as enduring as an international icon as Elvis, Sinatra or the Beatles, though among them only Bond lives in reality and fiction. You may say, “Wait a minute! There was never a real James Bond” and I’d say sure there is. He’s Sean Connery and though many have played the role (and despite the fact Ian Fleming envisioned David Niven in the role) every one is compared to him. Even though the franchise has slowly drifted away from the suave Fleming character it didn’t seem synthesized until Roger Moore donned the tuxedo and sipped a vodka martini; shaken not stirred. The legend of Bond has grown in past years as the original stream of novels dried up and as the nearly magical spy gadgets became a bigger part of the show. Those have taken a back seat in the last couple films as Daniel Craig takes the helm as a tougher more somber Bond. Craig’s CASINO ROYALE is the foreword to QUANTUM OF SOLACE and if you’re into continuity you may want to go back and review that one. I found myself a little confused having forgotten some of the characters and motivations from a year ago. Here we find the usual international bad guys, super secret organizations and sinister world scale mischief. In ROYALE Bond’s paramour and possible betrayer winds up on the wrong side of the grass, as do so many of his ladies. With a chance for revenge at hand M (Judi Dench) wonders whether he’s the right man to investigate, well, whatever it is that needs investigated. This shadow organization includes the creepy Mr. Green, a greedy bastard with plans of controlling the world’s most precious resource. Yeah I know, not being eco friendly is a big crime in the PC world. The whole plot is unfortunately a little muddy and you may wonder just what all the spectacular chase scenes, impressive location shots, fights and gunfire are for. What we do know is that we don’t like Mr. Green or his nasty South American dictator buddy or the guys who are framing as a renegade. As long as a PG 13 rating is necessary in order to rake in the huge dollars it’s going to be very hard to make the bad guys personally evil enough to work up a properly vehement aversion. Global domination, eh? Like the song says, “Everybody wants to rule the world.” As usual what’s good is very good but the series may be reverting to its old habit of allowing the production to eclipse the story. C+ WSS westsidesteve@aol.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicopee John Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 I am not a 'movie person' in that I make it to the theater about once every few years and rarely watch movies on DVD. So............maybe I can give the perspective of somebody who had to be asked 5 five times before agreeing to accompany my brother in law and my son to see this movie. Like Steve I, too, look at Sean Connery as THE Bond and remember watching the likes of Goldfinger at the old Rivoli Theater in wonderful downtown Chicopee, MA. However, I digress. I did not see Casino Royale and neither did Jack. Apparently this movie picks up minutes after the conclusion of Royale so I was out of sorts right off the bat. I never really did get the plot, although that Eastern European actress was enough to keep my interest - at least for a while. Some car chases, some espionage, etc., but nothing to make me want to recommend it. Just the opposite. Any way, not for somebody who simply wants to be entertained for a couple of hours. Give me a 'story' and I will be happy. Even the trailers, except maybe for the Cruise movie about the plot to execute Hitler, looked overstuffed, overblown and focused on some type of supernatural or fantasy theme. Just my take and not an educated take at that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffer X Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 I'm not a huge Bond geek, but I saw Casino Royale about 6 months ago and was extremely surprised how much I liked it. I dig this Craig guy and the more baddass they've made the character. I'll probably check this new one out since I'm fresh on the plot continuation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicopee John Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 I'm not a huge Bond geek, but I saw Casino Royale about 6 months ago and was extremely surprised how much I liked it. I dig this Craig guy and the more baddass they've made the character. I'll probably check this new one out since I'm fresh on the plot continuation. Sounds like you will enjoy it I'm not sure I got my thought across - even to myself. IMHO, just not a good movie to 'drop in' and see without context. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobalaz Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 I know this Bond is supposed to be closer to the books, but I grew up with all the nifty gadgets and big special effects car chase scenes. It just doesn't feel like Bond, and since it carries the Bond name I just don't seem to care for it. Casino Royal was a big let down for me as well. I'm not saying it's bad, just not my cup of tea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calfoxwc Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 Sean Connery is the REAL James Bond. Errol Flynn is the REAL Robin Hood. Jonny Weismuller is the REAL Tarzan. George Reeves is the REAL Superman. The rest are second hand inventions of sequels. Some things just need to be said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westside Steve Posted February 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 I know this Bond is supposed to be closer to the books, but I grew up with all the nifty gadgets and big special effects car chase scenes. It just doesn't feel like Bond, and since it carries the Bond name I just don't seem to care for it. Casino Royal was a big let down for me as well. I'm not saying it's bad, just not my cup of tea. Actually Fleming wanted David Niven. WSS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kshutchins Posted June 14, 2009 Report Share Posted June 14, 2009 Am I the only one who thinks long chase/fight scenes are starting to all look alike? Many of them are excruciatingly long and just more of the same. Whatever happened to spicy dialog? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westside Steve Posted June 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 Am I the only one who thinks long chase/fight scenes are starting to all look alike? Many of them are excruciatingly long and just more of the same. Whatever happened to spicy dialog? KS I'm bored shitless by them most of the time. Not to mention two plus horus of blowing shit up. YOu really need to be at the top of your game to make this stuff interesting in the world of modern technology. WSS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gipper Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 KS I'm bored shitless by them most of the time. Not to mention two plus horus of blowing shit up. YOu really need to be at the top of your game to make this stuff interesting in the world of modern technology. WSS The thing about perhaps the two most "classic" chase scenes of all time: the Charger/Mustang chase in Bullet, and the chase scene in The French Connection is that they were completely realistic. Not fake, blow up crap at all. Two others that I liked that were more realistic were the chase scene in Ronin, and the one in The Italian Job with the Mini-Coopers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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