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Bond 22 - Quantum of Solace

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    #152
    johnny_ultimate
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 29,094 CMod ✭✭✭✭johnny_ultimate


    Really didn't like Casino Royale, and didn't think much of this either. It was entertaining, but a lot of problems. For a series trying to go gritty and realistic, parts such as the plane chase feel out of place. The opening chase is fun, but as they feel the need to have more and more vehicles explode it is a bit at odds with the rest of the film. It is James Bond, a series known for action, so perhaps it should be expected, but just seems a bit too inconsistent. Its too far fetched (although the lack of invisible cars is still infinitely welcome) for the story and character they are trying to develop.

    Editing, as mentioned, is bad. It is always a bad thing to notice the editing (and as great as the Dark Knight was, it suffered from similiar problems) but the action sometimes jumps weirdly. The quick pacing makes it hard to get a grips on whats happening, and once or twice (in the car and boat chases particularly) it was a little disorientating.

    And as said the story is a wee bit overly convoluted. It is easy to get the gist, but some of the subtleties are hidden in complexity.

    I must admit I am a Bond cynic, far more approving of the other spy that begins with 'Bo'. But I think the main problem is trying to make a franchise like this seem relevant. It was a good idea to insert the plot about oil and resources (even if it was pretty heavy handed) in a film where the main hero is a Cold War, macho kind of guy: they are trying to bring Bond up to date. But emotionally its hard to engage with (none of the deaths have been shocking). The film tries hard to find a balance between old Bond and new concerns, but struggles like Casino Royale. Like that film's middle act, some parts are good: the opera scene for example. And the fights have a real weight to them: shattering glass and awkwardness make for some good fisticuffs. It is entertainment, but trying to take the character in this direction has proven difficult. And the fact that this just seems like a standard sequel - theres even more parkour! - it doesn't really improve upon anything.

    Most importantly though: yes, there appeared to be a graphic upskirt shot which was one of the most bizarre shots in recent memory.


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    #153
    zuroph
    Registered Users Posts: 11,097 ✭✭✭✭zuroph


    Raekwon wrote: »
    Also what was with his pumpkin pie haircutted henchman? I waited the whole movie to see him do something nasty but he was just a some movable scenery eating prop who looked like an extra from a Farrelly Brothers film :confused:
    see, this, and the fact that Fields doesnt announce her full name, instead choosing to say "Just fields", i saw as a wink to the camera, acknowledging previous cheesey elements of bond films, but showing that they're going in a new more serious direction with them.

    The only thing i could really fault is some of the editing, could have been longer but maybe we can blame the writers strike for that, and i'm sure the next installation will be an epic round up.
    also, the opening credits were quite disappointing. the song i now love, but all the bond silhouette did was move around with his gun drawn, a "hard-hitting bond kicking seven shades of excrement" silhouette would have been much better.
    I followed it quite well, and knew we wouldnt find out much about quantum, hollywood is obsessed with trilogy stories these days.


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    #154
    norrie rugger
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,656 ✭✭✭norrie rugger


    zuroph wrote: »
    I followed it quite well, and knew we wouldnt find out much about quantum, hollywood is obsessed with trilogy stories these days.
    It felt like that to me too. Like the middle part of a trilogy, setting up the big finale. This film will stand or fall based on the strength of the third installment


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    #155
    Hardrain
    Closed Accounts Posts: 290 ✭✭Hardrain


    I really liked it and am dreaming of a Directors Cut of it. Apparently a lot of dialogue was cut?


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    #156
    senordingdong
    Registered Users Posts: 10,673 ✭✭✭✭senordingdong


    While we're at this, can somebody please tell me what exact;y happened in Haiti?

    Someone (an MI5 agent?) was supposed to kill the Russian woman, then Bond followed her, then she got onto th Generals boat, then Bond pulled her off it, then a battle ensued?


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    #157
    doonothing
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,745 ✭✭✭doonothing


    johnny_ultimate wrote: »

    Most importantly though: yes, there appeared to be a graphic upskirt shot which was one of the most bizarre shots in recent memory.

    That was hilarious!


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    #158
    zuroph
    Registered Users Posts: 11,097 ✭✭✭✭zuroph


    senordingdong wrote: »
    While we're at this, can somebody please tell me what exact;y happened in Haiti?

    Someone (an MI5 agent?) was supposed to kill the Russian woman, then Bond followed her, then she got onto th Generals boat, then Bond pulled her off it, then a battle ensued?
    Bond went after the guy they had worked out was working for quantum. he kills him. She mistakes bond for him, and has been sent by the boss to pick him up. the boss has arranged for the other guy to kill her. so when bond opens the briefcase he says "apparently i'm meant to kill you". she gets away, he follows her to the base. she confronts her boss about the murder attempt, he tells her if she sticks around he'll introduce her to the general who she wants to kill. instead, he hands her over to her, knowing the general will rape and kill her.
    Bond knows she knows a lot more about the whole situation so goes after her..

    etc etc..


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    #159
    Otacon
    Registered Users Posts: 6,721 ✭✭✭Otacon


    senordingdong wrote: »
    While we're at this, can somebody please tell me what exact;y happened in Haiti?

    Someone (an MI5 agent?) was supposed to kill the Russian woman, then Bond followed her, then she got onto th Generals boat, then Bond pulled her off it, then a battle ensued?
    Bond killed the assassin. The guy was hired by Domonic Greene to get rid of Camille. After Bond opened the briefcase, she realised [mistakenly] that he was there to kill her. She then proceeded to confront Greene at the dock.

    The General was her target all along. She used Greene to get to him. Greene knew this, and informed the General about who Camille was.


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    #160
    senordingdong
    Registered Users Posts: 10,673 ✭✭✭✭senordingdong


    Ok, thanks lads.


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    #161
    norrie rugger
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,656 ✭✭✭norrie rugger


    doonothing wrote: »
    That was hilarious!

    Reminded me of "Fight Club" where Brad Pitt would insert pics into the movie.

    I actually looked around in the cinema and there were a few "did I just see that?" faces along with mine


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    #162
    ryoishin
    Registered Users Posts: 754 ✭✭✭ryoishin


    it was full on to, giblets and all. Ive seen it twice and the 2nd time i made sure.


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    #163
    Dont be at yourself
    Registered Users Posts: 10,571 ✭✭✭✭Dont be at yourself


    The cynic in me says that the blink-and-you'll-miss-it fanny shot is in there to drive blu-ray sales. Am I wrong?


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    #164
    Handsome Bob
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,905 ✭✭✭✭Handsome Bob


    It was a good film, but nothing that I could engross myself in. There wasn't any scenes that had my heart pounding like there was in Casino Royale (the defibrillator scene for instance). I liked how by the end of the film Bond
    had started on the road away from recklessness when he chose not to kill Greene or the guy who screwed over Vesper.

    I'd give it a 3/5.


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    #165
    senordingdong
    Registered Users Posts: 10,673 ✭✭✭✭senordingdong


    LZ5by5 wrote: »
    It was a good film, but nothing that I could engross myself in. There wasn't any scenes that had my heart pounding like there was in Casino Royale (the defibrillator scene for instance). I liked how by the end of the film Bond
    had started on the road away from recklessness when he chose not to kill Greene or the guy who screwed over Vesper.

    I'd give it a 3/5.

    That also pissed me off....he was on some out of control revenge bender for the whole film and then he catched the two biggest culprits of Vespers death and he doesn't kill them...


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    #166
    Handsome Bob
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,905 ✭✭✭✭Handsome Bob


    senordingdong wrote: »
    That also pissed me off....he was on some out of control revenge bender for the whole film and then he catched the two biggest culprits of Vespers death and he doesn't kill them...

    Ah I don't know, I saw it as progression of a character. Throughout the film he was letting go of opportunities of gaining information by murdering people. By the end of the film he had learned that that kind of recklessness was not going to aid him as a special agent. He seemingly ceased to let the rage control him.


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    #167
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 242 ✭ [Deleted User]


    iMax wrote: »
    I've come one here to ask the same question. Was it a basic instinct shot ?

    Yeah, I was unsure about that too............:o
    I think she might have been wearing somwthing underneath though.
    It was a very quick shot.

    It made me think "WTF is a rape scene doing in a bond film?":eek:
    and secondly "did they just show a vagina in a film with a 15cert?"

    I really liked QOS but.........
    1. The ending was a bit of a let down:(, crap fight with Greene
    and
    2. I couldnt figure out how they found the Algerian guy in Russia:confused:


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    #168
    randomchild
    Registered Users Posts: 886 ✭✭✭randomchild


    Just got back from it, thought it was fairly solid. Heard it was absolute tosh though so that lowered my expectations. The scenes were they cut between the horse-race/opera and chase scenes pissed me off, but the rest of the opera scene was good. I felt that this film felt a bit like one of those animated mini-series that elaborate on events between two films, like clone wars. Nothing really happens plot-wise, but its still enjoyable when you let go of that.

    Oh and that goldfinger throwback was awesome.


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    #169
    wandatowell
    Registered Users Posts: 8,435 ✭✭✭wandatowell


    randomchild wrote: »
    Just got back from it, thought it was fairly solid

    You hit the nail on the head there, solid movie indeed. Thats about it tho.
    I really expected a better film (I didnt read any reviews) so it was disappointing in that sence


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    #170
    Tusky
    Registered Users Posts: 17,056 ✭✭✭✭Tusky


    Considering the reviews, I was pleasantly surprised. Its not amazing but its much better than people had lead me to believe. Some great action set pieces.


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    #171
    humanji
    Registered Users Posts: 19,976 ✭✭✭✭humanji


    I saw it last night in Movies@Swords and missed the intro scene because of a black bar across the middle of the screen. :(

    I thought it was pretty good. Not as good as Casino Royale, but still enjoyable. It had a fair few problems though. The English girl (Fields, I think her name was) was atrocious. Terrible acting and terrible dialogue. The film would of been better without her.

    The editing was annoying. Bourne-o-vision is getting on my tits. Shaky cameras have been done to death and rarely to good effect. And some sections of the actions scenes were cut out completely. There was one where one of the two fighters (I couldn't tell which because of all the shaking) was on the ground grabbing for a knife or something, when suddenly the two were standing up again. It happened a fair few times and made me think that maybe the film had somehow jumped like a scratched DVD or something.

    The plot was also all over the place, and I wasn't fully sure who the bad guy was at times (I kept expecting Mr White to appear). And who the hell makes a hotel out of explosives?

    But despite all these things, it wasn't enough to make me dislike the film. I really enjoyed it and can't wait for the Bluray to come out so I can see if the rumours were right and that there are high definition flaps to be seen.


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    #172
    Running Bing
    Registered Users Posts: 3,841 ✭✭✭Running Bing


    NekkidBibleMan wrote: »
    The cynic in me says that the blink-and-you'll-miss-it fanny shot is in there to drive blu-ray sales. Am I wrong?

    If anybody pays 40 quid for a blue ray to see a split second shot of an average looking actresses snatch they really need to be introduced to the internet:D


    Im a massive fan of all things bond and while I enjoyed this instalment I felt it had a lot more potential.

    The Good:
    -Thought Craig really grew into the role and was a lot more comfortable as Bond this time around.
    -Title sequence was awesome. Possibly my favourite ever which is saying a lot as I hated the song the first time I seen it.
    -Loved the Goldfinger reference.
    -Bonds wardrobe was great. Tom Ford did the suits this time around and they really looked razor sharp.
    -I thought it looked really beautiful. You could really tell it was made by a more arthouse director.

    The Bad
    -The fundamental plot is weak. Its not particularly interesting and it doesnt drive the film well imo.
    -Probably the most bland bond villain ever. Barely does anything on screen and his evil plan is to control 60% of Bolivia's water and charge the government twice what they normally pay? Terrifying. I know they are trying to make it more realistic but you lose some of that spice and fun when you play it too straight.
    -The opening car chase and the rooftop chase in Italy had the potential to be two of the greatest action sequences in any Bond movie. Shame we could'nt see them:rolleyes:
    -It just didnt felt like a Bond film. Cant put my finger on what it was exactly but it just didnt feel like Bond.:confused: I think Bond has always had a very spefic tone, Light and amusing but at the same time dark and serious. I get their moving it more to a darker more serious Bond but there still has to be a balance and they did not get that right imo.


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    #173
    Davei141
    Registered Users Posts: 4,541 ✭✭✭Davei141


    Loved the film but i agree about the editing and fields, both sucked. Thoroughly enjoyable film though!


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    #174
    Pigman II
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,921 ✭✭✭✭Pigman II


    It's a mess of a movie. It suffers from MichaelBayitus in that every moment of QOS is undeniably exciting and and full of honest effort but that none of it seems to hold together to make a coherent whole, the result of which being the enterprise is less than the sum of its parts.

    It's just an cascading sequence of "something happens, and then something else happens and then something else etc" until the film is over and you go home mildly entertained but ultimately unsatisfied and not just a little bit confused.


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    #175
    Brian
    Registered Users Posts: 5,699 ✭✭✭Brian


    Should "that scene" not have made it an 18 rating?

    In general I thought the movie was alright. I was disappointed by the opening car scene when he enters the quarry and you can see miles of hairpins beneath him, then 5 seconds later the pursuers fall off the edge. Apparently Casino Royale is exponentially better, so I'm looking forward to seeing that.


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    #176
    Heisenberg.
    Registered Users Posts: 7,541 ✭✭✭Heisenberg.


    This post has been deleted.


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    #177
    zuroph
    Registered Users Posts: 11,097 ✭✭✭✭zuroph


    The Scientist wrote: »
    And another thing, James Bond in love? pfft.
    One of my favourite bond scenes is when Sean Connery slaps that chicks arse in Goldfinger and says"Run along Dear, man talk."
    Didnt like this notion of Bond avenging the death of the girl he loved bla bla bla.
    once more, ITS A REBOOT. this is the story of why James bond finds it hard to love ever again. its referred to many times over the series. and a bad attempt at it is made in her majestys secret service.

    but yes, that line is one of my favourite ever :D


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    #178
    ryoishin
    Registered Users Posts: 754 ✭✭✭ryoishin


    what about the american agent felix?

    I thought the bit on the plane was way over acted.


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    #179
    zuroph
    Registered Users Posts: 11,097 ✭✭✭✭zuroph


    ryoishin wrote: »
    what about the american agent felix?

    I thought the bit on the plane was way over acted.
    what about felix?


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    #180
    ryoishin
    Registered Users Posts: 754 ✭✭✭ryoishin


    when you see him on the plane and hios boss thorws him the phone, I thought it was way over acted.


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    #181
    zuroph
    Registered Users Posts: 11,097 ✭✭✭✭zuroph


    the moustached guy was quite over the top alright, but i didnt notice much with leiter.


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