New Bond Film - Quantum Of Solace

[Dr Doran]

Sorry, who is Sean Bean? I know the name and that is all.

Carter, thanks for the kudos.

 

[John in Covina]

For instance, the pre-title sequence is in Black and White. The first thing you think of is "Flashback," because often B & W sequences are flashbacks, but then the film flashes back in a grainier black and white. Then you think "homage;" this footage must be an homage to when Bond was in black and white, but, except for some adaptations in the 50s, Bond was never in B & W. So, what's the point? It looks cool, but why? What is the film maker trying to say? I waited the entire film for them to tie the B & W sequence back in somehow, but it didn't. It was as if someone highlighted a chapter in a book for no particular reason.

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I think that it is a highlighted section as the way documentaries in B&W have a certain impact. Perhaps they were working for some type of "historical" basis?

 

[Hemingway Jones]

Sorry, who is Sean Bean? I know the name and that is all.

Carter, thanks for the kudos.

He played the nemesis in "Goldeneye;" the "OO" gone bad. Also, he was in "The Lord of the Rings" and the "bad guy" in "National Treasure."

 

[Hemingway Jones]

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I think that it is a highlighted section as the way documentaries in B&W have a certain impact. Perhaps they were working for some type of "historical" basis?

Who knows? And precisely my point. This film has grown on me since I wrote my initial review. I have been won over by repeated viewings on cable.

Though I sincerely hope that Mr. Craig speaks up this time around. The mumbling grew tiring. I do love the overall styling and art direction of "Casino Royale," as well as the edgier portrayal of the character. I am excited for the next installment, genuinely excited. It's a shame that I'll be in Venice the day it comes out...

...Unless it is playing there as well!!!

 

[John in Covina]

Sean Bean was also the bad guy in "Patriot Games" and he was an amazing bad guy in that.

 

[carter]

Sorry, who is Sean Bean? I know the name and that is all.

Carter, thanks for the kudos.

Doran, You're welcome.

Wikipedia has a pretty good bio for Sean Bean.

 

[WH1]

Agree with Doran - spot on.

This Bond is a flawed character and something of a 'vintage' tragic hero. He's the sum of all his experiences (as we all are) and his have left him as a detached, lonely figure who in many ways 'feels' he can only trust in himself (and even that is in question). He looks like he could go over the edge and inflict needless damage and commit atrocities.
He wouldn't be out of place in a black uniform in 1930's Germany - he has that coldness and detachment about him, where he is prepared to do the worst in the name of what he feels/believes to be right. But 'we' trust that he is one of the 'good guys.' We live in a world where we are happy to pay others to do the nasty things for our benefit (as long as we don't see it and pretend it never happens). We need Bonds.
The fact that he has the potential to sew seed of doubt in our minds that 'maybe' he isn't such a 'nice/good' guy - makes for an even better, more dynamic character!!
Personally, I don't think he is a nice guy, but he gets the dirty laundary work done. Plus, he's a very screwed up guy who has the self control 'for now' to keep the lid on. The fact that the lid is rattling about and we cannot predict if it might come off, well... I like him even more for that!!

Paddy,
Great analysis. My own belief is Bond is a professional, diplomacy is not his domain, he is to be used when diplomacy fails, in other words Direct Action. He is a professional, the physical embodiment of the quote attributed to George Orwell, "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
Craig does an excellent job of conveying the attitude, he demonstrated the same capacity at times in Road to Perdition.
Sean Bean would be a great match with Craig, I also have enjoyed his work in The Sharpes series, Patriot Games, etc. He was also in one of my favorite movies in this genre, Ronin, with Deniro and Jean Reno, another great actor. It was directed by John Frankenheimer and still has one of the most realistic chase scenes going.
I

 

[John in Covina]

Bond is as describe above a man of action, but his ability to be ruthless in his actions outweighs the charm he acquires later in his career. He can be cold, calculating and as dangerous a man as you might meet so we are describing a tough and resolute person that is luckily on the side of "Good."

 

[WH1]

I wonder how long Craig will play Bond and if we will see him evolve over time, refining his persona and controlling/channeling his killing skills. I would hope that the franchise will avoid the gee whiz high tech gadgetry it fell into post Connery. The exploration of the man and what makes him tick could be infinitely more interesting, IMO.
Todd

 

[Dr Doran]

his ability to be ruthless in his actions outweighs the charm he acquires later in his career. He can be cold, calculating and as dangerous a man as you might meet so we are describing a tough and resolute person that is luckily on the side of "Good."

Yep.

A bit of a sociopath. Not a nice guy.

If he becomes more charming as the new movies continue, it would be good to show that charm be a bit of an affectation.

 

[dhermann1]

Bond Quiz

OK, all you Bond nuts, you can make yourselves even crazier with this. I got one answer out of the first ten correct, and gave up.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/10/25/bfbondquiz125.xml

 

[AmateisGal]

To my great frustration and regret, I missed out on seeing the Ian Fleming exhibition at the Imperial War Museum in London when I was there a little over a week ago. Food poisoning got the best of me on my one and only sightseeing day in London!

But I did get to see the Quantum of Solace trailer from my hotel room, so it wasn't ALL lost...lol

 

[Brian Sheridan]

If you have any questions about Bond, I'd be happy to help. I've been noted as an expert in the subject. It all started when my mother went into labor with me at 007 double feature. I have been a collector of Bond stuff for almost 30 years and have nearly every book written on the subject. I have been written articles on the Bond phenomena as well as been quoted in the media.

In our house, Nov 14th (Quantum of Solace's US opening) is considered a holiday.

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

Well, it has fedoras!

I liked it a lot, but then I'm no film critic.

I do have to be careful driving home from a Bond movie.

 

[Blackjack]

I would like to see the day when the BBC would take Flemings novels and do the Bond stories as they were written. For all practical purposes the Bond "novels" stopped being filmed with From Russia With Love. A good example would be The Spy Who Loved Me, would make an exceptional 90 minute television movie.

 

[Lone_Ranger]

OK, all you Bond nuts, you can make yourselves even crazier with this. I got one answer out of the first ten correct, and gave up.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/10/25/bfbondquiz125.xml

21 out of 50. Not too good. It's been a while since I've read any of the books.

Where literary spy's are concerned, I always thought Donald Hamilton's Matt Helm, made Fleming's Bond, look like a Boy Scout. As Blackjack just pointed out, the movies are a much different story.

Here's an interesting 007 website. http://007.atomicmartinis.com/

 

[The Shirt]

Saw it last night and really enjoyed it. I too hope that this Craig character will develop a bit more soul. However I thought there were plenty of gentle hints at it. It drove me mad (in a good way) how sharp, hard and cool he was. He brought the sexy back to Bond which has been drowning in cheese for so long. Now the Bond girls in this one were quite lackluster IMHO.

 

[Brian Sheridan]

I thought it was smashingly good apart from the lack of a Steadycam during the action scenes.


Marc Forester brought his "art house" cred to the movie and gave it some depth. You might have missed it due to the frenetic editing. It makes a wonderful companion to Casino Royale.

In QoS, Bond learns humility and how his actions have unfortunate consequences. I believe that will create more of the Bond we know and love from the past movies.

Thankfully, the lame jokes were gone though I would not say the movie was totally without humor. Like "The Dark Knight," humor (black humor) came from the situation and not from one-liners.

The next film, said to continuing the fight against "Quantum", will probably showcase more of Craig's acting skills outside of his brooding and steely stares. Bond, in my thinking, has been able to excise his emotional demons over Casino and Solace.

One arguement I have put forth on this board, and others, is "Who would want to be James Bond?" He doesn't appear to have fun at anything and no interest in culture, the arts, music. Other characters have more of a well rounded, and personable, demeanor. But, as the song goes, Nobody Does It Better.

 

[AmateisGal]

In QoS, Bond learns humility and how his actions have unfortunate consequences. I believe that will create more of the Bond we know and love from the past movies.

I think that sums it up nicely, Brian. In fact, your whole review was pretty spot on.

I am a big fan of what Craig has done with the character. An excellent choice for Bond, IMO>

 

[Spitfire]

Good action movie - but not a Bond movie.