Quantum Of Solace - A review by Kaol
Right... First things first...
I liked Casino Royale.
So, unusually for me I went to see the latest Bond offering with fairly high expectations.
Even more unusually, I wasn't disappointed.

This film gave me exactly what I expected from the new-style, grittier Bond series - Explosions, fast cars, people getting stabbed with broken glass, fantastic locations and dodgy villains.
The car crashes were visceral, and every kill was violent enough to not feel casual.

As expected, the film opened with a fantastic car-chase, and then launched into the credits.
For the record, the much-hyped Alicia Keys and Jack White song was rubbish. Instantly forgettable. And the stylised graphicy video bit was horrible too.
Then again, I have a massive and inexplicable fear of sand, so I spent three minutes feeling cold and sick. Personal opinion...

Anyway, without giving away the plot too much, it was the usual arrangement of "Go somewhere exotic, kill someone, jump in a vehicle for a chase, chat up a woman, drink, get betrayed, repeat."
So, a normal weekend for me, really.

As I've said before, the fight scenes are deliciously brutal in these Daniel-Craig-as-Bond films, which makes a nice change from the typical Hollywood-fist-fights-and-karate that seems to be so commonly pumped into our eyes.

So... On to the break-down:

Positive:

+ Fantastic action sequences
+ Beautiful locations
+ Brutal fight scenes
+ Daniel Craig is excellent
+ A fantastic joke about motor oil

Negative:

- Some terrible dialogue (Come on Dench, you were shocking)
- Plot was too slow in places
- The worst Evil Villainous Plan ever (think Thames Water Utilities, but less evil)

So, all in all it was pretty much what I expected. A very solid Bond film. Not as good as Casino Royale, but still very enjoyable.

I'd give it 7/10, and recommend that you see it, especially if you liked the previous one
( Cawl, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 23:26, 16 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

But
What if I haven't seen the previous one? How will I know whether to go and see this one or not? =p

In all seriousness I rather this review A+ and will more than likely see the new bond film
( Captain V, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 23:29, Reply)

The sand bit
made me do a proper belly laugh :p
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 23:30, Reply)

You missed out a couple of positives
1) It's not Die Another Day
2) It doesn't have Roger Moore in it.
( Kroney, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 23:30, Reply)

Kroney,
Surely those points don't even need mentioning...
( Cawl, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 23:32, Reply)

Excellent Kaol
A splendid review.

I like Craig as Bond as well, Casino Royale was the first film I watch in HD.

I will defo go to see this!
(Herr Doktor Lemminge Is bored, so cheer me up!, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 23:34, Reply)

A negative point
It doesn't have Timothy Dalton in it.

/controversial.
( Kroney, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 23:35, Reply)

*sighs*
No pleasing some people...
( Cawl, Tue 4 Nov 2008, 23:43, Reply)

I gave up on Bond
during the Pierce Brosnan era. It became a cliche, almost a parody of itself, and the last few films were complete shit.

I haven't seen either of the new Bond movies, but your review echoes what I was told last week - this new style is fundamentally good film-making and has become what the series should always have been.

I have resolved to watch these two on DVD one weekend in the near future.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 5 Nov 2008, 6:07, Reply)

Daniel Craig isn't all that great
and Casino Royale was mediocre. But it's Bond and therefore compulsory viewing, especially in light of this review.
Thanks Kaol. Presumably you'll be applying for the Film 2008 vacancy...
( thealternativefact, Wed 5 Nov 2008, 8:52, Reply)

7/10 from me too
You have pretty much replicated my opinion exactly.

Apart from the frankly freakish sand problem which is all your own. And the theme I thought was OK - nice drums anyway*

There you have it - a pointless 'I agree with you' post with bonus added 'I like drum breaks' pointlessness.

*that said I couldnae sing the melody to you if you asked. This is possibly a blessing.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 5 Nov 2008, 10:37, Reply)

Dude! You failed to mention the magnificent Olga Kurylenko -
could be you have "the ghey"? (kidding!!!)

Also, Roger Moore is great, always - "Live And Let Die" is one of my favourite Bonds.

Also, I liked Timothy Dalton as Bond. Funny that Daniel Craig also replaced him as Lord Asriel in the film version of 'The Golden Compass'.
(bazmorningstar efil4nat3b, Wed 5 Nov 2008, 11:45, Reply)

Haven't seen it yet
but I will simply because it has Daniel Craig in it and I'm hoping he'll get the shit kicked out of him again - he looks hot when he's beaten up...and if he does a scene without many clothes on I'll slide off the seat.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Wed 5 Nov 2008, 13:20, Reply)

A few things:
The 2 birds are STUNNING. Made me cum everywhere.

The fights have gone all Bourne Supremacy with shaky "omg I'm actually there!" camera and ad hoc use of household furniture to defeat the baddies.

NO GADGETS =(((((

Every fight invariably involved someone getting thrown through some glass, as someone on b3ta wonderfully described: "over-use of malevolent defenestration."

The baddie boss was a bit shit.

Oh and I hate to admit I actually loved the opening credits and music even though Jack White is a complete bell.

Overall 6/10 from little old me...
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 5 Nov 2008, 13:24, Reply)

Hmm
2/10 - one for each of the girls.

emperors new clothes time kids. Its fucking awful. I imagine the last 20 minutes was although i walked out. never in my life done that and I' paid 13.75 for a very posh seat in a very nice cinema. Never been more uninterested in a film before, and i LOVE Bond films.

No depth
Script is shocking
No story
Daniel Craig looks old and saggy and cant act for shit. In fact, he doesnt actually do any anyway.
Erm. Just a whole of stupid really.
Sorry.
( I have run out of coke is a little sweaty, Wed 5 Nov 2008, 16:29, Reply)

Am I going to get beaten
for saying that it didn't do much for me? I loved Casino Royale (no, the scene with the shorts did nothing for me, he's better when clothed) and had high expectations. I just sat there at the end going "meh". The acting was good, the scenes themselves were ace, but it added up to nothing that great. :( I did like the end scene(s), a bit of closure all round!
5/10 for me, but it's probably just that - me!
Better luck next time Bond!
(TinyCat, Tue 11 Nov 2008, 17:02, Reply)