Thread: 007: James Bond Quantum of Solace Movie Review

I can't wait until this movie comes out.

Are movie screenings available?

Anyone care to share their thoughts if you've seen the movie?

Audiences gave Daniel Craig's second outing as Bond a resounding thumbs up at the weekend, as Marc Forster's film opened to an incredible £15.4m at the UK box office - the biggest weekend debut of all time.

Critics have also warmed to the new movie, with most handing the lion's share of their praise to Daniel Craig for a lean, musclebound performance that continues to redefine 007 for the modern era. Some are quick to point out, however, that the film suffers without the Ian Fleming source material that enriched its predecessor, Casino Royale. Occasionally, there is the odd complaint that Craig's new Bond isn't as much fun as his forebears, but most critics seem to accept that cocktail Bond, as my colleague Paul MacInnes recently labelled him, has sipped his last martini.

"For a lot of the movie Bond is a particularly unsympathetic character, and often it's only Craig's performance along with the shifting morality of Bond's legion of enemies that forces the audience to root for him," writes the BBC's Lizo Mzimba.

"The raw nature of the film may put off some who yearn for the days of gizmos, gadgets and Bond quips as he dispenses with faceless opponents. And it's a brave step to push even further a lot of the themes developed in Casino Royale, especially the rediscovery of who Bond is, and why he is the way he is. It's a film that feels like the second part of a trilogy, with this being the bleaker second act."

"The meanest and leanest James Bond film yet, Quantum of Solace is a breathless splash of high-speed action that hurtles from one reckless chase to another," writes The Hollywood Reporter's Ray Bennett.

"There's not much solace and few words as the British secret agent exercises his license to kill in dispatching one bad guy after another in the attempt to avenge the death of the lover who died in Casino Royale. Fans of that boxoffice smash and the earlier films might be disappointed that the new picture allows hardly any flourishes of style and character in the 007 tradition, but moviegoers seeking an adrenaline rush will be well pleased."

"So much dash, flash and thrill – so many boat chases, tight rope-dangling fight scenes, bi-plane dogfights, architectural flourishes and flat-table computer displays – there's scant time left for character, let alone, story, fun, seduction, humour or wit," writes Time Out's Wally Hammond. "You can sense the older, traditionalist viewers wanting to go home early to take their nostalgia pills.

"Can't we sneak in the odd moment for some occasional quiet conversation, maybe even a leisurely martini or a game of baccarat, even if we can't afford luxury rail travel or – God forbid – some protracted, guiltless sex? Go on, Bond, next time, indulge yourself a little more. We like to watch."

"I have to confess that this second Bond adventure disappointed me a little," writes our own Peter Bradshaw. "It's not nearly as smart as Craig's debut. There is not much storyline or romance - although there is some hotel-suite action with a sexy British agent called Fields, played by Gemma Arterton, who greets Bond at the airport apparently wearing nothing but a raincoat, like some sort of MI6 stripogram.

"Quantum of Solace isn't bad, but from now on, Craig's Bond has to be a real character with something real at stake, however absurd. Otherwise we're going to return to the franchise production line. That would be an awful shame."

I'd have to agree that Quantum of Solace, while an excellent addition to the Bond canon, isn't quite up there with Casino Royale. But I wouldn't go so far as to say it's a disappointment, and I think that the producers should be congratulated for intelligently matching their Bond (Craig) to his subject matter.

The blue-eyed Englishman's success in the role has led some to wonder why the most recent actor to play Bond seriously, the ill-fated Timothy Dalton, failed to make a similar mark. For a clue, check out this Roger Ebert review of 1987's The Living Daylights. It highlights what Eon productions got wrong back then and have got so very right this time around: if you're going to reinvent Bond, reinvent everything. Don't just shoehorn a more serious actor into a traditionally cheesy plot; make sure the entire world that Bond inhabits fits a more realistic take on the character. That's what Casino Royale started and what Quantum of Solace continues, and it's why I'll be looking forward to the next instalment of 007's adventures with bated breath.

How about you? Did you catch the new outing at the weekend? Did it leave you shaken, stirred, or simply bored?

Quantum of Solace | Release: 2008 | Runtime: 106 mins | Directors: Marc Forster | Cast: Daniel Craig, Gemma Arterton, Giancarlo Giannini, Jeffrey Wright, Jesper Christensen, Judi Dench, Mathieu Amalric, Olga Kurylenko, Stana Katic

Bond is back, and casino bosses around the globe are ecstatic. James Bond returns to the big screen with the new film A Quantum of Solace opening today at theatres everywhere.

Casino executives assert movies in the Bond series tend to cause a surge in casino attendance and amounts gambled, as viewers want to emulate the sophisticated style of James Bond. Many Bond movies feature the spy outwitting opponents at various forms of gambling.

The last Bond movie, Casino Royale, had extensive scenes of Bond playing poker at Texas Hold'em tables. The strategy of the game was discussed throughout the movie, as Bond clearly knew the game would be decided by skill, not luck.

Some casinos, such as the Riverboat Casino in Glasgow, feature Bond-themed promotions and events to celebrate the movie's release. The staff will dress either in tuxedos, or as one of the many Bond girls.

Other casino executives say they expect packed crowds at the roulette and poker tables, as people are drawn to live the fantasy of being James Bond.

One of Bond's favorite games, baccarat, still remains mostly a high-roller game, with a following among the patrons with big bank accounts. Chances are many baccarat players truly can live the luxurious, Aston Martin lifestyle of Bond if they choose.

Yes, very nice snapshots for the album there, mate. Now getting back to baccarat, have you got a winning Chinese system or two for us, so we can win enough money to tour China for 3 weeks, including all those casinos in Hong Kong? Oh damn, I just remembered, they all use 126CSMs for their shoes, don't they?

Originally Posted by yor_helth

I can't wait until this movie comes out.

Are movie screenings available?

Anyone care to share their thoughts if you've seen the movie?

Hey Costa Rica, As much as I like James Bond, this is, after all, a baccarat site. Obviously there is nothing more important to you at this time than a damn movie... C'mon pal, get real. James used to cheat at Baccarat, that's as close as you get here. You got something meaningful to say about the game? If not, back to your dumb movie mate.

Originally Posted by viobercubjeri

Bond is back, and casino bosses around the globe are ecstatic. James Bond returns to the big screen with the new film A Quantum of Solace opening today at theatres everywhere.

Casino executives assert movies in the Bond series tend to cause a surge in casino attendance and amounts gambled, as viewers want to emulate the sophisticated style of James Bond. Many Bond movies feature the spy outwitting opponents at various forms of gambling.

The last Bond movie, Casino Royale, had extensive scenes of Bond playing poker at Texas Hold'em tables. The strategy of the game was discussed throughout the movie, as Bond clearly knew the game would be decided by skill, not luck.

Some casinos, such as the Riverboat Casino in Glasgow, feature Bond-themed promotions and events to celebrate the movie's release. The staff will dress either in tuxedos, or as one of the many Bond girls.

Other casino executives say they expect packed crowds at the roulette and poker tables, as people are drawn to live the fantasy of being James Bond.

One of Bond's favorite games, baccarat, still remains mostly a high-roller game, with a following among the patrons with big bank accounts. Chances are many baccarat players truly can live the luxurious, Aston Martin lifestyle of Bond if they choose.

Are you really from Angola? I doubt it. I think I might be communicating with a computer, and with a name like that, you are a cyber phantom.
This is a baccarat website. You want movie crap, go there... now. Pissoff. And don't come back.

Originally Posted by alteflant

Audiences gave Daniel Craig's second outing as Bond a resounding thumbs up at the weekend, as Marc Forster's film opened to an incredible £15.4m at the UK box office - the biggest weekend debut of all time.

Critics have also warmed to the new movie, with most handing the lion's share of their praise to Daniel Craig for a lean, musclebound performance that continues to redefine 007 for the modern era. Some are quick to point out, however, that the film suffers without the Ian Fleming source material that enriched its predecessor, Casino Royale. Occasionally, there is the odd complaint that Craig's new Bond isn't as much fun as his forebears, but most critics seem to accept that cocktail Bond, as my colleague Paul MacInnes recently labelled him, has sipped his last martini.

"For a lot of the movie Bond is a particularly unsympathetic character, and often it's only Craig's performance along with the shifting morality of Bond's legion of enemies that forces the audience to root for him," writes the BBC's Lizo Mzimba.

"The raw nature of the film may put off some who yearn for the days of gizmos, gadgets and Bond quips as he dispenses with faceless opponents. And it's a brave step to push even further a lot of the themes developed in Casino Royale, especially the rediscovery of who Bond is, and why he is the way he is. It's a film that feels like the second part of a trilogy, with this being the bleaker second act."

"The meanest and leanest James Bond film yet, Quantum of Solace is a breathless splash of high-speed action that hurtles from one reckless chase to another," writes The Hollywood Reporter's Ray Bennett.

"There's not much solace and few words as the British secret agent exercises his license to kill in dispatching one bad guy after another in the attempt to avenge the death of the lover who died in Casino Royale. Fans of that boxoffice smash and the earlier films might be disappointed that the new picture allows hardly any flourishes of style and character in the 007 tradition, but moviegoers seeking an adrenaline rush will be well pleased."

"So much dash, flash and thrill – so many boat chases, tight rope-dangling fight scenes, bi-plane dogfights, architectural flourishes and flat-table computer displays – there's scant time left for character, let alone, story, fun, seduction, humour or wit," writes Time Out's Wally Hammond. "You can sense the older, traditionalist viewers wanting to go home early to take their nostalgia pills.

"Can't we sneak in the odd moment for some occasional quiet conversation, maybe even a leisurely martini or a game of baccarat, even if we can't afford luxury rail travel or – God forbid – some protracted, guiltless sex? Go on, Bond, next time, indulge yourself a little more. We like to watch."

"I have to confess that this second Bond adventure disappointed me a little," writes our own Peter Bradshaw. "It's not nearly as smart as Craig's debut. There is not much storyline or romance - although there is some hotel-suite action with a sexy British agent called Fields, played by Gemma Arterton, who greets Bond at the airport apparently wearing nothing but a raincoat, like some sort of MI6 stripogram.

"Quantum of Solace isn't bad, but from now on, Craig's Bond has to be a real character with something real at stake, however absurd. Otherwise we're going to return to the franchise production line. That would be an awful shame."

I'd have to agree that Quantum of Solace, while an excellent addition to the Bond canon, isn't quite up there with Casino Royale. But I wouldn't go so far as to say it's a disappointment, and I think that the producers should be congratulated for intelligently matching their Bond (Craig) to his subject matter.

The blue-eyed Englishman's success in the role has led some to wonder why the most recent actor to play Bond seriously, the ill-fated Timothy Dalton, failed to make a similar mark. For a clue, check out this Roger Ebert review of 1987's The Living Daylights. It highlights what Eon productions got wrong back then and have got so very right this time around: if you're going to reinvent Bond, reinvent everything. Don't just shoehorn a more serious actor into a traditionally cheesy plot; make sure the entire world that Bond inhabits fits a more realistic take on the character. That's what Casino Royale started and what Quantum of Solace continues, and it's why I'll be looking forward to the next instalment of 007's adventures with bated breath.

How about you? Did you catch the new outing at the weekend? Did it leave you shaken, stirred, or simply bored?

Quantum of Solace | Release: 2008 | Runtime: 106 mins | Directors: Marc Forster | Cast: Daniel Craig, Gemma Arterton, Giancarlo Giannini, Jeffrey Wright, Jesper Christensen, Judi Dench, Mathieu Amalric, Olga Kurylenko, Stana Katic

I'm glad you asked. Frankly, I'm bored shitless with all that crap you wrote. It has turned me off watching yet another turkey from you lot. You are unbelievably rude. This is a baccarat website. I will return the favour if you post a website I can clutter up with my crap. You follow?

K,

Saw that show on PPV (pay-per-view) a month ago. Pretty bad for a Bond movie. Not much of a plot; and i got the feeling a lot of it was edited out to speed it up. (Maybe i'm getting older.)

Anyway, i'm just wondering, what sort of satellite tv programming is there in the southern hemisphere?

Any good FTA there?

Originally Posted by garnabby

K,

Saw that show on PPV (pay-per-view) a month ago. Pretty bad for a Bond movie. Not much of a plot; and i got the feeling a lot of it was edited out to speed it up. (Maybe i'm getting older.)

Anyway, i'm just wondering, what sort of satellite tv programming is there in the southern hemisphere?

Any good FTA there?

G, I can't answer for South Africa or South America, but here there are are only 3 FTA commercial TV stations 1 ABC and 1 SBS (which carries foreign stuff). Aussies have grown up watching mostly US sitcoms and the like. The Simpsons is on every day here. In many ways, this country is another US state. Satellite TV has a heap of channels, but I watch only sport these days, as the drivel on TV long ago became unbearably repetitive. One year ago, I stopped watching news. A week ago, I watched a bit again. I swear it was the same stuff I saw one year ago. I turned it off again.

Hey G, If this thread keeps active, won't that just encourage idiots to post more of their movie stuff?

K,

Sorry for dumping more news on you but i just read this clip a minute ago, about the switch from analog to digital tv signals in the U.S. in June, and here in Canada (i think) next year. (To free up military frequencies.)


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
TV antennas making comeback in Canada

The Canadian Press
Jon LeBlanc, who runs a popular internet discussion group on the topic of over the air television, poses for a photograph near the television antenna on the roof of his home in Delta, B.C. A spiny pack of near-extinct, multi-limbed creatures are turning up in cities across Canada, creeping up the sides of buildings and settling on urban rooftops. TV antennas are making a tentative comeback in this country.




May 26, 2009
Jennifer Ditchburn
The Canadian Press

OTTAWA
A spiny pack of near-extinct, multi-limbed creatures are turning up in cities across Canada, creeping up the sides of buildings and settling on urban rooftops.
TV antennas are making a tentative comeback in this country.
Nobody in the broadcasting industry or the government seems to have a handle on how many Canadians are scrapping cable and satellite in favour of the old-school technology, but there is anecdotal evidence that a miniboom is underway.
Ironically, it's all being fuelled by the high-tech switch by broadcasters from analog to digital and high-definition channels.
Viewers are discovering that they can get over-the-air, digital television stations that proponents say come through even better than on cable and satellite, where signals are compressed.
"And the magic word is 'free,"' says Jon LeBlanc, Canada's antenna guru.
LeBlanc began an "over-the-air'' discussion board on www.digitalhome.ca five years ago, where a few diehard antenna fans would pop by. Now he's the most popular forum on the site, with dozens of new people logging on every month to find out about getting hooked up.
LeBlanc himself gets 14 digital stations, including six from the United States, with his rooftop antenna in Delta, B.C.
"If a person weeds through what they're actually watching, does the value-added provided by a cable company or a satellite company make any sense? In this financial environment, more and more people are saying, 'No,"' says LeBlanc, a former high-tech worker.
"To my way of thinking, this is a renaissance of the over-the-air type of broadcasting, and I think the broadcasters, especially the private networks, are missing something here.''
Conventional TV broadcasters say they're struggling to survive in a multi-channel universe with dwindling ad revenues. They are pushing the government to provide some regulatory and financial relief, particularly when it comes to the costs of converting their transmitters to digital by 2011.
But the industry has not publicly discussed the phenomenon of Canadians willingly rejecting the 500-channel universe in favour of the signals they can catch locally.
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters says it's not something they have noted at all.
Only one would-be TV broadcaster, Toronto businessperson John Bitove, had been pushing the CRTC last year to allow him to start up a new Canadian HD network with over-the-air viewers in mind. He was unsuccessful.
The number of Canadians who rely on over-the-air TV is repeatedly pegged at nine per cent nationally, 16 per cent in Quebec.
David Purdy, vice-president of video product management for Rogers Communications, predicts those numbers will continue to decline once all Canadian stations convert to digital by August 2011.
He points to the range of specialty channels, and now video-on-demand, that cable companies offer and Canadians are lapping up.
"The notion that a linear television offering, whether through rabbit ears or a digital receiver, is somehow going to meet the customer's needs is completely not reflective of the world we live in,'' Purdy said.
"People want to be able to watch what they want, where they want, when they want.''
LeBlanc says the over-the-air audience numbers are outdated, and points to antenna dealers who are seeing a surge in business.
Karim Sunderani, co-owner of Toronto's Save and Replay store, says he's been selling 1,000 antennas a month, and he feels he's at the cusp of something big. Sunderani's been getting orders from condominiums, motels, nursing homes and boarding houses to put up antennas.
"It's hard to believe, we're in 2009 and it's something you expect your grandfather to have,'' says Sunderani, who gets a dozen channels in his store with a $50 set-top antenna.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

***** Maybe we could convert this into the no-news "utimate Katweezel voodo --cum-- free-stuff thread"? With alludings and outright tips to all things free or nearly-free? *****

That way no one would have to go to those "nasty" casino places to make more money?

I grabbed the antenna thing for Anything Goes, as that is the kind of stuff that goes down well there. Thank you mate. Phew! No more spam from James Bond and pal, or floggers of viagra or steroids. I saw Angels and Demons last week. I should have another word added to the name: Turkey. Tom Hanks don't get many turkeys, but this is a turkey, Tom. 2 out of 10. Even James Bond should get more. I reckon this will be the last time we see Tom in the vatican, with old dudes wearing red dresses.

I spotted this quote the other day, and I like it. Cheers
"Whatever you are, be a good one." Abraham Lincoln