tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post4741445357190475502..comments2023-11-28T15:20:59.369-05:00Comments on Cinema Viewfinder: Movie Review: Quantum of Solace - Stylized and Surreal, Forster Directs a Worthy SequelTony Dayoubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04632329277519635858noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-73546791803329901212008-11-18T20:02:00.000-05:002008-11-18T20:02:00.000-05:00Those interested in a slightly different opinion o...Those interested in a slightly different opinion on the film are encouraged to read movieman0283's take on it at <A HREF="http://thedancingimage.blogspot.com/2008/11/quantum-of-solace.html" REL="nofollow">The Dancing Image</A>.Tony Dayoubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04632329277519635858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-15734455331712722132008-11-18T12:29:00.000-05:002008-11-18T12:29:00.000-05:00Really excellent and observant review. I've been d...Really excellent and observant review. I've been debating whether or not to post on Quantum; I enjoyed it but wasn't sure I had many observations. Though I have a slightly different take on the gorilla-in-a-suit thing (I love that characterization, but however it's true of Bond, I think it's more ambiguous as relates to the films and the audience - particularly the male audience - response to them. So maybe I'll write on that.)<BR/><BR/>Also, great descriptions of the film, particularly the "giant eyeball" of the opera. That was my favorite scene and kind of the locus of the whole elegant-but-deadly vibe that Bond and, to a much lesser extent, this film cultivates.Joel Bockohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238338958380683893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-84743689383261945202008-11-17T16:22:00.000-05:002008-11-17T16:22:00.000-05:00Dean:There are still some of those over-edited seq...Dean:<BR/><BR/>There are still some of those over-edited sequences, don't get me wrong. But Craig's performance, and Forster's auteurist take on Bond, make the flaws a little more palatable.<BR/><BR/>Rush:<BR/><BR/>I agree the picture was too tight, but I think it a little extreme to say Forster should never have another crack.<BR/><BR/>Juanita's:<BR/><BR/>To say that Bond shouldn't be portrayed a certain way is to say that the character is a cypher. And in the past, I agree that the producers encouraged each actor's unique qualities to come to the forefront in their performances.<BR/><BR/>But I am glad that Craig has chosen to nail down a more specific characterization, using Connery's portrayal as its foundation.<BR/><BR/>Connery brought an earthy quality to the suave Bond that humanized the character. Lazenby looks to have been working off of that perception as well, but he never got a fair shot to develop the character. Moore was too campy, but his performance in <I>For Your Eyes Only</I> comes closest to what I mean. Dalton was great, but I blame the producers for trying to modernize the character a little too much, making Bond a little too PC. Brosnan seemed to be too suave and superspy, his films too formulaicly cartoonish to give him a real opportunity to shine.<BR/><BR/>Craig has been two for two thus far in nailing the character. He was comfortable in Bond's skin from the get go, a rarity in the Bond series.Tony Dayoubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04632329277519635858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-49431997276582471662008-11-17T12:15:00.001-05:002008-11-17T12:15:00.001-05:00"And hasn't that always been the appeal of the cla...<I>"And hasn't that always been the appeal of the classic Bond? Sean Connery, and now Craig, always give spot-on performances because they know that 007 is essentially a gorilla in a tuxedo (this informed more by the Scottish working-class Connery than the more refined character of Ian Fleming's novels)."</I><BR/><BR/><BR/>Connery and Craig are not the only actors to have done excellent work as Bond. As far as I'm concerned, all six actors who have portrayed Bond for EON Productions were all excellent . . . in their own styles.<BR/><BR/>It would be nice for someone to acknowledge that James Bond does not have to be portrayed in a certain way. But I fear that human beings are basically too narrow-minded to appreciate differences.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-1660557802401160702008-11-17T12:08:00.000-05:002008-11-17T12:08:00.000-05:00The movie's story was pretty good, but I think it ...The movie's story was pretty good, but I think it was in need of more fleshing out - from the screenwriters and Marc Foster. The movie's pacing - both the storytelling and the action - was rushed. Too rushed. I realized that Foster was trying to make the film more stylish, but in doing so, he robbed the film of a solid story structure. <BR/><BR/>Foster is a good director, but I hope he nevers direct another Bond movie again.The Rush Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13667282586023023623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-43105086112860025282008-11-17T10:38:00.000-05:002008-11-17T10:38:00.000-05:00It's good to hear this from a writer I trust. I d...It's good to hear this from a writer I trust. I dread seeing the over-edited, frame-fucked action sequences, but I DO wanna see more humanity in the Bond character. By the way, have you ever seen Forster's STAY? Your piece, commenting on the flashes of surreal memory in QUANTUM reminded my of my thus far favorite film of his--a neglected tour-de-force of creative direction!Dean Treadwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02106829300132326368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-334132281034500312008-11-15T15:18:00.000-05:002008-11-15T15:18:00.000-05:00I'm not sure it was the amount of the chase scenes...I'm not sure it was the amount of the chase scenes that bothered me as much as their editing. The ones I mentioned in the review worked for me. But the one in the plane felt tedious and a lot like a rehash.<BR/><BR/>This film worked the best in its quieter moments, another first for a Bond film.Tony Dayoubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04632329277519635858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-38441929279654734772008-11-15T12:56:00.000-05:002008-11-15T12:56:00.000-05:00Quantum of Solace is entertaining at least... a fa...Quantum of Solace is entertaining at least... a fantastic job with the styling and picture quality, but the movie as a whole could stand to lose six or seven fewer chase scenesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8871549895931317151.post-32247153622375694652008-11-14T22:37:00.000-05:002008-11-14T22:37:00.000-05:00I greatly admired the film and a couple of minor p...I greatly admired the film and a couple of minor problems aside I thought it was just terrific. I posted a few thoughts as well and frankly can't wait to see it again.Nostalgia Kinkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02506680500183270767noreply@blogger.com