Quantum Of Solace (2008)
Daniel Craig - Olga Kurylenko - Mathieu Amalric
Well here we go again. Bond is back!
After the massive success story that was Casino Royale, Bond 22 had a lot to live upto. In my opinion it has managed to do so.
With a pre titles sequence that is not only fast and exciting, but also edited so quickly that it really is a case of blink and you'll miss it.
Now I can understand that this can be annoying, and whilst I'm not a huge fan, it's something I can live with. I loved the way the film opens with Bond being pursued by presumably Mr.Whites heavies. Quick glimpses of Craig and the Aston Martin, the music building untill the first thing we hear is the roar of the Astons engine. Wonderful.
But it's also a very short pts, similar to the Bond films of the 60's. FRWL, GF and TB all had short pre titles sequences. I'm sure I read that director Marc Forster wanted to make his film in part similar to some of the 60's films. Maybe this is one of them?
After a so so titles sequence by MK12 (What happened to Daniel Kleinman?) and I'm afraid to say a horrible title track in 'Another Way To Die' we're back for a thrilling ride for the rest of the movie.
With the capture of Mr.White and the proceeding torture to gain information on the mysterious organistation that he works with, we find out that Vespers boyfriend is most likely alive...somewhere. Mr.White (Jesper Christensen resprising his role from CR) begins talking, but only long enough to reveal they really do have people everywhere.
A fellow secret service agent (Mitchell) turns out to be a mole, killing another agent and attempting to off M (Judi Dench) and I'm guessing Bond whilst he's at it. Though Bond (Daniel Craig) is quickly into action and pursues Mitchell first through the sewers of Siena, and then across the rooftops. The first of the action set pieces works well I thought. Though the editing is often too fast, it does have a good pace, with some lovely shots. I've read of similarities to those in the Bourne films, though this could be argued forever and a day. This is Bond I'm watching. I'm not here to make notes on who did it first. Or have I seen this before. So long as the scene fits the film, then it's fine by me.
So back to the chase, we end up with the two men swinging from ropes in a museum that is under repair. Both men desperately trying to reach the guns that they've dropped.
I thought it worked quite well, with Bond hanging upside down, but finally offing the MI6 traitor.
Location cards over the establishing scenes work well in telling the audience where we are, and each one using a style of font from that locale.
Back in London M wonders how this organisation could exist without the inteligence communities knowledge. Or how her personal bodyguard (Mitchell) could hide his involvement within it.
I loved the line from Bond after M say's she's seen several gifts she gave Mitchell over the years before smashing an ashtray;"
"I don't think he smoked."
Maybe I was the only one who thought it was a good line. I've read reviews claiming QOS of being to serious and devoid of humour. I wouldn't call it a gag fest, but there is plenty of humour littered throughout.
From here Bond is quickly sent to Haiti to follow a source on money found on Mitchell that was part of the money that LeChiffre and then Mr.White had obtained at the end of CR.
A quick and very violent fight breaks out within seconds of Bond entering Mr.Slates hotel room. I thought it was reminiscent of the hotel room scrap in OHMSS myself. But this one is even more brutal. Bond coldly checks Slates pulse as he lies dying. But this is one of the reasons I like Daniel Craig as Bond. He makes Bond a human, a man who works as a government assassin. He's not the playboy that Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan played. He doesn't bed any bimbo he see's or walk into any bar only to find the barman not only knows him, but what he drinks. Those days have seemingly gone. This is a ruthless Bond. A Bond I find more akin to the the one in the novels.
I realise there are people that don't like this style...but I do.
I must confess the scene that follows where Bond meets Camille (Olga Kurylenko) is slightly confusing, but this leads to setting up the entrance of the films main villain Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric).
Greene is not your usual Bond villain, he has not deformity, or animal at his side, or even a grandoise base of operation. He operates where ever he needs to. A very slimy man with no issues on how he gets his way. Killing, drowning or placing a former lover in the hands of a corrupt Bolivian general are no problems for Greene. Which is what he does at his dockside warehouse as Bond looks on from afar.
Cue action set piece number 2. A boat chase that whilst nothing new, is exciting enough not to bore, but is similar to boat chases we've seen before. At least this time the reasons behind it, and the actions that creates has a point later in the movie. It's not an action scene for the sake of it.
The culmination of the boat chase leads Bond to tail Greene to the airport, where a chartered flight from the CIA takes Bond to Bregenz, Austria.
Greene is working with General Medrano to overthrough the current government in Bolivia, and with the CIA getting there finger in the pie as it were, Bond is quick to assume the worst of his American cousins. Though one wonders if Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) is completely in agreement with his superior Gregg Beam (David Harbour)
Another great line I found;
Felix "You know who Greene is, and you want to put him in bed with us?"
Beam " Yeah, you're right. We should just deal with nice people."
When Bond arrives in Bregenz we find out that Greene and his associates from Quantum are holding a meeting at the opera. Bond is quick to dispatch a Quantum member, and listens in on the meeting from high above the stage. Then lets them know he's heard there plans.
As he snaps the members trying to scurry at the thought of being seen, Mr.White sits motionless in the audience. But Greene and his team flee, realising that Bond has compromised their meeting.
As they both Bond and Greene come face to face in the lobby, another fast and furious chase enthues, with Bond dispatching a man from the roof in a scene that evokes memories of Bonds killing of Sandor in TSWLM.
But this is where things get nasty. The man that Bond killed was infact the minder of a government official, and M wants Bond to come in. His killing spree in order to track down Quantum is getting out of hand.
Of course Bond being Bond decides to continue on his vendetta to find out not only who is behind this organisation, but also why Vesper betrayed him.
Bond teams up with Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini) who after the events of CR turns out to be good after all. Some witty dialogue between Mathis and his lady friend give the film some more of the apparent lack of humour.
Bond and Mathis then travel to Bolivia in pursuit of Greene who has bought up vast sections of desert in what appears to be an massive oil find. Or so the Americans believe. With the introduction of Fields (Gemma Arterton) on Bond and Mathis arrival the film hits possibly the films lowpoint. Fields is not the most annoying character by far, but her 'Golly' and 'Oh my gosh's' are quick to outgrow there welcome.
The way in which Bond seduces Fields has to be one of the most unusual of the series. I can't find the stationary? Okay.
With Mathis South American connections the three are off to a party held by Dominic Greene who aside from his evil work within Quantum, also has an eco friendly company Greene Planet that apparently is interested in enviromental issues. At the party Bond is re-aquainted with Camille who also has a vendetta against Greene.
A wonderful face off with Bond and Green leads Bond to rescue Camille without firing his gun or laying out any punches, and leave the party.
But no sooner have they left, when the police pull them over. Greene it would seem has some powerful friends. Friends within the police who have given Mathis a serious beating. Close to death the corrupt policemen shoot Mathis. Bond dispatches his friends killers and cradles his friend as he die in his arms. I thought this was a well played scene, with Craig showing similar emotion to that of Timothy Dalton in a similar scene in LTK. The rage and helplessness of not being to help a dying friend. Craig like Dalton is the only other actor that I've seen to date to capture this rage mixed with sorrow. It's powerful stuff, and a credit to Craig. I can see why he's turning out to be a successful and well received Bond.
Now, we're upto the point that alot of fans seems to be indifferent about. The much talked about DC-3 scenes. Now for me I had no problems here. Bond and Camille are following on from a lead as to what Greene is doing in the desert. We also learn of Camilles back story. Who she is, and why she's there. But of course this also paves the way for action set piece number 3.
As to who or why a plane and helicopter are dispatched to bring Bond down (I can only guess it's the guy who Bond got the plane from who we see on the phone as they take off. Is everyone in Bolivia corrupt?) but someone does. A s the planes fly close to the canyon walls, with Bond trying to shake off his pursuer, he uses the smoke from his planes smoking engine to blind his adversary into crashing into a cliff face. But unfortunately he wasn't aware of the helicopter over the next ridge. Taking the plane into a vertical climb Bond and Camille dive out of the plane with only one parachute. This is one of the poorer scenes in this film. It's CGI, but not quite as bad as the CGI surfing of DAD. Though not much better. Please Bond, do it for real. You have always been the best at stunts. This was one that could've been done for real, and would've in the past. Leave the CGI to George Lucas. You're better than this.
Though I can forgive you.
We then learn of Camilles back story, and that she's after not Greene but General Medrano. He'd murdered her family, and raped her mother and sister as she watched. Surviving the fire that almost killed her to.
The scenes before on the boat had been her attempt to seek revenge. To which Bond apologises for not letting her get them. It's at this point that the two share there stories, and the motivations each of them have.
Bond also realises that it's not oil Greene is after. But the water.
Traveling back to his hotel, Bond is confronted by M. She removes Bond licence to kill and orders he be taken in for re-evaluation. Seems Bond has been framed as the murderer of Mathis. It's also revealed that Fields has been drowned in oil and place dripping in oil on Bond bed.
The dialogue from M toward Bond is seething. The comments on how quickly they fall into his arms and how easily he lets them fall prey to the villains is well written, and reminds Bond he's not perfect at what he does.
In yet another quick but furious fight that sees Bond dispatch four service heavies in a lift, and escape back to his mission at hand. M has given Bond the benefit of the doubt, and lets him go.
A meeting with Felix in a bar that in part is a set up to capture Bond, but also serves to show Leiters true colours as he assists Bond in acheiving his objective. Wright makes a great Leiter imo, and I only wish that he is used more in future films. The scene with Bond and Leiter at the bar was one of the highlights for me, and captured the growing friendship that these two men are making.
Leiters information lead Bond and Camille to a hotel in the desert, where Greene and Medrano will confirm there deal to over through the government and put Medrano in power. Greene also plays his card revealing to Medrano that he'll be supplying the water to the Bolivian people at double the current rate.
This scheme has had a few fans scratching their heads. Yes it's all about the water. But Quantum is not out for world domination, or operated from a hollowed out volcanoe. They aren't using space lasers or supertankers to start WW3. They're faceless villains who strike without anyone knowing. So long as they get there piece of the pie. And you can bet they have there hands in alot of pies.
So we enter the finale. And it's unlike most Bond showdowns. As Bond and Camille seek out Greene and Medrano respectively, they hotel is engulfed in a fire that quickly spreads. Bond takes on Greene who wildly swings at Bond with an axe. He's brutal, but at the same time seems out of his league. He's not a fighter and Bond although unarmed takes on his foe with ease. Camille exacts revenge on Medrano, killing him, yet being trapped by the fire that threatens to kill her as it had in the past.
As she cowers as the flames get ever closer Bond arrives. With seemingly no way out, she asks Bond to 'make it count' for a second I thought he really was going to end there suffering. But a gas container helps create an exit for the two of them. As the look out across the desert Bond sees Greene fleeing by foot.
Bond chooses to keep Greene alive in order to question him about Quantum rather than killing of any leads he might gain not only about the organisation, but also on Vespers boyfriend. But he also leave Greene stranded in the desert. His foot bleeding from a self inflicted wound from there fight, and a can of oil.
Bond has never been more sadistic. Has he?
Using the informatio from Greene we travel to Russia, where Bond catches up with Vespers boyfriend Yusef. Bond awaits his return, and in a scene similar to that of Bond waiting for Dryden in CR, questions Yusef, and alerts his current girlfriend (a canadian agent) that he's using her, and that her agency has a leak.
Rather than kill Vespers boyfriend we learn that Bond has let him live. By doing so he's found his quantum of solace and has effectively moved on.
As M tell Bond in the closing scene.
"I need you back."
Bond replies "I never left."
Vespers love knot necklace is dropped in the snow as Bond walks off into the darkness.
In a series first the screen fades to black, and the gun barrel ends the film.
So there we go, the 22nd Bond film.
Now I must say I really did enjoy it. At present and equal to CR, though lacking some of the formers more human elements. Bond doesn't quite seem as caring as he had previously. But it could be argued that his mission is one of revenge. Craig is again on fire as Bond. He brings all the elements that I found of the Bond I'd interpreted of Fleming to the screen. He's excellent with action and any dramatic scene, and can play the laughs. Albeit alot more subtle than some fans prefer.
The main cast is excellent with Kurylenko and Amalric putting in lovely performances.
On a plus point I like the pace of the film. It moves along swiftly and is easily followed. Anyone who was confused as to what was going on. Use the favourite saying of Q and pay attention!
The cinematography was fine, with some lovely shots throughout. Especially some from Italy and the south american locations.
I loved the fact that Bond and Camille never had a sexual relationship, and thought it really helped the film that in the end she wasn't cooing "Oh James" in Bond ear.
The action was placed at good intervals and whilst nothing ground breaking at least fit the story, and weren't placed for the sake of having an action scene.
As a debut action film I think Marc Forster did an excellent job. He's put his own take on a Bond film and his own stamp on it, without letting you forget that this is a James Bond film. There are subtle references to some of the other films in the series, without being glaringly obvious or awkward.
David Arnold creates yet another winning score as good as the one who wrote for CR.
It's nice to see Tanner back at MI6. Rory Kinnear makes a good Tanner I thought, I hope we get some continuity in future Bond films.
On a negative side, I'd have to say some of the editing was simply to fast. Slow it down next time please, it really is confusing at times as to what happened.
The titles were nothing to shout about, but at the same time nothing disastrous, but the title track by Jack White and Alicia Keys is. It's terrible. Maybe an instrumental next time around
Gemma Arterton though not appalling, was nothing special, likewise Anatole Taubman as Elvis. What did he do?
Other than that little to dislike I found.
On the whole I'd say Quantum Of Solace was a good entry in the Bond cannon, firing in all the right places.
Bond is as he was in Casino Royale is most assuredly back!
