"Skyfall" theme song...

[Totenkindly]

Oh, and U and I discussed awhile ago how we felt the title "Quantum of Solace" was enigmatic.

Apparently it was a Bond short collected by Fleming in "For Your Eyes Only" (I must have read it years ago and forgot), but quantum means measure/unit of measure and solace is comfort... and aside from the reality of the Quantum org in the movie, both Bond and the female protagonist are carrying heavy burdens from their past that they are looking for relief from (basically the death of loved ones at the hands of Quantum or those who became entangled with that org) and both of them end up finding a measure of comfort by the end of the movie regarding those losses.

So actually it's kind of impressive they managed to take such a bizarre title, sharing nothing in content with the short story, and make it relevant to the movie narrative.

 

[Poindexter Arachnid]

Yes, yes, and yes. To all points. You nailed it. Remember the "depth" thing discussed earlier? The dynamic between M and Bond alone puts Skyfall ahead of just about any other movie in the franchise. And:

It makes the final battle all the more poignant and immediate as Bond is forced to defend the only thing left that he actually gives a damn about, even if he won't admit it.

That uncomfortably long shot that introduced Silva--Ouch. It was pure dread.
And when he attempts his subversive "interrogation" on Bond...I shifted around in my seat a bit.

It was...an uncomfortable moment.

Oh, and U and I discussed awhile ago how we felt the title "Quantum of Solace" was enigmatic.

Apparently it was a Bond short collected by Fleming in "For Your Eyes Only" (I must have read it years ago and forgot), but quantum means measure/unit of measure and solace is comfort... and aside from the reality of the Quantum org in the movie, both Bond and the female protagonist are carrying heavy burdens from their past that they are looking for relief from (basically the death of loved ones at the hands of Quantum or those who became entangled with that org) and both of them end up finding a measure of comfort by the end of the movie regarding those losses.

So actually it's kind of impressive they managed to take such a bizarre title, sharing nothing in content with the short story, and make it relevant to the movie narrative.

I looked it up shortly after the title was revealed and found out what it meant. While it is innovative and relevant, I still think it is among the worst titles.

Nonetheless, the movie has aged surprisingly well. When I first saw it, I hated it. I bought it last week and it actually wasn't nearly as bad as I had remembered.

Do you think the Quantum organization will return in the next movie?

 

[Totenkindly]

That uncomfortably long shot that introduced Silva--Ouch. It was pure dread.

Lol... He took his goddamned time in closing the distance, didn't he? It was beautiful.

I looked it up shortly after the title was revealed and found out what it meant. While it is innovative and relevant, I still think it is among the worst titles.

Nonetheless, the movie has aged surprisingly well. When I first saw it, I hated it. I bought it last week and it actually wasn't nearly as bad as I had remembered.

Do you think the Quantum organization will return in the next movie?

I agree with the title criticism -- I'm glad they actually did try to make it relevant. But it's just not a great branding name -- it's more intellectual and has to be dissected with specific knowledge of the movie and even Bond history to get it. Meanwhile, "Skyfall" (for not being a Fleming title) is actually much more potent IMO... it conveys a sense of dread and ending to anyone who knows English, and it ends up having relevance within the movie as well.

Getting back to M and Bond briefly, the act of him basically destroying the last few remnants of his past to protect M is the ultimate sign of fealty and what he values in this world. I like the inevitability in the movie. With Bond "resurrecting" and recreating himself, you see all the other things that have to end as well so that he can move forward. The various losses are rather inevitable.

Shit, for being a movie about destruction and resurrection, I prefer this one to TDKR.

I just rewatched Quantum this week, and it was rather like the theme song, which I disliked at first hearing but have had grow on me the more I listen to it. (Die Another Day doesn't grow on me, but that one does.) Anyway, I don't think Quantum is as good as Casino Royale, but I think it operates best as the concluding piece to the story begun in the first movie... about Bond searching for relief from his bitterness of the "betrayal" by Vesper and that she actually loved him and was just doing what she felt she had to do to protect him as well as someone else she thought she loved... someone who was just using her.

I think my biggest problem with it was just the scope issue... it seemed rather insignificant. I mean, he just trails this petty little French guy, who is buying property overseas so he can control the water supply. And there's just this little hotel in the middle of the desert that they blow up. Know what I mean? It does resolve Bond's emotional arc and firmly establishes his relationship with M, but it's kind of a "small" story and almost not worth the payoff for a two-movie arc.

That all being said, I think it's still enjoyable. And I like his relationship with Lieter.

I'm sure Quantum is positioned to be the new Smersh so to speak (the enemy is within, rather than without), but I'm not sure what they've got planned for the next two... the current length of Craig's contract.

 

[The Ü™]

Well, I was gonna post my thoughts on the film yesterday, but sadly, the nightly TypoC blackout prevented me from doing so.

I think I might post my thoughts in MOVIE REV'ÃœSâ„¢ later this week. MOVIE REV'ÃœSâ„¢, as you will find here, is a video review show I'm trying to get off the ground, because after the Nostalgia Critic went off the air, I got bored. But, like James Bond in Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, I'm still trying to find my style, so it's still very preliminary.

Anyway, about Skyfall. It's kind of a mixed bag. At times, I absolutely loved it, particularly the last few minutes. Also loved that there was finally a classic James Bond pun after

the main villain was dispatched. Speaking of the villain, how could a villain with such personality get such a dull death sequence? Knife in the back? That even made Bond look like a pussy.

And then there were times where the film got so pretentious, I threw up in my mouth, like when M cites a poem. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!?!?

Implying that Bond may, in fact, be bisexual is a step in the wrong direction, and even more PC than some critics' suggestions to have a black guy play Bond (Idris Elba is the latest rumor for the next James Bond?). Despite Daniel Craig's Bond being a blond, he looks enough like the other Bonds before him to qualify as...well...Bond.

And those were pretty fake-looking Komodo dragons. And the face replacements on the motorcycle stuntman during the Istanbul chase looked downright atrocious. The CGI in Die Another Day wasn't even as bad. Even worse is when bad CGI is in a movie that takes itself so damn seriously.

However, I'm sort of relieved that Daniel Craig wants to get campy with Bond again.

Bond 24 comes out in 2014, written solely by John Logan (sad face), so in the meantime, I suppose I'll play my little guessing guessing game called "Let's predict the next excuse to put the gun barrel at the end."

Anyway, that's all I have time for for now.

 

[Totenkindly]

I think the one scene you were complaining about was obvious sarcasm on Bond's part. And it was being done to be unnerving rather than straightforward on the other guy's part.

 

[Poindexter Arachnid]

Metaphors galore!

In a way, I was hoping he would be eaten alive by that CGI mutant Komodo Dragon.
I don't think a major villain has ever been dispatched in such a fashion.

Nonetheless, Skyfall has an recurring theme of betrayal. Silva finally gets his with the knife in the back.

Anti-climatic, sure. But it makes sense.

 

[The Ü™]

I think the one scene you were complaining about was obvious sarcasm on Bond's part. And it was being done to be unnerving rather than straightforward on the other guy's part.

I dunno, he seemed to enjoy having his shirt unbuttoned...

 

[Totenkindly]

I dunno, he seemed to enjoy having his shirt unbuttoned...

This is James Bond, sardonic wit and all.

I don't think he was threatened by it at all, though. He seems pretty secure in his masculinity.

I think the different perspectives are a difference in focus. I didn't particularly find the Komodo dragons compelling and thought the one guy was stupid for standing there -- I would have been very aware of the dragons and where they were if I had been in that pit, they're pretty bad ass. (Normally they just bite you once, then wait a few days for you to die from the disease that runs rampant in their mouth... I don't see them so assertive.)

But in the big scheme of things, the dragons and CGI weren't the most important parts of the movie, they were side issues; same thing for any CGI on the stunt drivers' faces. The chase was pretty badass, and I wasn't looking at faces, I was just looking at shape and form and big-picture stuff. I'd even say survival from a fall of that height in that position is pretty dubious, but I guess someone crit succeeded on his dice rolls.

 

[The Ü™]

I'd even say survival from a fall of that height in that position is pretty dubious, but I guess someone crit succeeded on his dice rolls.

Movie Physics 101, it doesn't matter how high you fall, as long as you fall in water.

And did you also know that Sam Mendes wanted to cast Kevin Spacey as the villain? My guess is Spacey was unavailable because he would be missing the James Bond marathon on TNT!

 

[Totenkindly]

Movie Physics 101, it doesn't matter how high you fall, as long as you fall in water.

Try telling that to Tony Scott.

And did you also know that Sam Mendes wanted to cast Kevin Spacey as the villain? My guess is Spacey was unavailable because he would be missing the James Bond marathon on TNT!

I read that about Spacey. Glad he didn't. He wasn't right for the role. I think Spacey is a decent actor, but only in certain films. I really didn't think he was that great in Se7en either, but the movie still worked because the rest of it was strong.

 

[The Ü™]

I read that about Spacey. Glad he didn't. He wasn't right for the role. I think Spacey is a decent actor, but only in certain films. I really didn't think he was that great in Se7en either, but the movie still worked because the rest of it was strong.

And at one point they were gonna have Rachel Weisz as the main villain, and not a Bond girl.

I thought Kevin Spacey was great as Lex Luthor in Superman Returns.

 

[Totenkindly]

I saw Skyfall last night and hated it. It was such a disappointment because I really do like James Bond films.

Funny. What was so abominable about it??

 

[highlander]

Funny. What was so abominable about it??

I didnt like the bad guy. I didnt like the way the girl got killed. I didnt like the twist in M's character. I didnt like the intro scene. Moneypenny was not good. I didnt like Bond's character in the movie. I did like the car. I just enjoyed very little about yhe movie. It was better than the last one but I didnt like that one much either.

 

[Totenkindly]

I didnt like the bad guy. I didnt like the way the girl got killed. I didnt like the twist in M's character. I didnt like the intro scene. Moneypenny was not good. I didnt like Bond's character in the movie. I did like the car. I just enjoyed very little about yhe movie. It was better than the last one but I didnt like that one much either.

So if you could describe an ideal Bond movie, what would it look like?

 

[highlander]

So if you could describe an ideal Bond movie, what would it look like?

Casino Royale. I liked the action but also the quiet parts. I liked the love story and for example the scenes in the shower or at lake como. I liked the characters. The bad guy was interesting. I liked the variety in the movie. I liked the music a lot. I liked the car. I like the visual beauty of it. There is emotion in the movie somehow. Cant describe it. Come to think of it, there is nothing I dont like about it. One of my favorite movies of all time.

 

[Totenkindly]

Casino Royale. I liked the action but also the quiet parts. I liked the love story and for example the scenes in the shower or at lake como. I liked the characters. The bad guy was interesting. I liked the variety in the movie. I liked the music a lot. I liked the car. I like the visual beauty of it. There is emotion in the movie somehow. Cant describe it. Come to think of it, there is nothing I dont like about it. One of my favorite movies of all time.

That's interesting. I mean, I really liked Casino Royale too and didn't really enjoy Quantum of Solace nearly so much, Casino might be my favorite Bond movie (although Goldfinger is still up there). But I also really enjoyed much of Skyfall and the larger themes it dealt with, rather than just being a plot driven movie per se.

 

[The Ü™]

Casino Royale. I liked the action but also the quiet parts. I liked the love story and for example the scenes in the shower or at lake como. I liked the characters. The bad guy was interesting. I liked the variety in the movie. I liked the music a lot. I liked the car. I like the visual beauty of it. There is emotion in the movie somehow. Cant describe it. Come to think of it, there is nothing I dont like about it. One of my favorite movies of all time.

The biggest problem I had with Casino Royale was

why did they have to kill off the main baddie in the second act? This is what made him uninteresting because it made him seem insignificant, despite having a classic Bond deformity. I know how this is how it happened in the book, but sometimes it's necessary to deviate from the literary origins, because like video games, books are not compatible with movies. And the final action sequence with the building sinking in the water was pure Bond. I wish they had saved a more climactic showdown between Bond and Le Chiffre for that sequence.

That and the car chase could've been more bad-ass (and longer) than it ended up being.

But other than that, Casino Royale was a masterpiece and was the correct way to deviate from the traditional Bond formula and still feel like a Bond movie. Skyfall dropped the ball in the third act with this (that and Thomas Newman is no David Arnold), though I will admit that Bond's relationship with M was handled very well, when it could've been devastatingly creepy...but my god, the final few minutes of Skyfall were genius, and hopefully Bond 24 will be a more conventional Bond movie that scraps this whole timeline bullshit. (Now only if I could speak the way I write when I'm doing my video reviews for MOVIE REV'ÃœSâ„¢.)

 

[Totenkindly]

Teleprompter.

I don't think Le Chiffre was much of an action hero, unfortunately, which is why the plot likely went how it did...

 

[The Ü™]

This version is better:

I hope Within Temptation does a Bond theme song in the future.

 

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