FOX (USA) QOS Sets U.K. Record, But Disappoints

[carl stromberg]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,445948,00.html

Quantum of Solace' Sets U.K. Record, But Disappoints
Sunday, November 02, 2008

By Roger Friedman

Here’s the truth about the latest James Bond movie, "Quantum of Solace." It’s not very good.

Quantum opened on Friday in London and Paris, and there was a reason. MGM and Sony were obviously scared that a highly negative reaction in the U.S. would scare off the rest of the world. So they went with Europe first, hoping for the best. In Paris, at least, Friday was a school holiday, meaning kids were flocking to theaters and malls anyway.

By coincidence, I was in Paris on Friday and went with a herd of 16-year-old boys and one 11-year-old, as well as one mother. It was a cold, rainy afternoon, and I had high hopes for a roller coaster ride full of explosions, inexplicable derrying do, some decent quips and memorable lines, even a smidgen of smarmy sex for James with a couple of babes.

What else do we look forward to in James Bond? Readings from Rilke? No. We want gadgets. And a great theme song. And a spectacular opening sequence.

The truth then: we got none of the above, except maybe the Rilke and deep frown lines. Marc Forster, one of our favorite directors from “Finding Neverland” and “Monster’s Ball” has turned James Bond 007 into a meditation on death and trust. He’s made the straight play version of what’s supposed to be a musical comedy.

Let’s start with the music. There couldn’t be a worse, more tuneless song than Alicia Keys’ and Jack White’s “Another Day to Die.” From Shirley Bass to Carly Simon, Paul McCartney, even Duran Duran or Sheena Easton, the people behind James Bond theme songs knew enough to match their pop hit to the original John Barry music, provide a bit of drama and suggest romance. Keys and White, brought in at the last minute to replace the ailing Amy Winehouse, just didn’t get it.

The song is a bad omen, because it follows the shortest, least interesting opening sequence in Bond history. Suffice to say, when it blends into the first notes of the Keys-White song, your first thought will be, That’s it? Yes, that’s it.

The solace James is seeking in quantum, I guess, is all about losing Vesper, the girlfriend from “Casino Royale.” All well and good, but James Bond doesn’t mourn on screen. Paul Haggis and the writers should have known, Bond got over it since we saw him last. The audience did, believe me. Instead we’re left with this problem. Few viewers will recall Eva Green’s Vesper. They won’t much go for the new Bond girls, neither of whom has name marquee value. How about as one of the girls Heidi Klum? Eva Mendes? Audrey Tatou? Olga Kurylenko and Gemma Arterton are fine, but taken together they aren’t special. They’re certainly no Halle Berry.

The secondary cast works well, especially Judi Dench as M, although there’s lots less of her. There’s no Q, and no one to introduce James to new gadgets (this in the time of new gadgets in the real world every hour and blogs galore devoted to them!). Mathieu Amalric is just great and looks right at Mr. Green, the new villain, but as in the whole of the film there’s not a lot of sly dialogue. The Daniel Craig version of Bond isn’t very articulate or quick verbally, hence neither are his opponents. All the parrying is gone.

Quantum of Solace had a huge opening in Britain on Friday — $8 million. We’ll see how it does between now and opening day in America on November 14th. Something tells me once the excitement wears down, the new James Bond is not going to be one of those that anyone wants to see over and over again. In the meantime, I found myself more shaken than stirred by this latest installment.

[Dr. No]

MGM and Sony were obviously scared that a highly negative reaction in the U.S. would scare off the rest of the world. So they went with Europe first, hoping for the best.

Wow! Is it that bad?

[Mazer Rackham]

You forgot the headline, Bond Bombs. That's how other websites feature it.



Yes Doc it is that bad. Sony has danced and moved Quark around trying to find the best possible US outing. But they were doing this before the reviews and bad word of mouth were out. Craig is not that popular in the US, or not enough that they felt comfortable.

[katied]

You forgot the headline, Bond Bombs. That's how other websites feature it

Well, at certain Bond websites they're trying to spin it like it's not a bad thing.Obviously

[The Sweeney]

You guys crack me up!

All the positive reviews I have posted on here, and not one of you has been able to comment on any of them. Fair enough, as many of you haven't seen the film yet, so are in no position to really judge, just observe. But you have already made your minds up on here to hate the film before going to see it, so are believing these reviews to be 100% gospel - hence why you are all responding left, right and centre to any of the negative reviews posted here.

Yet as soon as a positive one appears, there is an eerie silence, tumbleweeds float past, the place becomes deserted, while everyone scurrys away quickly to find another negative review.

Another negative review is discovered.... http://500hats.typepad.com/photos/uncat ... olves2.jpg

Another positive review is discovered.... http://www.bassoonman.com/blog/wp-conte ... tone-1.jpg

[Mazer Rackham]

You forgot the headline, Bond Bombs. That's how other websites feature it

Well, at certain Bond websites they're trying to spin it like it's not a bad thing.Obviously

I was talking about news sites in general.


Some Bond websites go on as if their owners last names is Broccoli.

[Mazer Rackham]

You guys crack me up!

All the positive reviews I have posted on here, and not one of you has been able to comment on any of them. Fair enough, as many of you haven't seen the film yet, so are in no position to really judge, just observe. But you have already made your minds up on here to hate the film before going to see it, so are believing these reviews to be 100% gospel - hence why you are all responding left, right and centre to any of the negative reviews posted here.

Yet as soon as a positive one appears, there is an eerie silence, tumbleweeds float past, the place becomes deserted, while everyone scurrys away quickly to find another negative review.

Another negative review is discovered.... http://500hats.typepad.com/photos/uncat ... olves2.jpg

Another positive review is discovered.... http://www.bassoonman.com/blog/wp-conte ... tone-1.jpg

Have you responded to very single negative reviews posted? No.

We've talked over some of the positive spin/reviews in Bj's thread already. Why should I make the commute?

[The Sweeney]

Have you responded to very single negative reviews posted? No.

We've talked over some of the positive spin/reviews in Bj's thread already. Why should I make the commute?

To be honest, I haven't really commented too much on the positive reviews either. This is merely an observation on what I've noticed is happening generally on here from everyone else. Each positive review thread is ignored, yet just about every negative review thread has at least 3 or 4 responses to it.

Understandable to a point (given the site's viewpoint) but over on the pro-Craig sites, most members are commenting on the good and the bad reviews equally.

[katied]

Some Bond websites go on as if their owners last names is Broccoli.

Yup.Not naming any names

Mmmmmmmm,Kool Aid

[Mazer Rackham]

Have you responded to very single negative reviews posted? No.

We've talked over some of the positive spin/reviews in Bj's thread already. Why should I make the commute?

To be honest, I haven't really commented too much on the positive reviews either. This is merely an observation on what I've noticed is happening generally on here from everyone else. Each positive review thread is ignored, yet just about every negative review thread has at least 3 or 4 responses to it.

Understandable to a point (given the site's viewpoint) but over on the pro-Craig sites, most members are commenting on the good and the bad reviews equally.

I read some of the positive and there was nothing compelling about them to comment on. (Honestly quite a few are cookie cutters.)

Some times the critical reviews have nothing worth commenting on.

[katied]

(Honestly quite a few are cookie cutters.)

Makes you wonder if there's some pay-for-good reviews stuff going on there.I wouldn't put it past EON

[Mazer Rackham]

(Honestly quite a few are cookie cutters.)

Makes you wonder if there's some pay-for-good reviews stuff going on there.I wouldn't put it past EON

I wouldn't put it past Sony. They been caught in the past but never stopped to blush at the embarrassment.

I attribute it more to lazy reporting. It takes effort to sit and type an original piece, easier to.... oops I think I just describe Eon's current predicament

[katied]

LOL EON has a LOT of things they need to work on( that is putting it mildly..) More about getting rid of the idiot Broccolis than jettisoning Craig(tho he is a problem )

[Mazer Rackham]

As I said in another thread, get rid of the old Broc with their nepotism/incompetence and bring in a Nolan-Bale style team.

[katied]

Yep.Even *I'm* coming around to the idea of Nolan and Bale

[Captain Nash]

This thread is a laugh a minute.
Get rid of Broccoli.
I've got bad news for you peeps. It aint gonna happen anytime soon. Barbra Broccoli and Michael G Wilson will be part of the Bond team for the forseeable future.
We'll get different directors and even another Bond down the track. But Babs and MGW aren't going anywhere yet.
And why should they?
They make money making films that appeal to millions of people. Just because a small band of fans dislike the way in which they cast and make Bond films have an opinion doesn't mean it's going to change. By all rights voice your opinion. But don't think it'll change to much. Not unless the money stops coming in, and the seats remain unfilled.

[katied]

Whym'l I not surprised a Broccoli shill would have an opposing opinion.It's not some wackjob opinion-not here anyways ..maybe at places that are on EON's payroll... and obvious about it.

(LOL the Broccoshills.Perfect nickname for 'em:P )