"unlike Casino Royale the film doesn’t try to be too hip and trendy"
Woah, what? Casino Royale: a slower pace, a large chunk (of an action movie!) devoted to a card game, a love (rather than lust) story (in an action film!), good old fashioned tripod-mounted camerawork... vs QoS: faster than a speeding bullet, packed with Bourne-a-like camerawork that obscures as much of what's going on as possible...
I liked QoS. It wasn't as good as Casino Royale. And it was definitely the one of the pair trying its hardest to be Now.
RastaZen
· 1 year ago
1. Connery
2. Craig
3. Brosnan
I loved Casino Royale even though I agree that it was too long. I'm a big fan of Craig (ever since Layer Cake ) and I think he is terrific as Bond. QOS looks like a lot of fun , I'm excited to see it.
Gary
· 1 year ago
I havent seen The new film yet but I do think when we look at both of them , We have to remember this is essentially the first two part Bond adventure . They go together . you cant have one without the other. Now that Bond undoubtedly has his revenge we will see Q and Moneypenny next time.
the old man
· 1 year ago
Yea I heard about the theme music being hung on the end of the movie. So, should I load John Barry into the nano and take it along?
Ken Armstrong
· 1 year ago
Good review. I don't agree with you entirely. Craig is super but I thought the action-direction was quite flawed - particularly in the first-half (more Bourne than Bourne and confusing as a result). Different director next time but definitely more required :)
entertainmenttodayandbeyond
· 1 year ago
It's really interesting the way you view Casino Royale. Im in total agreement. While I like many things in it, I felt it was bloated. I also felt detached from it for the first 40 minutes of it's running time. I grew up on Roger Moore so It's hard to get used to the character volid of humor. Still Im looking forward to this new Bond film!
790
· 1 year ago
This is great news. However I'm kinda surprised it didn't get 5 stars ???
What's the bad part of the best Bond film in the last deacade ???
Bonderoff
· 1 year ago
1. Roger Moore
2. Connery
3. Brosnan
Vic Holtreman
· 1 year ago
1. Connery 2. Craig 3. Moore
:-P
Jimbo
· 1 year ago
Very nice comment about DC being the Bond for the Bourne generation; it was needed though. My first in-the-theater bond movie was TSWLM. By the time PB came along, I would not even watch Bond even if it were on TV. PB was the worst bond of all. The scripts were to blame for sure, but also, he turned the role into Magnum PI. Flat out boring. Even RD was better imho.
1. DC 2. SC 2. RM (it's what I grew up on)
790
· 1 year ago
My favs
1- Moore 2- Craig 3- Connery
The order could change in 2 weeks,,, 8-)
josh
· 1 year ago
this is completely wrong. just thought you should know.
790
· 1 year ago
Josh what's the prob bro? 8-)
Joe
· 1 year ago
Just an FYI...it's "derring do," not "daring."
No Man
· 1 year ago
1) Lazenby 2) Craig 3) Connery
Maria
· 1 year ago
James Bond movies are always in good quality. If you summarize it by saying it's the best James Bond movie ever, I'm dying to watch it now!
jaman11
· 1 year ago
wow. this is possibly the worst review i have ever read.
subcorpus
· 1 year ago
will watch it for sure ... have always been a bond fan ... cannt miss it ... !!!
Jimmy
· 1 year ago
Haha. This is a very badly written review.
"It feels like Marc Forster went into directing Quantum of Solace with a checklist of greatest hits from other Bond movies: car chase - check; boat chase - check; roof top chase - check."
That's a checklist of action movie cliches, not greatest hits. :P
Jimmy
· 1 year ago
And Q is never walking plot exposition. Walking gadget exposition, maybe, but he's usually as far removed from the plot of the movie as possible.
Niall
· 1 year ago
Joe,
You can spell it both ways! :-)
Jaman11,
You can have your opinion on my review (much like I did on the film) but take it easy bro. I have feelings!
790, I don't like to throw 5 stars around. 4 is a great movie. 5 is for something really special.
Niall
mrgtb
· 1 year ago
I'm really looking forward to seeing this film. I love the trailer being shown on TV. Really cool!
DRock
· 1 year ago
Uh, I'm sorry. I couldn't get past the terrible, cliche ridden, every review I've ever read writing to notice what you said about the movie. Seriously, you started with the "I've been a fan since 1984" crap. Yeesh.
Vic Holtreman
· 1 year ago
@DrRock
Yet you managed to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page in order to leave a nasty comment.
Atta-boy!
Vic
790
· 1 year ago
What's all the negative bs about this review ??? We're lucky to be even reading this, the film dosnt come out for 2 weeks in the States. I'm for one thankfull that Niall posted this review,,,!!!
I can't wait for this film now!!!
Vic Holtreman
· 1 year ago
@790
I cleaned up your comment just a bit. FYI, this post made the front page of Digg, and Diggers are not known for being the nicest people on the planet.
Think AICN "talkbackers" but with less cursing. :-)
Vic
John "Kahless" Taylor
· 1 year ago
Wow, I can't believe all the negativity about Niall's review. Come on, guys, it's his opinion.
Niall, thank you for that review. I'll be sure to add QoS to my list of movies-to-see.
Henry
· 1 year ago
Too much action but the storyline carries no genuine weight.
Feels like somebody wrote a load of stunts and then decided to hang a plot around them.
Nothing original about it except the closing scene.
Craig still makes a credible Bond but why not give him a chance to give substance to the character.
Only ONE memorable sequence and that was predictable because there could have been no other outcome.
Vic Holtreman
· 1 year ago
@Henry
That's been the major complaint I've heard about the movie: Too much action, not enough story/character development.
Vic
Ripper
· 1 year ago
if you haven't seen the movie... then don't! QoS is a failure! lame action, questionable plots, lack of cool gadgets, too much drama, and most of all, its a 45 minute 1-act play dragged, stretched and cursed into a 2 hour film. i love bond films that why i felt cheated. why, bond, why?!
Ken J
· 1 year ago
Well, I'm on vacation in Hong Kong, and QOS came out on the 6th, so I got to see it before you guys in the USA, lol.
Well, I'll have to say that Casino Royale was definitely much better. QOS was pretty good, the action was pretty intense, but overall, CR had better story telling and more realistic action in my opinion. But this was definitely a blast to watch. So check it out when it comes out. It start right into the action, so make sure you don't get to the theater late. :-)
Vic Holtreman
· 1 year ago
See now here's the problem with letting people other than me review movies for Screen Rant: I would have given this a MUCH lower score. I despised the hyper-quick-cut edits.
The action sequences actually made me angry because I *wanted* to be able to see what was happening but simply could not take in the "big picture" due to the uber-close ups and camera angle change (literally) every half second.
I was actually RELIEVED when there was no action on the screen. I also didn't think too much of the overall plot - the more I think about it the more I think it was very basic and too thin to carry the film.
My review would have been very different indeed - I'm debating whether I should bother writing one. Don't want to confuse people with two reviews of the same film on the site.
Vic
Gary
· 1 year ago
Vic, You could always call it Quantum of Solace My Take.
Ken J
· 1 year ago
Yah, Marc Forster had said he doesn't want to do another Bond film. I think if they can't think of another good director, they should go back to Martin Campbell who did Casino Royale. He has proven himself with Bond twice. I liked Goldeneye and Casino Royale, both by Martin Campbell.
the old man
· 1 year ago
Do It Vic. Just distinguish it. "QOS another view" explain up front why you believe it needs a RE-Viewing= a reevaluated review. Take the time to research the points you want to make both historically speaking in the BOND genre and the current artistic choices. Passing fad? New concept that hasn't found its proper living space, etc. I want it, that's what your page is about the civil discussion of the differing points of view for this genre of Cinema!
Mitsu
· 1 year ago
Nice review. I disagree with you about M, on large part because i just love Judi Dench, but also because I think she evens out the masculine-saturated aroma Bond emits.
jc in chicago
· 1 year ago
Vic, what you already wrote is the crux of my problem with the movie. That, and they didn't attach the Watchmen trailer.
I don't know how a butt-ugly actor can play the role of the debonair 007. He could replace Mark Wahlberg in a remake sequel of Planet of the Apes--with no cosmetics. It's like Teabag in Prison Break being sold as a lady's man. The best part of a Bond movie, if nothing else works, is the animated title sequence--and the theme song playing (not subliminally playing) now and then.
What's with the obligatory roof chase and the falling/glass/rope scene (both in the tv commercials)? I could not get a fix on what was happening?
Not shaken, not stirred from Not Bond, Not James Bond.
youtube
· 1 year ago
Best movie of the year and every part of the movie has exciting
jc in chicago
· 1 year ago
SPOILER
Shooting the tank to blow out of the burning building was almost as ridiculous as the time everyone spent in the building that was aflame.
Watching this movie, I felt like I was swinging upside down with a rope around my foot, hopelessly grasping for an enjoyable scene.
Without taking the time to look it up, I wonder where I've seen the bug-eyed guy before. Was he Toad in X-Men? Was he the psycho guy who lived behind the wall panels from Voyager?
I wrote a review of the movie and I think my viewpoint is indicative of my generation, so it might give you some perspective. I only gave it two out of five. (sorry)
Anyway, if you can check it out, that'd be amazing.
Jat
· 1 year ago
Unintelligible rush-cut scenes. Not a charming bond movie at all. Where is Jaws and Moore's self-ironic eyebrow sense of humour. And the raunchiness!??
Rafael
· 1 year ago
Are you drunk?! Even better, were you drunk when you watched it? 'Cause I've got to tell you, it wasn't you shaking in the chair, it was the damn camera! I mean, what's wrong with that director?! You can't even see the action sceness... ooh and the chases, soooo many boring chases, at one point I was hoping for the bad guys to kill Bond and end my misery.
Ken J
· 1 year ago
Chase scenes are used to fill in space. The thing about chase scenes is that you don't really need to come up with a reason for it, and you can make them as long as you need to get your film to its target length. Notice QOS was the shortest Bond film. If it didn't have those chases, it would have been even shorter. Not enough content.
s
· 1 year ago
OK. Perhaps my last comments were really a review of Casino not having seen QoS. Now I have seen it and there are so many problems with it I do not know where to begin. All the chases are herkey, jerky, shaky stuccato film clips. You can never really see what is going on. This is contrary to the taditional Bond flick replete with detail. And if Craig is gritty, moody, mean & vindictive one can still see a path by which he becomes a cooler if not cold uber-professional agent with a dry, sardonic sense of humor. This Bond clearly appeals to a feminine perspective that escapes me. I understood him not becoming 'involved' with the other women in the 2 flicks as having high standards and was at least relieved to see his response to Fields as, what we would term a normal orientation! (The women seem to love that Bond does NOT 'hook up' with the main girl in either film and broods ceaselessly like a forlorn Hamlet for his unrequited lover from Casino). Even the opening chase, usually one of the best, is almost visually incomprehensible. Car chase, rooftop chase, sewer chase, apartment knife fight chase, boat chase, plane chase, Chase-Morgan, certainly they all were purloined from the Bourne genre but somehow Bourne's were more believable.
The opening graphics were not as bad as I feared, but were definitely not 007 quality. Far too much of Craig shooting his Walther PPK .380; (don't make me go into why that is a problem). We have grown accustomed to the sultry, sexual/sensual and awesome graphical intro to the Bond films. This one was not of the same caliber. Ditto on the theme song. It was not a good as past songs but I was fearing worse and it was actually passable relating somewhat to the general theme of the film. The barrel scene was placed at the end of the film. I prefer the beginning but in either case it should be presented with high quality graphics and punctuated with 007 theme song riffs. It was not.
Lots of chases. Most are barely watchable. I actually liked the reference to the traditional 13th century Italian Palio horse race in which the riders can use their longer wooden canes to encourage their steeds or discourage their opponents; and the actual event was supposed to be occurring outside of the chase area.
The knife fight was lame. How did the baddie die anyhow? Please tell me not with the little pair of cuticle scissors Bond had. And if the death blow was to the only wounded area shown, the left jugular, where did all the blood go as Bond let him 'bleed out'. Not to worry the details because we are soon introduced to THE BOND GIRL. Well, a little anti-climatic because she is not quite as attractive as we are used to although she has very pretty lips. The rest of her seems strangely disproportionate for some reason. It's also strange that she would return to the baddie who just tried to have her whacked. That has little probability for success for someone who we later learn is "Bolivian Secret Service". Oh well, not to worry, we are off on another chase, this time with boats. It is perhaps the best done but for the last scene in which the grappling hook is somehow thrown onto the rubber speed boat and flips it from the front of Bond's boat over the top to the rear...... can't quite figure the physics out on that one. Not to worry, we've docked and Bond mysteriously hands the unconscious maiden who he has just rescued over to a dock attendant...what?
Well were off to track this baddie and somehow reconnected with the GIRL in Bolivia where we eventually learn that the baddie, Mr. Greene of the evil Greene corporation in conjunction with the even eviler Quantum Criminal Consortium LLC has concocted a plot wreaking with the venom of true corporate greed, evil capitalism and nefarious financier-ship; to wit, steal all the fresh water in where? Why Bolivia of course and sell it back to them Bolivians at double the price! MUAHHAHAHAHAHA (evil laugh). We learn at a big party that times are tough in Bolivia because it is costing a weeks wages for an average Bolivian to buy a gallon of clean water! As I remember, the average Bolivian earns about $0.25 per day making the water cost about $1.75 a gallon; pretty much on par with market values in Cleveland. Perhaps this is not the best country for our get richer quicker scheme.
No matter, we are off to the evil opera where the evil baddies are meeting to plan, well, evil. This is where we juxtapose a modernistic version of the Tosca operatic bloodshed whilst Bond dabbles in the real thing dispatching the body guards of the evil biggies who, now discovered & uncovered, are making a hasty retreat for the exits faster than attendees at an Al Gore speech.
No matter, while in Bolivia we are matroned by the closest thing to a real Bond girl, agent Fields. Unfortunately we never really figure out what is beneath that trenchcoat although it appears that Bond does. Also unfortunately for Fields and us, she is quickly eliminated by the baddies in what can only be termed as a 'crude' theft of the Goldfinger modus operandi. I would have expected more of a mess but why waste camera time on the slickened Fields when you can spend it on bathroom scenes with....who else....M of course. Perhaps the most difficult what seemed to be15 minutes of the film (as if minutes were hours Mr. Spock) was watching M in her bathrobe apply & remove cold creme. The threat itself would have sent Mr. Greene permanently into pro bono philanthropy. Not finished with us yet, M draws her bath and the tension in the theater built noticeably as we all began to fear that we would be greeted with an au natural scene of her slipping out of the robe into the tub. Fortunately we were spared that experience (wait for the unedited version coming to DVD soon!). However, it just calls into question what fob with a mommy complex of some sort is calling the shots in these films.
M continues to demonstrate why she should not be "M" vacillating from suspecting Bond to needing him back in 00 some 4-5 times during the movie. We did get a glimpse into the possible personality of M's hubby when he meekly announced, "the calls for you dear on your private line". Whatever.
M may welcome Bond back with open arms or have him captured or killed, no matter, the BOND GIRL is rescuing Bond in her getaway car, a 1964 VW Beetle. I guess the Bolivian Secret Service does not get to roll like the 00's in MI6. At least it was a 40HP!
No matter. We are now off to a hotel in the middle of a high plains Bolivian desert. Time to charter a plane...no, not the little Beachcraft Bonanza that would actually be faster and more maneuverable. Choose the DC-3 with a load of cargo on board. Watch out though, you'll get shot down by the Bolvian Air Force in a single engine Cessna. I guess the BAF doesn't get to roll like the 00's at MI6 either.
No matter because they are both jumping out of that crate with the only parachute. Somehow everything turns out ok after wrestling for 10,000 feet with the BOND GIRL & parachute falling at 120 MPH because the chute opens 20 feet off of our LZ, a nice big soft slab of granite. BTW, the BOND GIRL walks for miles on granite stones in her bare feat…she’s a hearty lass.
It’s off the hotel to find the baddies. The hotel, located in the high plains desert of Bolivia, is called the Plaza del Sol. It is completely self-sufficient and powered by...solar....no you idiot, hydrogen fuel cells. In fact, each room appears to have its own hydrogen fuel cell and its accompanying hydrogen supply tank. The maids must make your bed and refill your hydrogen tank when they replace the shampoo in the bath, I guess. Naturally the hotel, located in the high plains Bolivian desert is made substantially of steel & stone. Unfortunately, the steel & stone in Bolivia is not quite as durable as the steel & stone you and I have grown to love as we discover when Bond causes a baddie car to crash through a wall igniting a hydrogen tank. The rest of the hydrogen tanks ignite sequentially. Darn it, I hate when that happens, you just can't get good hydrogen tanks anymore. Again, unfortunately, the Bolivian steel & stone burns more like paper mache. Bond battles the Greene baddie but aborts to rescue the BOND GIRL who is caught up in her own subplot vendetta too trite to be explained here. Mr. Greene escapes into the desert only to meet a cryptic fate induced by other unknown baddies and Bond’s 10W-40 payback for the treatment of luscious Agent Fields.
You would be better off waiting for this to hit DVD. At least then you can slo-mo or replay the chase scenes making sense of them, spend more time with the slick Agent Fields and most importantly, FFW or skip over M's bathroom escapades. You have been warned.
Simon Simpleton
· 1 year ago
well children, and i say that in the nicest possible way, i have to say that i starteed off with BOND in 1959 and with CASINO ROYALE, that was the first bond book i read, n i was hooked on the character, the gambling scenes in the books made my day from then on, well some of u may not know this but the most recent CASINO ROYALE film is the 3rd time that it has been dramatised, and and i m still disappointed in as a bond movie, if craig had been called smithy instead of bond i would of enjoyed it as a good yarn, but i dont see him as bond, and i as a bond fan , well i have to go and see 1 when they bring one out, sometimes i m disappointed, no big deal. SOLACE did nothing for me, and as for rating the players ,
i got
1. connery 2. brosnan 3. moore in that order and as fopr the bond girls well after USHI only one more came close to compete as an equal n both had the same scene HALLE i can name the other bond girls if i think about it, but these 2 i dont have to think to remember them!!
D-E-D-P-O-O-L
· 11 months ago
All I have to say is... the parachute scene= dead bond.... honestly... and "Walking" out of a three story pile of rubble! at least climb down it...
All Comments
Woah, what? Casino Royale: a slower pace, a large chunk (of an action movie!) devoted to a card game, a love (rather than lust) story (in an action film!), good old fashioned tripod-mounted camerawork... vs QoS: faster than a speeding bullet, packed with Bourne-a-like camerawork that obscures as much of what's going on as possible...
I liked QoS. It wasn't as good as Casino Royale. And it was definitely the one of the pair trying its hardest to be Now.
2. Craig
3. Brosnan
I loved Casino Royale even though I agree that it was too long.
I'm a big fan of Craig (ever since Layer Cake ) and I think he is terrific as Bond. QOS looks like a lot of fun , I'm excited to see it.
but I do think when we look at both of them ,
We have to remember this is essentially the first two part Bond adventure .
They go together .
you cant have one without the other.
Now that Bond undoubtedly has his revenge we will see Q and Moneypenny next time.
What's the bad part of the best Bond film in the last deacade ???
2. Connery
3. Brosnan
2. Craig
3. Moore
:-P
1. DC
2. SC
2. RM (it's what I grew up on)
1- Moore
2- Craig
3- Connery
The order could change in 2 weeks,,,
8-)
2) Craig
3) Connery
have always been a bond fan ... cannt miss it ... !!!
"It feels like Marc Forster went into directing Quantum of Solace with a checklist of greatest hits from other Bond movies: car chase - check; boat chase - check; roof top chase - check."
That's a checklist of action movie cliches, not greatest hits. :P
You can spell it both ways! :-)
Jaman11,
You can have your opinion on my review (much like I did on the film) but take it easy bro. I have feelings!
790,
I don't like to throw 5 stars around. 4 is a great movie. 5 is for something really special.
Niall
Yet you managed to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page in order to leave a nasty comment.
Atta-boy!
Vic
We're lucky to be even reading this, the film dosnt come out for 2 weeks in the States.
I'm for one thankfull that Niall posted this review,,,!!!
I can't wait for this film now!!!
I cleaned up your comment just a bit. FYI, this post made the front page of Digg, and Diggers are not known for being the nicest people on the planet.
Think AICN "talkbackers" but with less cursing. :-)
Vic
Niall, thank you for that review. I'll be sure to add QoS to my list of movies-to-see.
Feels like somebody wrote a load of stunts and then decided to hang a plot around them.
Nothing original about it except the closing scene.
Craig still makes a credible Bond but why not give him a chance to give substance to the character.
Only ONE memorable sequence and that was predictable because there could have been no other outcome.
That's been the major complaint I've heard about the movie: Too much action, not enough story/character development.
Vic
Well, I'll have to say that Casino Royale was definitely much better. QOS was pretty good, the action was pretty intense, but overall, CR had better story telling and more realistic action in my opinion. But this was definitely a blast to watch. So check it out when it comes out. It start right into the action, so make sure you don't get to the theater late. :-)
The action sequences actually made me angry because I *wanted* to be able to see what was happening but simply could not take in the "big picture" due to the uber-close ups and camera angle change (literally) every half second.
I was actually RELIEVED when there was no action on the screen. I also didn't think too much of the overall plot - the more I think about it the more I think it was very basic and too thin to carry the film.
My review would have been very different indeed - I'm debating whether I should bother writing one. Don't want to confuse people with two reviews of the same film on the site.
Vic
You could always call it
Quantum of Solace My Take.
I don't know how a butt-ugly actor can play the role of the debonair 007. He could replace Mark Wahlberg in a remake sequel of Planet of the Apes--with no cosmetics. It's like Teabag in Prison Break being sold as a lady's man. The best part of a Bond movie, if nothing else works, is the animated title sequence--and the theme song playing (not subliminally playing) now and then.
What's with the obligatory roof chase and the falling/glass/rope scene (both in the tv commercials)? I could not get a fix on what was happening?
Not shaken, not stirred from Not Bond, Not James Bond.
Shooting the tank to blow out of the burning building was almost as ridiculous as the time everyone spent in the building that was aflame.
Watching this movie, I felt like I was swinging upside down with a rope around my foot, hopelessly grasping for an enjoyable scene.
Without taking the time to look it up, I wonder where I've seen the bug-eyed guy before. Was he Toad in X-Men? Was he the psycho guy who lived behind the wall panels from Voyager?
2: Connery
3: Craig
4: Brosnan
5: Niven +
6: Lazenby
7: Dalton
I wrote a review of the movie and I think my viewpoint is indicative of my generation, so it might give you some perspective. I only gave it two out of five. (sorry)
Anyway, if you can check it out, that'd be amazing.
Even better, were you drunk when you watched it? 'Cause I've got to tell you, it wasn't you shaking in the chair, it was the damn camera! I mean, what's wrong with that director?! You can't even see the action sceness... ooh and the chases, soooo many boring chases, at one point I was hoping for the bad guys to kill Bond and end my misery.
The opening graphics were not as bad as I feared, but were definitely not 007 quality. Far too much of Craig shooting his Walther PPK .380; (don't make me go into why that is a problem). We have grown accustomed to the sultry, sexual/sensual and awesome graphical intro to the Bond films. This one was not of the same caliber. Ditto on the theme song. It was not a good as past songs but I was fearing worse and it was actually passable relating somewhat to the general theme of the film. The barrel scene was placed at the end of the film. I prefer the beginning but in either case it should be presented with high quality graphics and punctuated with 007 theme song riffs. It was not.
Lots of chases. Most are barely watchable. I actually liked the reference to the traditional 13th century Italian Palio horse race in which the riders can use their longer wooden canes to encourage their steeds or discourage their opponents; and the actual event was supposed to be occurring outside of the chase area.
The knife fight was lame. How did the baddie die anyhow? Please tell me not with the little pair of cuticle scissors Bond had. And if the death blow was to the only wounded area shown, the left jugular, where did all the blood go as Bond let him 'bleed out'. Not to worry the details because we are soon introduced to THE BOND GIRL. Well, a little anti-climatic because she is not quite as attractive as we are used to although she has very pretty lips. The rest of her seems strangely disproportionate for some reason. It's also strange that she would return to the baddie who just tried to have her whacked. That has little probability for success for someone who we later learn is "Bolivian Secret Service". Oh well, not to worry, we are off on another chase, this time with boats. It is perhaps the best done but for the last scene in which the grappling hook is somehow thrown onto the rubber speed boat and flips it from the front of Bond's boat over the top to the rear...... can't quite figure the physics out on that one. Not to worry, we've docked and Bond mysteriously hands the unconscious maiden who he has just rescued over to a dock attendant...what?
Well were off to track this baddie and somehow reconnected with the GIRL in Bolivia where we eventually learn that the baddie, Mr. Greene of the evil Greene corporation in conjunction with the even eviler Quantum Criminal Consortium LLC has concocted a plot wreaking with the venom of true corporate greed, evil capitalism and nefarious financier-ship; to wit, steal all the fresh water in where? Why Bolivia of course and sell it back to them Bolivians at double the price! MUAHHAHAHAHAHA (evil laugh). We learn at a big party that times are tough in Bolivia because it is costing a weeks wages for an average Bolivian to buy a gallon of clean water! As I remember, the average Bolivian earns about $0.25 per day making the water cost about $1.75 a gallon; pretty much on par with market values in Cleveland. Perhaps this is not the best country for our get richer quicker scheme.
No matter, we are off to the evil opera where the evil baddies are meeting to plan, well, evil. This is where we juxtapose a modernistic version of the Tosca operatic bloodshed whilst Bond dabbles in the real thing dispatching the body guards of the evil biggies who, now discovered & uncovered, are making a hasty retreat for the exits faster than attendees at an Al Gore speech.
No matter, while in Bolivia we are matroned by the closest thing to a real Bond girl, agent Fields. Unfortunately we never really figure out what is beneath that trenchcoat although it appears that Bond does. Also unfortunately for Fields and us, she is quickly eliminated by the baddies in what can only be termed as a 'crude' theft of the Goldfinger modus operandi. I would have expected more of a mess but why waste camera time on the slickened Fields when you can spend it on bathroom scenes with....who else....M of course. Perhaps the most difficult what seemed to be15 minutes of the film (as if minutes were hours Mr. Spock) was watching M in her bathrobe apply & remove cold creme. The threat itself would have sent Mr. Greene permanently into pro bono philanthropy. Not finished with us yet, M draws her bath and the tension in the theater built noticeably as we all began to fear that we would be greeted with an au natural scene of her slipping out of the robe into the tub. Fortunately we were spared that experience (wait for the unedited version coming to DVD soon!). However, it just calls into question what fob with a mommy complex of some sort is calling the shots in these films.
M continues to demonstrate why she should not be "M" vacillating from suspecting Bond to needing him back in 00 some 4-5 times during the movie. We did get a glimpse into the possible personality of M's hubby when he meekly announced, "the calls for you dear on your private line". Whatever.
M may welcome Bond back with open arms or have him captured or killed, no matter, the BOND GIRL is rescuing Bond in her getaway car, a 1964 VW Beetle. I guess the Bolivian Secret Service does not get to roll like the 00's in MI6. At least it was a 40HP!
No matter. We are now off to a hotel in the middle of a high plains Bolivian desert. Time to charter a plane...no, not the little Beachcraft Bonanza that would actually be faster and more maneuverable. Choose the DC-3 with a load of cargo on board. Watch out though, you'll get shot down by the Bolvian Air Force in a single engine Cessna. I guess the BAF doesn't get to roll like the 00's at MI6 either.
No matter because they are both jumping out of that crate with the only parachute. Somehow everything turns out ok after wrestling for 10,000 feet with the BOND GIRL & parachute falling at 120 MPH because the chute opens 20 feet off of our LZ, a nice big soft slab of granite. BTW, the BOND GIRL walks for miles on granite stones in her bare feat…she’s a hearty lass.
It’s off the hotel to find the baddies. The hotel, located in the high plains desert of Bolivia, is called the Plaza del Sol. It is completely self-sufficient and powered by...solar....no you idiot, hydrogen fuel cells. In fact, each room appears to have its own hydrogen fuel cell and its accompanying hydrogen supply tank. The maids must make your bed and refill your hydrogen tank when they replace the shampoo in the bath, I guess. Naturally the hotel, located in the high plains Bolivian desert is made substantially of steel & stone. Unfortunately, the steel & stone in Bolivia is not quite as durable as the steel & stone you and I have grown to love as we discover when Bond causes a baddie car to crash through a wall igniting a hydrogen tank. The rest of the hydrogen tanks ignite sequentially. Darn it, I hate when that happens, you just can't get good hydrogen tanks anymore. Again, unfortunately, the Bolivian steel & stone burns more like paper mache. Bond battles the Greene baddie but aborts to rescue the BOND GIRL who is caught up in her own subplot vendetta too trite to be explained here. Mr. Greene escapes into the desert only to meet a cryptic fate induced by other unknown baddies and Bond’s 10W-40 payback for the treatment of luscious Agent Fields.
You would be better off waiting for this to hit DVD. At least then you can slo-mo or replay the chase scenes making sense of them, spend more time with the slick Agent Fields and most importantly, FFW or skip over M's bathroom escapades. You have been warned.
i got
1. connery
2. brosnan
3. moore
in that order
and as fopr the bond girls
well after USHI only one more came close to compete as an equal n both had the same scene HALLE
i can name the other bond girls if i think about it, but these 2 i dont have to think to remember them!!