Quantum has some knockout sequences. There is a well executed cat and mouse staged amidst the performance of an opera that’s both stirring and suspenseful. It made me long for another good aria, perhaps at the Met. There is a villainous stronghold that architecturally reminded me of a high-tech Hobbit hole. Also memorable is an agonizing situation in the desert, involving a can of oil.
But where are all the fun lines such as, “You like close shaves, don’t you?” Where are the cool weapons like shoes that sprout spikes and killer flying hats? Or where are the fun names like Oddjob and Pussy Galore? (Well, I guess Quantum does have Strawberry Fields, but didn’t the Beatles think of that first?) The filmmakers have left those things out as if they don’t matter. Foolish I say.
It just occurred to me to end with this tidbit: I prefer the old Batman television series to the dark, somber, and super-serious recent movies with Christian Bale. My favorite Star Trek series has William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. If you aren’t a sentimental old fogy like me, maybe Daniel Craig is your Bond. Personally, I’ll stick with Roger Moore and Sean Connery and even George Lazenby.
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Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
You suggest going "back," but I don't think you go "back" far enough! The Bond movies you love share very little with the Fleming novels form which they take their names and titular character. These two most recent films, on the other hand, are much more faithful to the "real" James Bond of the books and short stories.
I, for one, don't miss the absurdity at all. I enjoyed it every now and then, but it had really become too much, and I missed a few Bond films on purpose before Casino Royale came along.
Frankly, the Jason Bourne films owe much to Bond, much more than the other way around.
2 - El Bicho
While the action was poorly shot in QoS, it made sense to me. I'll take Craig's serious Bond over the lame one-liners (the name is Stock, James Stock) and the laughable, immature male fantasies of past Bonds.
3 - Brenda Wise
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, look at all the years we have been given of 'James Bond.'
Our choices are many,as well as our views of each film.
In reality, 'Bond' has had to keep up with the times. The 'now' times, prefer the modern day 'Bond,' either they are just getting into the 'Bond' adventure, and know nothing of the past ones, or they are the older generation who remember quite well.
The older generation tend to adore the past 'Bonds' because that was their era. When the younger generation go back to review the older 'Bond' films, what do they really get to see? They believe the older films to be 'cocky,' especially in comparison to the newest 'Bond' film.
Makes you curious as to what the next generation of 'Bond.......James Bond' is headed for. There are a lot of creative folks out there.
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Thank you for your review of QOS.