Quantum's effect on your opinion of Craig and Casino?

w2bondw2bond is indeed a very rare breed
edited February 2012 in Bond Movies Posts: 2,252
Has Quantum of Solace altered your opinion of Craig as Bond or improved/ruined your appreciation of Casino Royale?

While Quantum doesn't ruin Casino for me, it makes me want to forget the two movies are meant to be together. I never warmed up to Quantum, and the more I think about it, the less it fits in as a Bond movie.

Bond completely devolves and has to regain M's trust (yawn) yet again.

The reason I bring this up is that I've noticed a turn in comments from 'best bond since connery' to 'what an insult to compare craig to connery'
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Comments

  • Posts: 1,052
    Casino Royale while not one of my favrouites, was a different approach to Bond and was well recieved and brought a renewed interest in Bond.

    QOS was a poor film which was still a success due to the good will carried over from CR, hopefully the mediocre quality of this film will not effect peoples interest in Skyfall.

    I think CR reputation has remained in tact though following QOS.
  • Posts: 11,425
    I actually enjoyed QoS much more than CR when I first saw it. I found CR a bit of a yawnfest. Although I think Craig is decent casting and liked Vesper, overall I wasn't particularly entertained. I felt relieved after the preceding 4 movies that CR was not utter tosh, but not completely over the moon. I actually felt QoS felt (slightly) more like a Bond movie and there were some nice touches in it, like the opera scene. For all the slating that Forster gets, I think he had more of a sense for the look and feel of a Bond movie than all 4 preceeding directors. So on one level, I'm feeling positive about Skyfall and am hopeful that Mendes pulls something really special out of the bag. However, I am also worried that once again M is going to dominate large sections of the film and that Craig won't get the free run he deserves at really nailing the role.
  • CR was an absolute revelation for me, and as a friend said "It's the Bond film that you've waited your whole life for". It was such a huge upswing in quality in nearly every department (IMHO, of course) that a follow-up of equal quality was a near-impossibility.

    When I first saw QoS on opening night I was underwhelmed and felt like EON had blown a great opportunity. I wasn't upset or angry, just a little...wistful that they couldn't have kept the momentum. However, after watching the film a second time I liked it considerably more. Part of that is knowing what to expect and not having the huge expectations going in as I did on opening night. Unfortunately I think that the editing of the film is so upsetting to some people that they can't see any element of the film apart from that. I keep saying that if we could see a "non-director's cut" of the film some of the critics would like it a lot more. Acting-wise, story-wise, settings and action - there could always be some improvement (as with many Bond films) but I don't think that QoS is a dire film or a betrayal of the Bond series.

    It would have been nice to see Craig deliver more of the charm in QoS like he did in CR but I can understand why he didn't. Of course, waiting so long for a new Bond film when it first comes out heightens our opinions of it; 20 years from now when QoS is just one of a series of Craig films I think its differences will make it refreshing. Much like it's nice that Moore has both a MR and a FYEO, and Connery has a FRWL and a TB.
  • Posts: 7,653
    I found that the ending of CR annoyed me a lot (the sinking house) it proved to me that EON had not chosen a new direction but still chose spectacle over acting. As such they really shiwed how interested they were in the actors' capabilities.
    With QoS I knew that they failed to deliver completely in every aspect. I would rather have waited another year on this 007 vehicle, so they could get their stuff right instead of rushing this turd out.
    With Bond23 I have little expectation, if they manage to f*ck that up which is not completely outside any possibility I can honestly say that EON gets a very good actor and does not know what to do with him.
  • HASEROTHASEROT has returned like the tedious inevitability of an unloved season---
    Posts: 4,399
    i was finally able to rewatch QOS after having gone months without seeing it, because my blu ray player is K.I.A... and my feelings toward it still haven't changed..

    so does QOS change my opinion on the first film?... hardly.... no, not at all - no more than a lousy sequel to Halloween change my opinion of the first film, or does a subpar Indiana Jones outing change my opinion of Raiders... i feel people who let films effect them in that matter are (no offense) weak minded.... just my opinion....

    and though i feel Forster delivered one of best directed and looking Bond films, he botched it by shooting most of the action scenes the way he did.. I dont mind the use of shaky cam, to set the feel of a scene - but it was overblown to the point where you couldn't comprehend what was being shown on screen at times... and the film also suffered from lack of a completed script - but i can't place blame on Forster, or anyone else for that matter - not even Haggis... it was a bad set of circumstances surrounding the writer's strike that held the script back - and forced Forster and even Craig to figure out a lot of stuff on the fly......

    what the problems of QOS do for me, is reaffirm just how great of a film CR is.
  • A very good point about Halloween and Indy, @haserot. I'm the exact same way. If you dislike a sequel it's easy to pretend it never happened, because after all, it's a movie! It never did happen! It's fiction!

    Regarding QOS: I'm not a hater- it ranks about halfway down my Bond movie list, but then again CR is in the top TWO. There were some necessary questions to answer from Casino Royale's story, and besides what was directly linked to those points in QOS, as a whole the story was ho-hum I think.
    I bet a clever editor could have shaved bits off of CR and turned CR and QOS into one movie!
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    edited February 2012 Posts: 13,350
    Not for me, I still think of them as the same, just average films. Near bang in the middle of my rankings I would think.
    I bet a clever editor could have shaved bits off of CR and turned CR and QOS into one movie!

    I think that would have made for a much better film.
  • Posts: 11,425
    CR way too long and QoS is overzealously edited, with too many scenes ending abruptly. Time will treat QoS quite well though I think.
  • Posts: 297
    Had no effect in me, QOS isn't playing the same league as CR. But CR also has lost a bit, could do will less tacked on action and a leaner story. Strangely I feel the same about QOS, feels really a bit overlong.
  • Posts: 1,310
    You don't even need to watch QOS for 10 minutes before knowing that CR is the better film IMO.
    Getafix wrote:
    CR way too long and QoS is overzealously edited, with too many scenes ending abruptly. Time will treat QoS quite well though I think.

    I agree with you here. On the surface, Quantum of Solace doesn't really seem like a dud of a film, but to me it was. I think as time moves on and Craig becomes 'one of those old Bonds' however, people will ease up on it a tad.
  • Posts: 12,506
    Certainly not changed my way of thinking about DC as Bond. I am enjoying his tenure as Bond and his take on the role and i am interested in seeing where he goes with it next? (Apart from the barbers!) ;)

    QOS always faced an impossible task of matching CR movie for movie. Especially knowing what Craig's Bond would be like? The writers strike? and probably the biggest thing of all the change of director! Although i accept it is a 2 part movie which does not bother me. The change in directorial influence and continuity of working the second half of the story was a big ask!
  • Posts: 2,341
    Never changes my attitude. I really liked CR and after seeing QoS I came away thinking, "CR was a better film".
    I expect that SF will be a classic and great adventure that will outdo CR.
    I'm looking forward to it and seeing more of Craig as Bond.
  • For me Daniel Craig at this moment in time is James Bond, will be until he retires from the project, I don't watch any of his other work much now, and amid all the 'celebrity news' that follows him around I try to concentrate on his acting capabilities for the Bond releases and nothing more. I honestly don't remember half of QOS from the last viewing, was it really that bad?, all I know is and again taking out the 'Craig is the wrong shape, hair color, eyes etc etc', Royale was a very good outing and brought some believability back to the Bond part for the most time after a very lame release the time before. Big things are expected later this year with the 50th anniversary and all and I expect Craig to put on a show fitting of the celebrations. I am quietly confident it will be a success
  • Posts: 1,548
    I love Dan Craig as Bond even more today than pre-Casino. Despite QOS's flaws DC is still superb. Just need to see him in a ski sequence in a future film!
  • Posts: 1,492
    Has no effect on me. Love them both.

    There seems to be alot of threads trying to throw ball bearings under the feet of the Craig era.

    They just want everyone to dislike it as much as them. And no want CR discredited too.
  • Posts: 11,189
    CR was a bit of a slow burner for me. Wasn't sure how how I felt after I'd first seen it BUT enjoyed it more the second time.

    Quantum was very 'meh'. When I first saw it I thought "something's missing". Saw it again and still thought that.

    Got the DVD and have seen it several times trying to like it more but it just lacks something.
  • Posts: 11,189
    CR was a bit of a slow burner for me. Wasn't sure how how I felt after I'd first seen it BUT enjoyed it more the second time.

    Quantum was very 'meh'. When I first saw it I thought "something's missing". Saw it again and still thought that.

    Got the DVD and have seen it several times trying to like it more but it just lacks something.
  • HASEROTHASEROT has returned like the tedious inevitability of an unloved season---
    Posts: 4,399
    actonsteve wrote:
    There seems to be alot of threads trying to throw ball bearings under the feet of the Craig era.

    They just want everyone to dislike it as much as them. And no want CR discredited too.

    it seems to be the hip thing to do, once something reaches a certain level of popularity.
  • Posts: 6,601
    HASEROT wrote:
    actonsteve wrote:
    There seems to be alot of threads trying to throw ball bearings under the feet of the Craig era.

    They just want everyone to dislike it as much as them. And no want CR discredited too.

    it seems to be the hip thing to do, once something reaches a certain level of popularity.

    Nevertheless a sad trend by just a few, who are evreywhere to make it look like they are many. ~O)
  • Craig's only done the two films, give the man a chance to show something other than one fine effort and one abysmal picture. I think in about three or four years time with more Bond efforts under his belt there could be a clearer indication of how we can really put Craig in the Bond stakes, there's maybe not much to go on at the present time, I know Dalton only did the two but they for me were both good outings, obviously we never really got to see how good Dalton could become which is a shame, and the same goes for Lazenby also. I think by this time next year we can fairly say whether Craig is the real deal or simply inadequate in the part with more accuracy
  • Posts: 1,492
    Craig's only done the two films, give the man a chance to show something other than one fine effort and one abysmal picture. y

    Sorry, but I dont see QoS as abysmal. I see it as a tight little thriller with good locations, a nice use of Quantum and some of the best art direction the series has ever seen.

    And a leading man who carries the part with ease. The editing doesnt bother me because it doesnt seem to bad on the small screen and there is a emotional journey from beginning to end.

    Its Bond for adults. Maybe thats why people dont like it.

  • Posts: 12,506
    i am going with real deal on this, but do agree that certain individuals do need to give the guy a break.
  • Craig gets slated for Quantum, as did Connery with Diamonds & YOLT, as did Moore with Moonraker and AVTAK, as did Lazenby for OHMSS, as did Brosnan for DAD, by way of some peoples thinking, I'm not saying they are bad releases but these titles have taken a bashing at some point in time by the general public and would seem the neutrals favorite releases of condemnation, all 007 actors have been a part of some sub standard entries (well maybe not Dalton), Craig is no exception to it

    When Craig took the role some people may have thought that we could have the best Bond ever here, that the man was free from error, that he was the pinnacle and epitome of what a great James Bond should be. We know that that was simply not the case but maybe one or two were under the impression.

    Point being and all said, maybe I'm not 100 per cent happy with Daniel Craig as James Bond 007 for whatever reasons but I can't change the actor or just have someone else. He's not the best Bond ever, maybe one day that could happen but doubtful, at this moment in time he has one success and one failure to his name and a chance to redeem himself later this year with a release that could really tip the scales in his favor. Maybe I'll wait until then
  • Posts: 1,492
    Cand one failure to his name a

    Hold on a minute.

    What failure?

    Just because you dont like it doesnt mean it isnt a failure.

    I dont like DAD but no way would I say it is a failure - it made shed loads of money and brought people to the franchise. Diamonds was never a failure, nor was AVTAK. Theres a mention of DAF being the film with the fifth biggest ratings on British TV on first showing.

    No Bond film hasnt made money. No Bond film has not brought new fans to the series. Same with QoS.

  • 002002
    Posts: 581
    well you know where i stand with QOS....
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 23,524
    QOS did not have a specific effect on my view of Craig or CR. I love Craig in the film so if anything, QOS confirmed my thoughts on the man: Craig is a fine Bond. I don't blame him for the film. In fact, he walked me through it with relative ease. As for CR, it would be pretty silly for me to alter my view of the film because of QOS. I put CR right up there in my top 5 when I first saw the film opening night in 2006 and it has stayed there ever since. There's no reason for me to change my thoughts about Craig or CR over QOS, especially since Craig's performance was more or less the same. I respect the man for not going down under with a lesser film; he kept true to his spirit as 007.
  • The trouble with QoS is not how bad it is.. but how good it could have been!
    All the action and the high pace have to cover up that they didn't pay much attention to the story.
    To me they should have expanded the Quantum story. Not much of a dangerous organisation, as far as we can see in the film. So Bond should have investigated them, as M told him to.
    Dominic Greene is supposed to have a "pitiful" quality, but that would only have worked if he had a higher boss within Quantum.
    Besides that, it would have a stronger effect on the film if Bond had flashbacks of Vesper. A real mistake that they didn't bring Eva Green back.
    It is also a shame they killed Strawberry Fields so soon.
  • ShardlakeShardlake Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
    edited February 2012 Posts: 4,043
    While QOS is no Royale Craig still gave a great performance, now we've got the brooding out the way hopefully he'll settle into a more suave, relaxed Bond ruthless but not so brutal, killing people with his fists needs to kept to a minimum.

    Although with Skyfall I still see a serious emotional thread to his performance those expecting wise cracking Moore like escapades are going to be disappointed, hopefully they'll up the humour quota a little but no smutty innuendo's. The Moore era is gone thank god and hopefully to never return, at least in my lifetime!
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    After being underwhelmed by QOS on opening night it still feels very rushed and a tragic missed oppurtunity. A very poor decision to go ahead instead of pulling it for a year until the writers strike was sorted.

    With it being a direct sequel to CR though I tend to watch them as a double bill and imagine it as all part of the same film.
    It sort of works but you cant ignore the drop off ijn quality from CR which is the best Bond since TLD.

    In many ways CR had a big advantage in that coming after DAD it was always going to be a lot better. The fact that they hit it out of the park made it an impossible task for QOS to live up to. In time it will be seen as an average entry. Lets just hope that theres a bit of pressure off for SF to try and get close to the heights of CR. I'll be reasonably happy for a film 80% as good as CR. Anything more will be a massive bonus.
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,330
    Since I don't hate the Craig outings I enjoyed QoS. Sure it's not up to full gear because of the writers strike, it was still a guilty pleasure for me. I get chills every time Bond calls out the villains in the opera house scene. It's "Classic Bond with a capitol B" (Not the movie, the scene.) QoS is a good flick IMO, I'm excited for SkyFall now. :D
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