Marc Forster still defending his work on 'Quantum of Solace'

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  • I think that it has a lot to do with Connery's animal magnetism, which Craig seems to share. He's the only one that has had it in the vain of Connery, and not only does the interpretation stem from that, but the tone of his films as well to a large degree.
  • but the tone of his films as well to a large degree.

    That I really don't see. I think Craigs films so far have been much darker than Connerys.
  • I think that it has a lot to do with Connery's animal magnetism, which Craig seems to share. He's the only one that has had it in the vain of Connery, and not only does the interpretation stem from that, but the tone of his films as well to a large degree.

    Exactly.

    If you look at GoldenEye, Martin Campbell definetly understands the way the 60's Bonds balance elegance and brutality. Bond glides around beautiful locations like a shark, there is a sudden outburst of violence just waiting to happen. There is potential danger everywhere - but the biggest danger is Bond himself. Watch Thunderball and how effortlessly Connery moves, and how that's matched by the editing and camera work of the film. It's an understated, less-is-more approach. It's cool, it's graceful. But when there's violence - like the pre-credit fight with a man dressed as a widow - it's frantic, thrilling, and brutal.

    GoldenEye was the first Bond flick since the 60's to really go back to this style. Casino Royale does it even moreso, and Quantum of Solace is very much the same.
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    I think that it has a lot to do with Connery's animal magnetism, which Craig seems to share. He's the only one that has had it in the vain of Connery, and not only does the interpretation stem from that, but the tone of his films as well to a large degree.

    Exactly.

    If you look at GoldenEye, Martin Campbell definetly understands the way the 60's Bonds balance elegance and brutality. Bond glides around beautiful locations like a shark, there is a sudden outburst of violence just waiting to happen. There is potential danger everywhere - but the biggest danger is Bond himself. Watch Thunderball and how effortlessly Connery moves, and how that's matched by the editing and camera work of the film. It's an understated, less-is-more approach. It's cool, it's graceful. But when there's violence - like the pre-credit fight with a man dressed as a widow - it's frantic, thrilling, and brutal.

    GoldenEye was the first Bond flick since the 60's to really go back to this style. Casino Royale does it even moreso, and Quantum of Solace is very much the same.

    I get where you're coming from but using Thunderball as an example, really?
  • DoctorKaufmannDoctorKaufmann Can shoot you from Stuttgart and still make it look like suicide.
    edited October 2012 Posts: 1,261
    As I already posted above, IMO QOS is a solid Bond film, definitely better than DAD.
    The Tosca scene is excellently done and directed and is classic Bond. And that Marc Forster still defends his movie, seems quite logic to me, too. What do you expect he should be doing? Whiplashing his back and pray for him being forgiven? ^:)^
    A lot of people (including me ^:)^ ) blamed Dan Bradley, the man from BOURNE for the editing mess of the opening action scenes, but I watched THE BOURNE LEGACY (a quite good movie IMO) the other day, and although he was second unit driector there, too (and also on INDIANA JONES IV), it seems, that Forster and Paul Greengrass wanted the scenes to be dine the way they are done...
    QOS had some potential, but that was wasted, and a missed opportunity. But as simple here also said, if it would have been the follow-up to DAD, it would have got more appreciation.
  • edited October 2012 Posts: 51
    I don't think anyone thinks QOS is not better than DAD. However, if the horrible CGI scenes were removed (rocketsled, finale, surfing) and Halle Berry replaced with a better actress, it would have been more enjoyable to watch than QOS.

    To me, Brosnan's first three films and definitely Dalton's two are better than QOS. If it wasn't for Daniel Craig, QOS would have been horrible.
  • SPECTRE wrote:
    I don't think anyone thinks QOS is not better than DAD. However, if the horrible CGI scenes were removed (rocketsled, finale, surfing) and Halle Berry replaced with a better actress, it would have been more enjoyable to watch than QOS.

    To me, Brosnan's first three films and definitely Dalton's two are better than QOS. If it wasn't for Daniel Craig, QOS would have been horrible.

    You'd be surprised about that. Some folks actually like excessive CGI, gadgets, and Jinx better. I'd take Dalton's films and Brosnan's first two over QOS. But not TWINE, DAF, MR, and definitely not DAD.

  • Posts: 1,146
    I think Quantum TOWERS over the last three Brosnan films.

    The big thing that I really respect about Craig is that he does not play Bond for laughs. There's humor but not at the character's expense. What doomed Brosnan for me was during the opening boat chase in World, he straightened his tie underwater in a very Moore-like moment.

    That was it for me.
  • edited October 2012 Posts: 3,494
    Yes, the tie straightening was definitely Brosnan's thing. Judging by the SF trailers, it looks like cuff straightening is Craig's. But it doesn't look forced, whereas I also thought Pierce's bit was a little too hammy and obvious.
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    Straightening and adjusting the double cuff of a shirt after completing some physical stunt is infinitely different to.......adjusting your tie......under water! That was just, odd.

    As for Jinx, I think it's unfair to blame Halle. Her lines were just awful and whoever w
  • doubleoego wrote:
    Straightening and adjusting the double cuff of a shirt after completing some physical stunt is infinitely different to.......adjusting your tie......under water! That was just, odd.

    As for Jinx, I think it's unfair to blame Halle. Her lines were just awful and whoever w

    Yes, I agree and can see the difference here, but it did need to be pointed out nonetheless. I think all the tie straightening spots were just for laughs, and didn't find them to be funny at all.

    As far as Halle you have a point about the awful dialogue that anyone in the right mind wouldn't disagree with, that said I didn't think her performance was very good either.
  • I've always said that QoS will be a better film once we discover more about quantum as, as it stands now there are two many plot holes that are not resolved. I do hope bond 24 can address these issues.
  • doubleoego wrote:
    Straightening and adjusting the double cuff of a shirt after completing some physical stunt is infinitely different to.......adjusting your tie......under water! That was just, odd.

    What about in the tank chase in Goldeneye? It was pretty badass then.

    It didn't make much sense in TWINE, he should've straightened his tie when the boat came out from underwater.
    You'd be surprised about that. Some folks actually like excessive CGI, gadgets, and Jinx better.

    I like DAD better because I think the first half is great. There are only 3 problems with the first half: Jinx, the in your face references, and the theme song.

    With QOS, the problems are there from the start. Unlike DAD, it doesn't take nose dive, it's problems are there from the star.
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    edited October 2012 Posts: 11,139
    doubleoego wrote:
    Straightening and adjusting the double cuff of a shirt after completing some physical stunt is infinitely different to.......adjusting your tie......under water! That was just, odd.

    What about in the tank chase in Goldeneye? It was pretty badass then.

    It didn't make much sense in TWINE, he should've straightened his tie when the boat came out from underwater.

    I actually like the tank chase and the tie adjustment in that scene worked, as Bond stops to acknowledge a small car hit his huge bloody big tank and then adjusts his tie and gets back to business. The tie straightening in TWINE was just absurd and like you said would have been better executed once Bond had resurfaced as opposed to doing it under water.

  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    jamesdut wrote:
    I've always said that QoS will be a better film once we discover more about quantum as, as it stands now there are two many plot holes that are not resolved. I do hope bond 24 can address these issues.

    Completely disagree. There is nothing that can be done narratively in any other film that will have a significant impact on QoS. I'd be amazed if you could suggest a single thing that would retrospectively make Quantum 'better', but please give it a go. This is the argument of someone who desperately wants QoS to be better than it is.
  • Posts: 11,425
    He's trying to defend QOS? Good luck to him, I say. It's easily the worst Bond of it's decade, and one of the worst Bonds in the cannon.

    worst of the decade....? we are talking about the same decad?
  • Posts: 1,492
    With QOS, the problems are there from the start. Unlike DAD, it doesn't take nose dive, it's problems are there from the star.

    You are joking surely? From the first second of the PTS DAD is shit. Pure shit. James Bond is such a good shot that he can fire down the barrel of the bloke shooting him????


    :(( :(( :((

    DAD is a conveyer belt of excreta from beginning to end.
  • edited October 2012 Posts: 12,837
    actonsteve wrote:
    With QOS, the problems are there from the start. Unlike DAD, it doesn't take nose dive, it's problems are there from the star.

    You are joking surely? From the first second of the PTS DAD is shit. Pure shit. James Bond is such a good shot that he can fire down the barrel of the bloke shooting him????

    Does DAD gunbarrel make sense? No. But none of them do, the gunbarrel wouldn't stay there while blood trickled down would it?

    The CGI bullet was a pointless change (like putting it at the end of QOS), and if you don't like it for that fine, I don't either. But anybody bitching about it not making sense must hate all the gunbarrels then.

    Anyway, the PTS is good, Bond getting captured and tortured is different and exciting, the Hong Kong scenes are cool, apart from Jinx the cuba stuff is really good and some of it feels very 60s, and the fencing scene is really well done, a great action scene.

    DADs first half has weak points, like every Bond film does, but I think it's really good.

    The QOS first half started with no gubarrel (worse than the CGI bullet), followed by 2 crap chase scenes in a row, the London stuff is decent but nothing really stands out, then we go to Haiti where we get a cool fight (but craply edited), one good bit with the motorbike ("I missed"), then ANOTHER crappy chase scene, etc.
  • RC7 wrote:
    jamesdut wrote:
    I've always said that QoS will be a better film once we discover more about quantum as, as it stands now there are two many plot holes that are not resolved. I do hope bond 24 can address these issues.

    Completely disagree. There is nothing that can be done narratively in any other film that will have a significant impact on QoS. I'd be amazed if you could suggest a single thing that would retrospectively make Quantum 'better', but please give it a go. This is the argument of someone who desperately wants QoS to be better than it is.

    Look I know QoS is not one of the better films but there is much in the film that is done well especially the action and mood of the film. A big problem for me is that you feel it should of givin more. Like M says they knew nothing about Quantum until they discover its existitce through the QoS plot. So now we as fans want the pay off to discover much more about Quantum the organisation.

  • Posts: 1,146
    There'sa bunch of silly shots in the tank chase that can should have been cut. The statue gag was HORRIBLE.

  • doubleoego wrote:
    Straightening and adjusting the double cuff of a shirt after completing some physical stunt is infinitely different to.......adjusting your tie......under water! That was just, odd.

    What about in the tank chase in Goldeneye? It was pretty badass then.

    It didn't make much sense in TWINE, he should've straightened his tie when the boat came out from underwater.
    You'd be surprised about that. Some folks actually like excessive CGI, gadgets, and Jinx better.

    I like DAD better because I think the first half is great. There are only 3 problems with the first half: Jinx, the in your face references, and the theme song.

    With QOS, the problems are there from the start. Unlike DAD, it doesn't take nose dive, it's problems are there from the start.

    I think, just off the top of my head, you're missing a few things even before we get to Jinx-

    1. Standing around admiring his work after Moon goes over the falls and letting himself get caught. Uh, did we forget we're in North Korea and getting chased by the home team who hates Westerners?
    2. Overacting with M on the ship. No wonder he got canned for a superior actor.
    3. Faking a heart attack
    4. Walking into a Hong Kong hotel with pajamas

    Add in Jinx, Madonna's horrid monotone acting, a villain even more smarmy than Brosnan before the film gets to Iceland and the rest of the debacle. And an extra year to get it right, no less without the restrictions of a writer's strike. Given all this, QOS is practically a masterpiece in comparison. If I weren't more preoccupied with trying to be fair about it and try to wrap my head around why anyone would prefer DAD or MR to either of Craig's films, I'd be on the floor laughing trying to catch my breath. I believe I've made the points most people I would gladly wager are agreeing with me on and have said enough for the moment.



  • 1. Standing around admiring his work after Moon goes over the falls and letting himself get caught. Uh, did we forget we're in North Korea and getting chased by the home team who hates Westerners?

    He hardly stopped for a sit down did he? He looked down, cracked a one liner and turned to see an army of Koreans.
    2. Overacting with M on the ship. No wonder he got canned for a superior actor.

    I like that bit "you had your cyanide" "threw it away years ago" He was canned because EON are like the FA, blaming everything on the manager.

    Craig just happened to be the one hired to replace him, and to be honest, even though he's a great actor and a good Bond, I think lots of that was down to Barbara fancying him.
    3. Faking a heart attack

    I never had a problem with that. There's been much more far fetched stuff in Bond films.
    4. Walking into a Hong Kong hotel with pajamas

    I love that bit. Only James Bond can walk into a posh hotel in his pyjamas and get the best suite there.
    Add in Jinx, Madonna's horrid monotone acting, a villain even more smarmy than Brosnan before the film gets to Iceland and the rest of the debacle.

    Madonna was only in it for a minute or two, Graves was a posh slimy dick but isn't that a good thing in a way? We are meant to hate villians (but I do think they should've got a better one). At least unlike Greene, Graves was memorable.
    And an extra year to get it right, no less without the restrictions of a writer's strike.

    Sorry but when I'm comparing the two films and deciding which I like more, I'm not going to let QOS off because of the writers strike. Yeah it's a shame it happened and it could've been a better film otherwise but the strike did happen and we ended up with what I think is the worst Bond film.
  • brinkeguthriebrinkeguthrie Piz Gloria
    Posts: 1,400
    I thought QOS is one of the most beautifully shot of all the movies. No problem with it at all..one of my favorites.
  • Posts: 9,730
    NicNac wrote:
    Personal taste eh? Where would we be without it.

    I've read that QOS is a great Bond film
    QOS is the worst Bond film
    QOS is 'easilly' the second worst Bond film since Dalton.

    And every one written as if it's the generally accepted opinion. :-O


    after reading this thread is it any wonder why I genuinely refer to myself as one of the 8 people who liked Quantum of Solace.

  • edited October 2012 Posts: 3,333
    Anyway, the PTS is good, Bond getting captured and tortured is different and exciting, the Hong Kong scenes are cool, apart from Jinx the cuba stuff is really good and some of it feels very 60s, and the fencing scene is really well done, a great action scene.

    DADs first half has weak points, like every Bond film does, but I think it's really good.
    You haven't convinced me, @thelivingroyale. I just didn't buy the whole Bond in captivity skit during and after the PTS. It's inclusion seemed only to serve as an interlude between Colonel Moon morphing mysteriously off-screen into Gustav Graves, other than that it was pretty pointless!! I thought M not trusting Bond after discovering there was a mole in MI6 was absurd considering his experience and the history between them, especially when it didn't take a highly trained spook to work out it was the newbie Miranda Frost.

    And are we now led to believe that Bond can stop his heart supernaturally whenever the occasion arises without any explanation for this newly acquired skill? For the record this scene was stolen from Our Man Flint, a trick that the comical Derek Flint could achieve with the aid of his wristwatch, and shouldn't appear in the world of 007. I'm sorry, but as soon as he "stopped his heart" everything went downhill pretty fast after then and, unlike Bond, didn't make a miraculous recovery.

    I haven't seen it in a while but doesn't the Cuba stuff feature all that DNA alteration drivel and the introduction of Jinx? Though QoS isn't the best in the series it's certainly doesn't contain any of the awful moments mentioned in the first half of DAD. Without a doubt DAD is The Batman and Robin of the James Bond series, more so than MR, which at least did have a good first half.

    Apologies, but DAD will always be a dreadful Bond experience for me and - as hard as I might - I can't find any redeeming qualities within this bastard birth.
  • edited October 2012 Posts: 12,837
    The QOS first half was just a few badly edited action scenes (mainly chases), with some good bits lost in the mess.

    The Cuba stuff has Zao in the clinic but it never really talks about the DNA alteration, that comes later, and the fight wasn't bad. It does have Jinx's intro and that bit is terrible, but the bit with Bond driving around, getting the car, feels really 60s.

    MR also has a great first half you're right, and I prefer that film to QOS, DAD and AVTAK.
  • edited October 2012 Posts: 3,160
    SPECTRE wrote:
    I don't think anyone thinks QOS is not better than DAD.
    Well, I do. The first hour of DAD was the best part of the Brosnan-era, IMO. QoS had many great things going for it, but since I found it impossible to follow due to the editing and seizurecam, it rests at the bottom of my list.
  • One word: shakey-cam
  • edited October 2012 Posts: 11,425
    bondsum wrote:
    Anyway, the PTS is good, Bond getting captured and tortured is different and exciting, the Hong Kong scenes are cool, apart from Jinx the cuba stuff is really good and some of it feels very 60s, and the fencing scene is really well done, a great action scene.

    DADs first half has weak points, like every Bond film does, but I think it's really good.
    You haven't convinced me, @thelivingroyale. I just didn't buy the whole Bond in captivity skit during and after the PTS. It's inclusion seemed only to serve as an interlude between Colonel Moon morphing mysteriously off-screen into Gustav Graves, other than that it was pretty pointless!! I thought M not trusting Bond after discovering there was a mole in MI6 was absurd considering his experience and the history between them, especially when it didn't take a highly trained spook to work out it was the newbie Miranda Frost.

    And are we now led to believe that Bond can stop his heart supernaturally whenever the occasion arises without any explanation for this newly acquired skill? For the record this scene was stolen from Our Man Flint, a trick that the comical Derek Flint could achieve with the aid of his wristwatch, and shouldn't appear in the world of 007. I'm sorry, but as soon as he "stopped his heart" everything went downhill pretty fast after then and, unlike Bond, didn't make a miraculous recovery.

    I haven't seen it in a while but doesn't the Cuba stuff feature all that DNA alteration drivel and the introduction of Jinx? Though QoS isn't the best in the series it's certainly doesn't contain any of the awful moments mentioned in the first half of DAD. Without a doubt DAD is The Batman and Robin of the James Bond series, more so than MR, which at least did have a good first half.

    Apologies, but DAD will always be a dreadful Bond experience for me and - as hard as I might - I can't find any redeeming qualities within this bastard birth.

    The PTS in DAD is IMO one of the very worst in the series. The whole idea of Bond being imprisoned for so long feels so unBondian. He is just a pawn in some lame story that attempts to draw out the Cold War beyond it's sell by date. It feels flat and dull from the start. The hovercraft chase is so bad it's laughable. The car chase at the start of QoS, although not very original, is infinitely more entertaining.
  • Posts: 11,425
    Mendes says he was disappointed by QoS but thinks it got short shrift.

    http://www.metro.co.uk/film/915607-skyfall-director-sam-mendes-wasnt-interested-in-james-bond
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