QUANTUM OF SOLACE
RYAN: It’s about time for another big movie – and this one is of the Bond persuasion.
CAROLINE: It’s “Quantum of Solace” and Daniel Craig is back, baby!
RYAN: Can I just say that 007 movie titles are always so awkward and they make no sense until after you’ve seen the movie. Then they’re cool.
CAROLINE: This title is still a little elusive for me. I think I know what the Quantum is but I’m still vague on the Solace.
RYAN: [laughs’ That’s also a good way to describe the film. It wasn’t necessarily confusing, but they definitely didn’t explain certain things. Some details were left out entirely.
CAROLINE: I was never exactly sure what was going on at any given moment of this movie, but I suppose it doesn’t really matter since you’re just supposed to enjoy the action. I was a little frustrated though because I wanted to follow the story more. Plus I couldn’t keep track of who everyone was.
RYAN: I have one major irk with this film… other than that I was totally into it. These here Bond films are some of the best action movies ever made, and this one is up there with them. It’s not as good as “Casino Royale” though.
CAROLINE: Definitely not. I left “Casino Royale” exhilarated and amazed at how action-packed and awesome it was, and I didn’t have that feeling with this one.
RYAN: Right. This one is not as awesome, and my big problem with it is that it’s major story arc is a total rip-off of “The Bourne Ultimatum.”
CAROLINE: I hear you.
RYAN: The girls in the movie are really pretty though.
CAROLINE: One of them doesn’t have that much to do, though she does get to make out with a shirtless Daniel Craig. The other one was prettier but she only gets a peck from him. By the by, Daniel Craig’s eyes are bluer than ever in this movie.
RYAN: It’s no surprise that he tore himself up during filming. The action scenes are incredible and intense.
CAROLINE: Some of them are a little over-the-top, but mostly my mouth was hanging open and I was gasping aloud.
RYAN: I actually found myself punching the air at times because I almost felt like I was in the fight with them.
CAROLINE: This was a really hard film to shoot and many people were injured on the set, including Daniel Craig. Some of the action scenes are truly jaw dropping.
RYAN: I loved the opening titles, and the end credits were great too.
CAROLINE: Of course, we all love seeing the iconic Bond white circles and then the blood dripping down after he shoots. That happens at the end. But I really didn’t like the opening credits because I hated that Jack White/Alicia Keys song. It hurt my ears.
RYAN: I didn’t like it either, but how great was the opening credit animation?
CAROLINE: It was cool, but I was so distracted by the awful music. I kept thinking, “I just want to hear the Bond theme.” Originally, it was gonna be an Amy Winehouse song and I would have liked that much better. But she’s a little incapacitated right now.
RYAN: What’s your bottom line?
CAROLINE: I didn’t love this one like I loved the last one. Daniel Craig is awesome, and Judi Dench is amazing as always; but it left me a little empty and confused. I’m not thrilled like I was after the first one.
RYAN: I’m not disappointed, but again, it’s not as good as “Casino Royale.” But I was entertained, I was into it from start to finish and the action was great. I think it hit all the notes that you want a Bond film to hit in terms of humor and action. I’d recommend it for sure.