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In Defense of QOS as a decent Bond Flick

posted 8 years ago by Ronsin1976
9 replies | jump to latest

While QOS is not on the caliber of GF, FRWL, nor TLD..it does have some merits.

Yes, while I do agree the opening scenes (e.g. car chase, Bond's chase of the rogue agent through a festive crowd in Italy) made lead to some visual disturbances. It's merits are apparent.

Daniel Craig is in fine form in this one. He embodies the agent who truly believes no one is on his side. He knows there are few to trust. We can see that visible desperation on Craig's face. This is the authentic Fleming's Bond. Craig's metamorphosis into the Bond character is spellbinding. His mastery of the movements, the thought processes, the physicality of the role is highly commendable.

Mathias brings a great vulnerability to the movie. He is rightfully angered over the previous mix up in CR, but he cannot stay away from Craig's Bond. Like Walter Egan once sang, Craig is a magnet and others are steel. He risks his life for his loyalty to Craig's Bond, over no personal gain. When he expires, we see real raw emotion of sadness and regret in Craig's face. Again, Craig is channeling Fleming's Bond as the master that he is and we are in for a treat.

Dominic Greene is a realistic villain. He is not looking to rule the world, he serves as the middle man to an evil organization that would like to benefit economically from precarious environmental issues in a 3rd world country. There is no hubris on his part, no evil I'm going to rule the world laugh from his part, he is a middle man...plan and simple. He is not afraid to engage in fisticuffs with Bond and does hold his own for a while. A real and worthy adversary to Bond.

The Bond girl is breathtaking and unlike most other Bond girls, she does not lead to seduction. She's all about the revenge. Craig's Bond senses this and highly respects it.

The last scene really makes the movie. When M asks if she can again trust Bond and is glad to have him back. Craig conjures up perfectly Fleming's Bond with "I never left". That set the stage for the whole franchise, also quieted some of the naysayers. Fleming was dancing in his grave with that scene.

Again while not the best Bond flick, it is an underrated gem (at least in my opinion).

"You're stupid to have a good time" Dalton (Patrick Swayze) from Roadhouse

[–] rich_bruce 8 years ago

Again while not the best Bond flick, it is an underrated gem (at least in my opinion). ]

Sustained!

[The Defense rests.]

What no man Can give ya. And none Can take away.

[–] pking-2 8 years ago

Yes there are plenty of good thingies to like in QOS. I'm not sure its a spellbinding, breathtaking gem as Bond films go. But its more enjoyable than most movies and even a few other Bond movies...particularly as the editing settles down as the story progresses.

Now, this is a signature gun, and that is an optical palm reader.

[–] CountJohn 8 years ago

I also don't really think it's that bad and is ranked somewhere in the middle of the franchise for me. Definitely Craig's worst, though.

I also agree on Greene. Of all the "nerdy" Bond villains he may be the best, he doesn't end up being dull the way someone like Georgi in The Living Daylights is, and their final fight with the ax is riveting.

[–] Damienracer 8 years ago

QOS was as I've always said a Jason Bourne knockoff without the badass, charismatic, enticing protagonist of Matt Damon, it would have worked with a more slicker, cool actor maybe but Daniel Craig is awkward and stunted in anything to do with emoting.

[–] Ronsin1976 8 years ago

Yup, I agree with Greene. I find him to be a realistic villain. He's a middle man...no grandiose plans to rule the world, nor destroy the world, monopolize the news with a war, no Icarus that easily destroys anything in its path nor did he know Bond as a child...He was simply a puppet in the hands of greater evil.

"You're stupid to have a good time" Dalton (Patrick Swayze) from Roadhouse

[–] RynoII 8 years ago

I like the Mathis return and that subplot, but not anything else in the movie. I think that the Bond girls are very routine, and stock girls, as well as the villains.

I don't like the way the action scenes are handled either, so really not much good in this one for me. It's my least favorite Bond movie, either that or A View to a Kill.

[–] A_Friend_of_Sarah_Connor 8 years ago

I dig it a lot.

"Some men are coming to kill us. We're gonna kill them first."

[–] FridayOnElmStreet 8 years ago

Its really the only Bond film I hate. Aside from the good score there is nothing positive I can say about it.