Thursday, October 23, 2008

Quantum of Solace


I've been hooked on James Bond 007 since I was a little kid and got to see Goldfinger on the big screen. Since I got into trouble for taking the soundtrack album to school for show & tell. So it's no shock that I'm pysched for the November 14, 2008, American release of Quantum of Solace.


I've avidly read all of Ian Fleming works, including his 1960 short story, "Quantum of Solace" (which apparently only shares its title with the latest Bond movie featuring Daniel Craig in the lead role).


I find the Bond saga appealing for any number of reasons, but it's the attention to detail I especially love -- memorable characters, hotel rooms, gadgets, exotic locales, finely tuned soundtrack music, exacting situations, all of it.

And though I still think of Sean Connery as the idealized 007, Daniel Craig is excellent in the role, too. Lucky, brutal and driven, both of them.

Today's Rune: Signals.

12 comments:

the walking man said...

Bond, James Bond.

Joe said...

"Lucky, brutal and driven"

Perfect description. My eldest said that Craig is the first Bond she's enjoyed since Connery, because he's the first one to have just the right combination of good lucks and cruelty.

Sidney said...

Wow, it is getting close. Looking forward to it. DVR'd the previous Bond from cable to get reminded of what's going on.

Anonymous said...

Fleming's short story "Octopussy" foreshadows his own death from a heart attack. He loved to swim and Sean Connery filled a swimsuit better than any Bond since. Just ask Ursula Undress.--Oscar Winner

Charles Gramlich said...

I love the title, although I've never read the short story. DOn't guess it would matter anyway since the movie is completely different. I will probably see this one.

Anonymous said...

Daniel Craig is a super sexy bond. Love him! Gloria

Lana Gramlich said...

I have to admit, I haven't had anything to do with the Bond franchise since "Moonraker." Not that I didn't like Moonraker (although I was just a kid back then,) I was just done with the scene, I think.

Rocket_Scientist said...

any bond fan is a friend of mine! i too am a HUGE bond and fleming fan! nice posting erik!

Johnny Yen said...

My best friend Jim is a huge fan of Bond-- he's quite the authority on the subject. He can discuss, at length, the difference between the books and movies, Ian Fleming's life, etc. He told me a story of a childhood memory of seeing the line at the theater in the small central Illinois town he grew up in of people lining up to see Goldfinger.

My favorite Bond is absolutely Sean Connery. Interestingly, Jim's is the one everyone hates-- George Lazenby in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." He felt like Lazenby's portrayal was the closest to the books.

Erik Donald France said...

Thanks all for the comments!

Johnny, I'm a fan of George Lazenby. I'd put him as second best after Sean Connery. Daniel Craig at third.

The others played it in a more tongue and cheek manner, I suppose. Glad it's back to the basics.

Rocket_Scientist said...

to johnny & erik ~
yes, OHMSS is indeed my favorite bond film, hands down. love the fact that it was a "non-gadget" flick, being more character driven. i would add that kojak was by far the best blofeld.

A return to basics indeed! roger moore was a fop. bond never punches with his wrists, ya know? craig is awesome! although i have a special place in my heart for timothy dalton. he was simply the victim of bad scripts.

MacGuffin said...

Connery will alway be Bond to me but Craig isn't too shabby.