#rewatching quantum of solace

[spockvarietyhour]

Quantum of Solace (2008) directed by Marc Foster

[halfbaked00q]

terrible time to be posting cuz it's ass'oclock american time yes but. okay I gotta ask. I gotta poll the public., but.

do we think Quantum of Solace is actually about revenge? Cuz I'm watching/rewatching this video essay, and it's okay so far (I got as far as the point where the guy was explaining the short story), but it's veeery much predicated on the assumption that Quantum of Solace IS a "revenge plot" for Bond. Like, I don't disagree that the movie is structured as a "revenge plot" movie. But. ....I dunno, I do still feel like that for Bond at least. he... doesn't? seem like? he's on a warpath for revenge? at least not for me?

like. he very much is being framed as being on one. (literally within the movie too -- Quantum keeps framing Bond for a bunch of deaths he didn't cause lmao). And it's based on these deaths that M - and also the British gov't dudes - think or assume or come to the conclusion that he's on a revenge path/gone rogue.

But ultimately... having seen the movie... I think I DO in fact still find this video essay's argument more compelling:

which is that actually, Bond isn't the one on a revenge arc, Camille is. And Bond is like. hm. okay honestly lmao, joking not joking, I think Camille is the protagonist and Bond is the Bond girl here. He's her femme fatale. But also. I think it's interesting cuz imo. imo!! Bond almost acts as a sort of... frame story? for Camille's story. Like they're foils & very strong parallels (including some absolutely insane ones lmao... Camille's confession of sexpionage and she's like, does this offend you? and he's like no, not at all. and then. Dominic Greene. calling BOTH of them "damaged goods"? fuckin wild, dude. Ur Alpha Male Fantasy just got slut-shamed, bros!! Bond had a woman die for him but she wasn't fridged and also along with the 'she wasn't fridged' she wasn't just a backstory blip either, she was the story! and ALSO she's held against him? oh he's not just a Stoic Tragic Backstory Action Man, he's """"damaged goods""""? wild, okay. love that for us but, wild for the dudebros.) and also there's a kind of allegory in there for Bond, but also like........ do we really think Bond was on a revenge quest? or a fact-finding quest. a need-to-understand quest.

that first video essay argues sth like "we know he's on a revenge quest cuz he found time to grab the photo of the boyfriend" or whatever he said, and then sth about "it becomes pretty early on that we're not supposed to view Bond's pursuit in a positive light--" but we're also literally shown that M & MI-6 are being fed false info, they're being led to believe Bond is killing all of these people that he isn't?

And even when that first video essay was talking abt the director's words abt the movie... he literally quotes this!!!

this guy argues that the film pointedly juxtaposes Bond's stated objectivity and "increasingly aggressive actions--" but. does he though?? He literally kills a guy out of the gate - the guy he stabbed with the scissors - but the rest are?? deaths framed on him??

the ONE time I think he really gets worked up - when he jumps down on that car & is like "we had a friend in common" or whatever the exact phrasing it was -- this was for Mathis, right? who literally died in his arms?

anyway. I dunno. I just feel like. this video essay... misses the point? And buys too much into the supposed message - which is actually Camille's story and not Bonds - and makes the faulty assumption that Bond IS on a revenge quest.

Like. I guess an argument could be made that he didn't kill uhh Yusuf(?) cuz Camille had her moment of getting revenge and it leaving her hollow. But like....... I dunno. to be honest. I have a hard time believing Bond would have killed Yusuf even if he hadn't alternate-self/parallel-universe parallel-play/lived Camille's life. Nothing in how he ACTUALLY acted leading up to this moment. makes me think he would have killed Yusuf?? Like why would he. He would be shooting the guy in cold blood. It wouldn't be the supposed hot-headed passionate revenge shooting that this video essay seems to make Bond's arc out to be.

I DO find the argument that whether or not Vesper actually loved him or if she was ONLY using him - and him learning that yes she actually did - was a point of solace & closure for him, compelling.

But I'm NOT at all convinced that this truly was a revenge drive for Bond.

gonna make another post about this but Bond has this veeeryy interesting thing where he's like. so brutally practical that once someone is dead, they're dead. he's able to like. lock on excise sentimentality for brutal practicality (dumping Mathis' body in the dumpster and grabbing his cash). like he's not without feeling - jumping onto the car - but also it's soooo interesting that he's like. so sentimental in like, he can & does feel intensely (and falls in love easily/falls at least a bit in love with the ppl who have an impact on him). but not sentimental in, like, the more maudlin kind of sense. It's soo fascinating, but. this post is already so long & let's keep it focused.

But yeah. opening it to the class. So what do we think? do y'all think QoS is a revenge movie for Bond? Cuz. I still am Not convinced it is. It just plays one on tv/ppl Think it is.

[jamesbloodybond]

❝You look like hell. When’s the last time you slept?❞

❝I haven’t slept in so long that even fatigue gave up on me.❞

[jagzii]

what started as a rewatch of ‘Skyfall’ spiralled into rewatching all the Bond films multiple times (including my visit to the theatre to watch ‘No Time to Die’) and now I feel like I’m caught in a loop...my brain has passed its judgement and now all I feel like watching is Daniel Craig as Bond... 

edit: I watched Casino royale 5 times in like a week, and had to physically stop myself from rewatching it again. 

[grilledkatniss]

Ant-Man 2: quantum of solace

[grumpycapt]

The grand James Bond movies rewatch in a very random order with a possible skipping Roger Moore movies cause I don't like his 007 that much

Thankfully someone (public tv) is going chronologically with the Bond rewatch so thia time, we could watch Casino Royale continuation: Quantum of Solace. So I have a whole explanation in order when it comes to that movie. I remember really well when it hit the theaters cause in my memory it was very hyped and it was all popular and glorified in that scale for the first time. Like, they even made a Bond Girl fragrance from Avon. And tbh I went to see that movie hyped as well and left with much more toned reaction. And now we can move onto why I think this movie was meant to be not fan's fav.

We all know Bond as a typical womanizer, a tough guy who sleeps with women cause he knows he can't have them, he treats them as a form of a rebound. Also, he feels superior to them so there is also that need to underline it. In CR he, being a young naïve, almost idealist 007 with a fresh license to kill, hasn't known yet what he's gotten into, at least not in the beginning. He fell in love and he got betrayed, hurt - he felt used and played. Which is followed by his alcohol abuse, "massive" killing, not being under control and treating women carelessly.

QoS is an "in-between" movie such as Empire Strikes Back, which happens after meaningful event but must also set the ground for the next story. And that's why it wasn't meant to be a great movie. Bond was on course to be a character we know but at the same time, he had to deal with his emotions tbh with which we're not really familiar. Tbh I wish thst part of the movie was better, especially when we get to the political spectrum of the movie - how elites and governments are making deals no one knows about and how to trust anyone ever.

That being said, I love Alicia Keys and Jack White's intro song. It's not typical but tgat rock vibe and orchestral part are really doing their job. Sadly, I'm not very fond of Bond Girls here. Fields is barely there, making an appearance just to be killed. Camille is on her own vendetta just standing next to him. Soo, thank you, next.

The movie had some very cool scenes or editing that had a nice touch. First scenes of the chase, edited with the horse race in Siena, bravo. However, whoever I ask, what they remember from this movie, is the scene from the Opera. And I'm not surprised, it's a clever one, very nicely done. Also, leaving Dominic Greene on the middle of the desert with a can of an engine fluid was a cool move.

One thing I always get upset about is that Mathis death moment. I usually go make a tea or something cause yea I know Bond is a special agent etc but I still think that he would show his good heart at times like this (even bearing in mind what I wrote earlier). It's a no from me.

This movie isn't terrible, it's difficult. Cause CR left somw things to be explained but it still had to be a Bond movie so we got this weird mix-up. Still, it had some parts worth watching, even if not very often.

[nelson-riddle-me-this]

Top 5 Bond films!

Want to preface this with a few things. First, this franchise is hugely problematic and I do not enjoy it blindly. I did however latch onto it in middle school, and aesthetically and musically it was very formative. John Barry's scores for the series are still among my favorite film scores. His music is sophisticated yet straightforward and has inspired me greatly. Also the franchise has been a great way for me to learn about filmmaking and history. That being said, let's get into it.

Thunderball (1965) It was my first, but even if it hadn't been it'd still be my favorite. It's the 4th in the series and imo catches the franchise at it's zenith. I think it's the last film before the series grew 'too big for it's britches', striking a balance between the outlandish scope of the later films and the tighter and comparatively grounded espionage of the series' early entries.

Casino Royale (2006) I'm confident claiming that this is objectively the best movie in the series. It takes the character of Bond seriously but sill manages to be very entertaining and can I say glamorous? The action sequences are riveting, the cast is excellent, and it's perhaps David Arnold's best score for the series.

You Only Live Twice (1967) In so many ways this film has not aged well (Sean Connery in yellowface, for one...) and tbh it's been harder and harder for me to rewatch. But there is so much about it that makes for good "imagination fuel". The film mostly takes place in Japan, and it's a fascinating portrait of (at least a white British perspective of) Japan in the mid-late 60s. Though in some ways it's a sloppy film, there are times it makes great use of it's enormous budget - most notably Ken Adam's volcano base rocket silo set(complete with helipad and monorail), a gorgeous custom Toyota 2000GT sports car (roof cut off bc at 6'2" Sean Connery was too tall to fit inside), and a car chase involving a tandem-rotor helicopter and a giant electromagnet... Also, if you watched Totally Spies as a kid, this movie's where they got the whole 'whimsical slide dumps you into secret espionage office' shtick.

Goldfinger (1964) Though I prefer Thunderball, there's no denying Goldfinger is the series' most iconic and enduring film. This is where the style and tone of the series solidified. The cast is memorable, there are lots of iconic moments, though "Bond girl" Pussy Galore's arc is misogynistic (shocker, I know), homophobic, and deeply troubling. Acknowledging that, it's a compact and tightly-paced espionage adventure that manages to be very entertaining and has been a big influence on the franchise and in popular entertainment at large,

Diamonds Are Forever (1971) Honestly I wasn't quite sure what to pick for #5. I haven't seen most of these movies in ages. There are definitely better Bond movies, but I have an affection for the hot mess that is DAF, largely because it's probably my favorite of John Barry's scores for the series. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) is pretty good despite how bland George Lazenby is. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) is the best of the Moore era, but I DESPISE Roger Moore. I remember liking what I've seen of Dalton's 2 Bond movies, though I'm so foggy on them. Brosnan is fine, but I don't have the attachment to him that I do to Connery. Quantum of Solace (2008) I remember really liking and maybe that'd be a better choice for #5, but hear me out: Jimmy Dean (OF BREAKFAST-SAUSAGE FAME!) plays a reclusive Howard Hughes-esque millionaire, Charles Grey (OF ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW FAME!) plays cat-petting villain Blofeld and even does drag, Shirley Bassey sings the title song which includes the lyric "touch it, stroke it, and undress it", there's cheezy casino source music [that played all day in my head in middle school], and hot ladies who crush Sean Connery with their thighs.

Also I recommend the podcast Kill James Bond! (recommended to me by @aeschylus-stan-account) if you're interested in something that unpacks the problematic history of this franchise in a fun way.

[katherinemallory]

For the past few days I've been rewatching the Bond films of the Daniel Craig era and I have to tell you a have a very soft spot for all of them. For different reasons each.

1. Casino Royale was probably the first Bond film I've ever seen. I say 'probably', cause I can't really remember which one was my first (yeah, I know it sounds stupid, but I wasn't a Bond fan back then and I didn't care much... I guess it was either this one or GoldenEye).

I love the incredibly bondian soundtrack (and the title song, which gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it!!!) and the cast - Daniel Craig, Eva Green, and Mads Mikkelsen form a legendary trio in this one! I have no idea how they managed to make the poker scenes look so exciting. And also, the way the novel was modernized in order to make CR more interesting for the present-day audiences never fails to astonish me. The film is much better than the novel in my opinion.

2. Quantum of Solace isn't a common choice among the Bond fans when it comes to listing their favourite films of the franchise, but I've always liked it a lot. I do not agree with the amount of hate it gets and I believe it's underrated. If you watch it straight after CR, it becomes more clear why it has the very right to be so different from other Bond films.

Again, I think the soundtrack sounds quite good. Maybe the story could have been a little less realistic, but on the other hand the idea of water being the most valuable source on Earth appeals to me. Just as the relationship between Bond and Camille, which is pretty special, so I don't mind they only shared a kiss.

3. Skyfall... Oh, this is a big one. Words can't describe how much I adore it. I consider it to be a masterpiece, but I usually refuse to refer to it as a Bond film. It's rather a film about Bond.

It has broken many conventions associated with a Bond film (let's just mention Bond experiencing a middle-age crisis), but at the same time it has constantly referred to the previous films, especially to the Sean Connery era (Bond's "death", just as in You Only Live Twice, an ejector seat just as in Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger etc.). It also refers to the novels (the names of Bond's parents, his Scottish ancestry), even though it has got an original script.

The music is one of the best soundtracks I've ever heard (and one of the very few I actually listen to): subtle, but yet able to make you emotional. Not to mention the title song, which is in my top three songs of all time. Another thing worth noting is the cinematography. Skyfall has taken filming a Bond film to a different level, the whole film looks like you are being shown a sophisticated collection of paintings in an art gallery.

And, of course, the characters. And Mallory. And the mother and son relationship between Bond and M.

4. Spectre is the first Bond film I've experienced in a cinema and the first one I've watched as a declared Bond fan, so I'll always be sentimental about this one.

The plot is a bit too far-fetched for me, but it doesn't necessarily mean I do not find it enjoyable. The amount of references to the previous films makes it nearly impossible for you to count them all and I love it. It contains a few really funny jokes. It's got a brilliant political subplot, which allows Mallory to be more active (yeah!)

Can't wait to add a fifth film to that list.

[agentnico]

No Time To Die (2021) Review

I swear this movie came out 2 years ago?... Okay, yes, I agree, that was a cheap gag, but look, the constant postponement of this film's release is in itself a joke! Finally though, it is here.

Plot: James Bond is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica after leaving active service. However, his peace is short-lived as his old CIA friend, Felix Leiter, shows up and asks for help.

“I’d rather slash my wrists.” Those were the words spoken by actor Daniel Craig in 2015 for a Time Out magazine interview prior to the release of Spectre. Seemingly it felt as if Craig was done with his signature role as famed British spy James Bond, however be as it may have been, MGM managed to sway away Craig’s suicidal thoughts and cut him a cheque with a sum he simply couldn’t refuse and have him return for a proper final outing. Hollywood business at it’s finest, ladies and gentlemen! But the question is posed, was there a need for another Craig/Bond film? For the previous instalment Spectre was such a let-down that it left a sour taste, or at least I think it did. Honestly, I don’t really remember much of what happened in Spectre, it was such a shoulder-shrugging forgettable feature. The answer however is a positive one, for No Time To Die ends up being worth the wait. All this wait. Though I would’ve found it super amusing if this film came out and turned out to be an absolute stinker, as then everyone would just be sat there in the theatre wondering why the hell we’ve been waiting for this movie this entire time. But nope, it’s a good one.

No Time To Die really feels like a culmination of Daniel Craig’s time as James Bond. And with that merit this movie doesn’t actually feel like a James Bond film. Yes, it has the one-liners and the action set pieces and the typical tropes of a Bond film, however the focus here is very much more on Daniel Craig’s interpretation of the character, and how he managed to turn a weapon into a human. For James Bond at the end of the day was always a killing machine. License to kill and all that jazz was always at the centre of what made the character, however Craig’s take brought a lot of humanity and reality to what was a stereotype. And it’s shown more than ever in No Time To Die, with Daniel Craig delivering a performance of vast emotional gamut. His Bond experiences moments of general happiness and actual love (real love, not just his typical one-night stands he’s known for) to then fury and sadness. My fiancée jokingly made a remark at the beginning of this movie about how petty James Bond is acting in this movie. And I agreeably chuckled at first, for to be fair he was getting offended easily and taking everything so personally without giving it much thought, however the more the movie progressed, the more I understood why he was this way. It made him feel more human, and actually made me care for him. Additionally, the aforementioned element of love plays a big part in this film, for romance is truly at the heart of this one. Bond turns out to be a real loving sweetheart, and this all culminated in one hell of a finale, one that really surprised me with it’s emotional gut punch. Look, I see this film’s ending really dividing audiences as it’s not something you would typically expect from a James Bond movie, however I absolutely relished it and saw it as a perfect swan song for Daniel Craig.

The movie is long. In fact, it’s very long. In fact, it’s too long. It runs at nearly 3 hours and yes, there is a lot of story crammed into this but honestly there are many chunks that could have been cut down and the film would have benefitted from it. For the movie is very good, but it has chunks that drag which does cause the experience to be slightly diminished, however that being said, this is a very well directed movie. Cary Joji Fukunaga (who’s previous work I don’t know much of though I have seen his Netflix limited series Maniac with Jonah Hill and Emma Stone which I do recommend highly) exhibits some strong directing here, balancing moments of real tension using unsettling imagery with moments of levity and good character chemistry. Yes, he brings class and the right amount of epicness to the action sequences, but it was actually the quieter moments that I feel he really excelled at. The opening sequence is especially disturbing, with the way Fukunaga displays this lonely isolated house in the middle of snowy nowhere, and we see a mysterious figure creep towards it wearing a mask so creepy it reminded me of that freaky monkey mask from the horror thriller I See You. A shot from behind a sliding glass door I found especially unnerving. 

Performances across the board are all great. Daniel Craig I’ve already sing praise for, however others are to be mentioned also. Rami Malek manages to take a fairly lacklustre villain and present him in proper vile fashion. He’s truly unpleasant and horrible in this role, and I truly despised him which is what made him perfect for the role. That being said the actual character was weak. There wasn’t much meat to him so to speak. Typical Bond bad guy who wanted to see the world burn. Lea Seydoux returns as Bond’s love interest Madeleine and her chemistry with Craig is wonderful and I really enjoyed seeing her character develop more since the last movie. Returning from Spectre too is the villainous Blofeld played by Christoph Waltz, and though he isn’t in the movie much, I weirdly enjoyed him more this time around. In Spectre is was really forgettable and the script didn’t know what to do with him, whilst here is serves a specific purpose and we also get to enjoy a great scene with him in prison having a battle of wits with Bond. Real good stuff. We also have a couple of new Bond girls, with Lashana Lynch taking on the 007 mantle, and it was nice seeing a very different kind of spy in her. Her and Bond bicker quite a bit, however natural they become buddies and they are the better for it. And Lynch can be easily added to the list of powerful badass women on-screen. Ana de Armas also appears in what is a little Knives Out reunion, and unfortunately she’s only in the movie for one sequence, but it’s actually a great sequence with her putting a new spin on the Bond girl stereotype, bringing charm, swagger and humour and riffing off good banter with Craig. Shame we only see so little of her. The likes of Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw and Ralph Fiennes also return, and even Jeffrey Wright takes a break from pondering What If? scenarios to make a little comeback. 

No Time To Die definitely stands next to the better Daniel Craig Bond films alongside Casino Royale and Skyfall, and it’s a true culmination of all of them, whilst still managing to ignore and forget the existence of Quantum of Solace, which is good, because Quantum of Solace sucks and I can’t believe I even managed to bring it up again!! Regardless, what a way to send off Daniel Craig on a proper high, and really refreshing to actually witness a Bond movie that features feelings and emotions. In fact, it’s pure Valentine’s Day essential viewing, so mark your calendars for next year, as you now know what film you have to rewatch on February 14th 2021! 

Overall score: 8/10

[spockvarietyhour]

Quantum of Solace (2008) directed by Marc Foster

[aspirationalbrand]

i’m rewatching quantum of solace… preparing to say it’s a misunderstood classic once again

[halfbaked00q]

okay, yeah. see? This comment (excerpt) from what Iiii think is the superior QoS video essay, sums up the imo more compelling argument re: QoS (i.e., Ellardent's thesis that QoS isn't a revenge movie at all -- at least, not in the Liam Neeson sense. Quantum is about a man mistaken for being out for revenge.

@cinemascore-along 3 years ago (edited)

An agent pursuing a mission while their overseers mistake them for an unhinged revenge-seeker really is a great Hitchcockian setup I'd never recognized, and it makes sense in the presentation and progression of the film.

^ like. honestly me coming out of the movie.. The argument that it's a subversion, via Bond (and dissection, via Camille) of the revenge plot movie more than it is an actual revenge plot movie, IS the argument that makes the most sense to me. Because again. if it WAS a revenge warpath movie for Bond. Then he would have actually killed all of those people he was framed for killing. Vs you know. being framed for killing them.

And also the final confrontation with Yusuf Kabira. Just. would have had to have been different. Bond wasn't there to rain vengeance down on Kabira -- he was there to save that Canadian agent, Corinne, in a way that he wasn't able to with Vesper. Like. I truly believe the whole setup AND lead-up would have had to have been different for it to have played out as a revenge denouement. He's not seeking solace via revenge he's seeking solace via understanding (also. tbh. I don't thiiiiink he actually was seeking info on Vesper's feelings? I think Mathis offered it up, but I don't think Bond specifically sought it out? but maybe I'm not remembering this correctly. I DO think it provides him with some consolation, that she actually did love him and it wasn't just her using him, perhaps. But I dunno. I just still don't suuuuper get the feeling that he was necessarily hung up on that, per se? So much as like. He Needed to understand the circumstances and events before & around the whole Kabira situation, which led to Vesper killing herself "for" him. But I feel like I didn't super get the impression that he was Seeking info on whether or not she "actually" loved him etc?)

But yeah. I'm like. trying to think, still. on if we remove Camille somehow (very difficult cuz she's so interwoven with QoS). and try to think of Bond without Camille's mirror/allegorical parallel/foil. how would that confrontation with Yusuf have gone down? Would he have entered it more hot-headed and grief-stricken? Or what? Cuz for me, THAT's what it would have to be, for the argument that "Bond WAS on a revenge quest, it's only cuz of Camille's mirror that he gives it up" to make any sense. But like. Looking at how he approached & carried out and pursued the different aspects of investigation. I just. don't get that. He's like. his normal amount of quippy and fucked. I guess the one time he visibly gets Fucked Up is when he consumes a frankly ridiculous amount of alcohols. But I still feel like you could argue that he was Kinda Like That before anyway, lmao. But I guess that's like. his one moment of sentimental reflection? I dunno.

okay I tried to keep this post more concise at least lmao, to have at least one of them be more concise, but I think that's a losing battle. .....hrm. god. am I going to have to. rewatch this damn movie lmao.

[jamesbloodybond]

Bond, every single time someone wants to kill him:

❝So shoot me,❞

[mobius-m-mobius]

Me: *stressed, depressed, and certainly, not well dressed*

also me: Let's watch No Time To Die again because why not?

I took my mom yesterday to see it, and I was expecting her usual "he looks old" comment (about actors 😂), but she dropped her "he IS really handsome" during the Cuba scene. (Pretty sure she said the same when we watched Spectre back in the day, lol)

Fun fact: I re-watched the Craig Bond films (4 to 1), and it was so much easier connecting the dots and get many more callbacks, lol.

I don't know, but this last one gets a special place, there are just so many things that I like, despite, you know... 🥺

Also, *hugs you thigt* thank you for your lovely message, you're honeslty the best 🥺

Obsessed with how almost every word of this (haven't gotten to the full rewatch yet but it's planned!) applies exactly to my life as well, omg 😂

I took my mum to watch a few days ago too and she hardly ever pays attention to actors but hasn't stopped dropping hints at how beautiful Daniel was performing all his stunts, she's mentioned the one on the bridge near the beginning of the film specifically like ten times already and I'm like... I see you, lol.

Can't wait to have the chance to watch Spectre and No Time To Die back to back because as great as they are already I think it'll be like watching Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace together and watching those plots blend. But I'm the same, idk if anything can top Casino Royale for me but there's such a soft spot for No Time To Die (except for... y'know 🥺🥺)

Hugs right back at you, take care of yourself! Hope you're having a great day and that we get more great Paul news soon 💖

[steinbecks]

DanCraig Bond movies ranked just by how much I like them :)

1. Casino Royale. Still whips, I love Vesper

2. Skyfall

3. Quantum of Solace YES I mean it

4. No Time to Die. Maybe even better than Quantum for Certain Things. Def. #1 for James Bond tucking a [REDACTED] into his suspenders. might move up a slot on rewatch bc some of it was just..... oof delicious

5. Spectre :x

[actuallylorelaigilmore]

2021 MOVIES, #10

quantum of solace. another bond movie, the same dead bond girl. sadly, eva green doesn’t actually appear in this one, she just haunts it, but the only emotional depths bond is allowed to have revolve around her memory. 

this one was a mixed bag. the plot was super detached from the characters and worlds we’d seen before, which made it feel really slow....but it was actually much shorter than the movies that precede and follow it! not sure how they pulled that contradiction off, but they did. 

on the other hand, this movie’s bond girl got to both survive the plot and she managed to avoid bond sex, so that felt like a big win? (given the fate of the woman bond does seduce in this movie, it seems like those two things may be related.) 

however thin, her connection to bond by the end felt like it got to exist on a level that wasn’t just physical, and i liked that. i don’t remember much else about the movie, to be honest. this was the revenge!bond sequel, and once that chapter closed it felt less like a movie you’d ever need to rewatch.