surprise!James Bond

[themonkeytwin]

There are any number of other things I should/could get done, which of course makes perfect sense why I would get this next bit of my Casino Royale/Quantum of Solace in-depth (far, far too in-depth) analysis done. These scenes stalled me for a while, I think because I didn't realise quite how much subtle conflict and dynamics were going on in them

Comments

[bitterlimetwist]

"the drink that he later names after her - the drink that, in its poisoned form, almost kills him, but in its true form makes him "never want to drink anything else". I love the intricacy of how even the tiniest details echo and foreshadow the larger symbolism in the story."

That is so damn cool.

I enjoy Casino Royale, but I have to admit that the Bondness of it - the car chases, the changing locales, all the women - keeps me from being able to concentrate on all the cool little things you point out here. But then again, without all that stuff it wouldn't be Bond, so.

I love all these interesting details you're pulling out. Kinda makes me want to rewatch to see them in action.

[themonkeytwin]

That's what's fascinating to me, though - how they looked at all the "Bondness" of what they'd inherited and sat down and figured out how to wrangle the character back from the caricature he'd become. Like, okay, there's still the car chases and the locales and the women, but what kind of guy lives in this insane world? How did he become who he is? Why do we even like him? All questions that the franchise lost sight of a very long time ago. They're building a character, and a really interesting one at that.

And I still can't get past just how well they did this, how much you never notice until you stop and actually pay attention to it all. Everything is so deliberate, all the superfluity and fat has been cut out of the story. I am continuing to have trouble reconciling that with the fact that this is a Bond movie. A BOND movie. *boggles* But I love it. If you do get a chance to rewatch, let me know if it changed how you see it. :)

[bitterlimetwist]

Exactly. Like, if you strip away the Bond stuff, it's this terrific, intense, very serious movie about how someone becomes, essentially, a killer. For queen and country sure, but still. The thing is, it's Bond that's bringing people to the movie, so I get why they can't just make a movie about some guy who becomes a spy with a license to kill. On the other hand, when I watched it, I kept wishing they would just skip all the car chases and stuff, because I find that boring. Heh, someone should do a cut where they strip away all the "unnecessary" Bond stuff, and just keep the heart of the story.

This summer I swear it was on tv every weekend, and I caught the part where Bond is in the shower with Vesper, and since I'd already read your post on it, I watched it with it in mind, and I really appreciated it much more this time. Next time I see it's on, I definitely want to check out the scene with the drink.

[themonkeytwin]

Ooh, it being on tv every weekend would have made it more difficult to appreciate, I think. I hate when they do that. Also makes me glad that I don't have a tv. But I'm glad it makes you able to check out these scenes. Mind you, the drink thing is a much more subtle dynamic, much like the fact that he also used her name as a password to the winnings - reflecting that she's everyone's gateway to the money. But I'm not up to that part yet. :)

The funny thing is, as I've pulled this apart, I've come to think that you can't strip away the "unnecessary" stuff. Because, like you, I find the chase and fight scenes kind of boring, except for the way they highlight characteristics of his. (I confess to absolutely loving the boat chase in Solace, and I think it has something to do with how he stands at the wheel. Something about how Bond has a naval background, possibly ... or possibly he's just damn hot doing it. *shifty eyes*) But somehow the ritzy glitzy stuff provide an indispensible contrast and balance to the character. I have a feeling