Quantum of Sol-AAAAAASSSSSS
Last night Jordan and I decided to check out the new James Bond film, "Quantum of Solace". After the amazing reviews "Casino Royale" got two years ago, for reimagining the James Bond franchise and making it a grittier, more "real" series for modern times, I was excited to see we'd be getting a direct sequel to that film, set 20 minutes after the end of its predecessor. I had a few misgivings about Casino Royale - a little long, it ended three times, and it could've used a more notable villain - but overall I was impressed and figured we'd be improving on those fronts in the sequel.
This past week I'd heard mixed reviews of the new Bond outing, but based on the fact it looked action-packed and I liked the predecessor enough, I defied reviews and checked it out anyway.
I am sorely disappointed. It's not the worst movie of all time by any stretch - in all honesty it's probably average. But by the end of the movie - only a mere 100 minutes after its beginning - I felt like I hadn't really seen anything at all.
I've no problem with the actors, the direction, the cinematography, or music (but more of the Bond theme would've been nice) - but the script, ugh. It was action packed but really, it was just a bare-bones script about Bond basically going rogue and wanting to seek revenge on the woman he loved from the previous film. I don't mind that as the back-story - but as far as the villain was concerned, his ultimate plan should've been a little clearer and his final showdown had no real pay-off.
That, and in James Bond movies you always see numerous battles with the villains' underlings as the movie unfolds. Those battles were pretty intense BUT besides the fact I had the feeling the guy was "a bad guy", I had very little idea of who exactly Bond was fighting and thus, it meant a lot less to me.
What I look for most in any movie is A) a good plot, and B) good characters and characterization I can emotionally invest myself in. This movie sorely disappointed because if it tried just a little bit harder, it would've been so much better.
Argh.
The best part of the night, however, was how we got our seats.
Jordan and I arrived at the theatre at about 9:40, hoping to catch the 10:00 show. We somehow managed to get tickets from the automated ticket machines, and we hustled to the theatre - only to find it absolutely packed. There were random seats here and there but the only truly open groups of seats were right in the front - and we wouldn't sit there. Our necks would be in a brace for a week if we did that.
So we left the theatre and asked if we could get seats at the neighbouring theatre whose show was also starting at the same time. We were denied but were told that if we got our tickets traded for the 10:45 show, we could wait there and get better seating. We chose to do so - but after we got our tickets it was rather unclear as to where we were supposed to go, so we immediately headed to that theatre just as the previous movie was letting out. Once that theatre was totally empty we walked right in, asking if we could be there - the janitors said yes, and so we got prime seating and waited for half an hour for the movie to start.
That's when everyone else came in. Apparently there was a huge line-up of people waiting somewhere in the theatre complex and as they waltzed in they were like, "Where'd these people come from? I was FIRST in line and I've been waiting for TWO AND A HALF HOURS!" And then the chorus of chants, "Budger! Budger! Budger!" were directed at us and the handful of others that came in with us. I just hit behind my magazine trying not to be attacked, but all the while I was trying to come up with funny or infuriating reasons why I was so blessed to waltz into the theatre after waiting in line for, honestly, just 10 minutes or so.
Anyway, that was the best part of the night, the fact I was basically accidentally treated like a VIP. Right place, right time!
This past week I'd heard mixed reviews of the new Bond outing, but based on the fact it looked action-packed and I liked the predecessor enough, I defied reviews and checked it out anyway.
I am sorely disappointed. It's not the worst movie of all time by any stretch - in all honesty it's probably average. But by the end of the movie - only a mere 100 minutes after its beginning - I felt like I hadn't really seen anything at all.
I've no problem with the actors, the direction, the cinematography, or music (but more of the Bond theme would've been nice) - but the script, ugh. It was action packed but really, it was just a bare-bones script about Bond basically going rogue and wanting to seek revenge on the woman he loved from the previous film. I don't mind that as the back-story - but as far as the villain was concerned, his ultimate plan should've been a little clearer and his final showdown had no real pay-off.
That, and in James Bond movies you always see numerous battles with the villains' underlings as the movie unfolds. Those battles were pretty intense BUT besides the fact I had the feeling the guy was "a bad guy", I had very little idea of who exactly Bond was fighting and thus, it meant a lot less to me.
What I look for most in any movie is A) a good plot, and B) good characters and characterization I can emotionally invest myself in. This movie sorely disappointed because if it tried just a little bit harder, it would've been so much better.
Argh.
The best part of the night, however, was how we got our seats.
Jordan and I arrived at the theatre at about 9:40, hoping to catch the 10:00 show. We somehow managed to get tickets from the automated ticket machines, and we hustled to the theatre - only to find it absolutely packed. There were random seats here and there but the only truly open groups of seats were right in the front - and we wouldn't sit there. Our necks would be in a brace for a week if we did that.
So we left the theatre and asked if we could get seats at the neighbouring theatre whose show was also starting at the same time. We were denied but were told that if we got our tickets traded for the 10:45 show, we could wait there and get better seating. We chose to do so - but after we got our tickets it was rather unclear as to where we were supposed to go, so we immediately headed to that theatre just as the previous movie was letting out. Once that theatre was totally empty we walked right in, asking if we could be there - the janitors said yes, and so we got prime seating and waited for half an hour for the movie to start.
That's when everyone else came in. Apparently there was a huge line-up of people waiting somewhere in the theatre complex and as they waltzed in they were like, "Where'd these people come from? I was FIRST in line and I've been waiting for TWO AND A HALF HOURS!" And then the chorus of chants, "Budger! Budger! Budger!" were directed at us and the handful of others that came in with us. I just hit behind my magazine trying not to be attacked, but all the while I was trying to come up with funny or infuriating reasons why I was so blessed to waltz into the theatre after waiting in line for, honestly, just 10 minutes or so.
Anyway, that was the best part of the night, the fact I was basically accidentally treated like a VIP. Right place, right time!