We've seen some odd titles lately but this one is a real dud -- and awfully "high minded" for a James Bond film.

New Bond flick, 'Quantum of Solace,' due Nov. 7

IVER HEATH, England (AP) — Quantum of Solace is the title of the new James Bond film, the 22nd Bond adventure.

The title was revealed to reporters Thursday at Pinewood Studios outside of London, where the movie is being filmed.

Daniel Craig is returning as Agent 007. He picks up where 2006's Casino Royale left off, with Bond contemplating revenge after his betrayal by his true love, Vesper Lynd.

Filming began at Pinewood Studios earlier this month. Location shooting is planned in Austria, Italy and Panama. Judi Dench returns as the MI-6 boss M and Mathieu Amalric (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly ) plays the villain. Additions to the cast include Ukrainian actress Olga Kurylenko as mysterious Bond girl Camille.

Quantum of Solace is due to open in Britain and the United States on Nov. 7.

At least they didn't stick "Kill", "Die" or "Gold" anywhere in the title.

Monterey Jack wrote:At least they didn't stick "Kill", "Die" or "Gold" anywhere in the title.

Indeed. But it IS weird. Apparently it's one of the titles of an Ian Fleming story from one of the Bond short story collections -- pretty easy to see why they never used it before!

Maybe the title means that Bond just wants some peace and quiet...

DavidBanner wrote:Maybe the title means that Bond just wants some peace and quiet...

Maybe. I thought it was the title of the Carl Sagan autobiography!

AndyDursin wrote:

DavidBanner wrote:Maybe the title means that Bond just wants some peace and quiet...

Maybe. I thought it was the title of the Carl Sagan autobiography!

Good one!

I don't care what the title is as long as it's another good movie.

It will convince the average viewer to open up that dictionary and learn some new words! And I like that it essentially means the smallest amount of compassion for another person, which could refer to either Bond or one of the other characters in the film. And the fact that the producers did stay away from "kill", "die", "gold" or "live" in the title and continue with titles Fleming created means they do see these Daniel Craig Bonds as a different animal than what was produced previously.

TomServo wrote:It will convince the average viewer to open up that dictionary and learn some new words! And I like that it essentially means the smallest amount of compassion for another person, which could refer to either Bond or one of the other characters in the film. And the fact that the producers did stay away from "kill", "die", "gold" or "live" in the title and continue with titles Fleming created means they do see these Daniel Craig Bonds as a different animal than what was produced previously.

^^ And that's all good in my book.

Eric W. wrote:

TomServo wrote:It will convince the average viewer to open up that dictionary and learn some new words! And I like that it essentially means the smallest amount of compassion for another person, which could refer to either Bond or one of the other characters in the film. And the fact that the producers did stay away from "kill", "die", "gold" or "live" in the title and continue with titles Fleming created means they do see these Daniel Craig Bonds as a different animal than what was produced previously.

^^ And that's all good in my book.

Agreed!

THe original short story (which appears in the FYEO collection) is actually about as un-Bond a story as you can find which explains why it was never used anytime in the past.

"Quantum of Solace" is not a spy story and Bond appears only in the background. Told in the style of W Somerset Maugham, the tale has Bond attending a boring dinner party at the Government House in Nassau with a group of socialites he can't stand.

"Bond makes an offensive remark after dinner when the other guests have left in order to stimulate conversation. This solicits a careful reply from the elderly Governor of The Bahamas who tells 007 a sad tale about a relationship between former civil servant Philip Masters stationed in Bermuda and air hostess Rhoda Llewellyn. After meeting aboard a flight to London the two eventually married but after a time Rhoda became unhappy with her life as a housewife. She then began a long open affair with the eldest son of a rich Bermudan family. As a result Masters' work deteriorated and he suffered a nervous breakdown. After recovering he was given a break from Bermuda by the governor and sent on an assignment to Washington to negotiate fishing rights with the US. At the same time the governor's wife had a talk with Rhoda just as her affair ended. Masters returned a few months later and decided to end his marriage, although he and Rhoda continued to appear as a happy couple in public. Masters returned alone to the UK, leaving a penniless Rhoda stranded in Bermuda, an act which he'd been incapable of carrying out merely months earlier. But Masters never recovered emotionally, his vital spark never relit. The governor goes on to tell Bond how after a time Rhoda married a rich Canadian and seems to be happy, telling Bond that his dull dinner companions whom he found so boring were Rhoda and her new husband.

"While the story does not include action elements, as other Fleming tales do, it attempts to posit that Bond's adventures pale in comparison with real life drama. Bond reflects that the lives of the people he passes somewhat superficial judgments upon can in fact hide poignant episodes."

Thank you for the summary of the short story, Eric.

If this is the plot we can expect from the new film, I guarantee a restful evening for moviegoers everywhere. Just turn off the A/C in the theaters and you'll be able to see row after row of peacefully sleeping customers...

LOL. Apparently -- and this will come as no surprise to anyone -- they've used the title and the movie otherwise bears no connection of any kind to the story Eric so eloquently summarized, in terms of plot or characters.

Indeed it's supposed to start up an "hour" after CASINO ROYALE ended so it's a direct sequel of sorts to that one, not totally a standalone piece.

Darn it all. I was looking forward to a brisk nap at the Arclight. They have some very comfortable chairs.

AndyDursin wrote:LOL. Apparently -- and this will come as no surprise to anyone -- they've used the title and the movie otherwise bears no connection of any kind to the story Eric so eloquently summarized, in terms of plot or characters.

But they could always do a homage by having Bond remark at some point that if he were to ever get married he'd probably marry an "airline hostess" since that's the offhand remark he makes that gets the Governor to tell him the story.