Jan 24 2008Bond Chooses Catchy Title: 'Quantum of Solace'
Diana has informed me that the newest Bond adventure has adopted the catchy new title of Quantum of Solace. Unmemorable, strangely scientific, and too similar to Superman's Fortress of Solitude, the name apparently comes from a slow-paced Ian Fleming short story in which Bond plays a slight background role. I can only imagine what the theme song will sound like (and if it will be written by as hot of an up-and-coming artist as Chris Cornell). I'd like to think it will be sort of a house beat with a repeated sample of a gruff, dad-like character shouting "Can't a man get one quantum of solace in this place?!"
Reader Comments
1. Andrew - January 24, 2008 1:44 PM
Quantum of Solace.
Seriously. Quantum of Solace.
The next one will be Quark of Ennui.
2. Chris - January 24, 2008 2:22 PM
I hate James Bond movies.
I loved Casino Royale.
I will see this movie.
3. peppermintfatty - January 24, 2008 4:21 PM
Quantum of Solace? Seriously, now. That gets NO BUYS. Frankly its worse than the rumors of Harry Potter and The Pyramids of Furmat and that was only a false rumor.
4. Rob M - January 24, 2008 8:52 PM
Hey guys, believe it or not, this is a legit original "Bond" title.
Out of the whole series of Bond books Ian Fleming wrote in the 50's and 60's, there were two of which that were actually a collection of shorter stories: "For Your Eyes Only" and "Octopussy". Yes, I know those were also both movie titles. so was "The Living Daylights", which was one of the stories in Octopussy, so was "From a View to a Kill" which was in For Your Eyes Only...and one of the other stories in that book is "Quantum of Solace".
So I say kudos to them, at least, for trying to stick to the proper titles. "BOND 22" sounded kinda cool but too Rambo-ish, IMO. :P Although I was hoping they'd go with one of the other sub-stories like "The Hildibrand Rarity". That's kinda cool. :)
5. Rob M - January 24, 2008 8:55 PM
Oh, one other comment, to Chris...the reason you loved Casino Royale is because it's probably one of two TOTAL of the Bond movies that actually stuck to the book storyline almost perfectly (the other being "on Her Majesty's Secret Service", which wasn't AS close to the book as Casino Royale, because they'd messed up all sorts of timelines in the previous movies.)
The new movie will apparently at least stick to the actual Bond style the way Ian Fleming wrote it. Dark, gritty, character-driven, and no f'ing invisible cars.
6. Morley - January 24, 2008 10:03 PM
And Paul Haggis wrote this? Doesn't choosing a title like this warrant getting your Oscar taken away?
7. Willravel - January 25, 2008 1:47 AM
You're aware that "Casino Royale" did not appear in the lyrics of the Chris Cornell theme of Casino Royale, I'm sure. Likewise, "Quantum of Solice" likely won't be a part of the lyrics to the next movie.
BTW, you all know that the word quantum in the title refers to it's meaning of "a small or minute amount" as in, "He doesn't have a quantum of solace left", right? I think it's an amazingly original title.
BTW, #5, what about From Russia with Love?
8. Andrew - January 25, 2008 9:54 AM
I was the first comment on this thread.
The history of the title was clarified for me, also.
I am actually looking forward to the film. For any hardcore Bond or Fleming fans, please pardon my snark. No disrespect was intended. I still think the title sounds funny in the context of how we typically use the word "quantum."
9. Rob M - January 25, 2008 4:11 PM
#7: From Russia with Love was pretty close, but nowhere near as close as the two I mentioned.
One other thing too...when I say 'close to the book', there's obviously particulars that need to be changed. ie. the book version of 'Casino Royale', Le Chiffre is the money man for SMERSH, the old Soviet group that dealt with 'threat extermination', it's full Russian name translating literally into 'Death to Spies' (it really did exist, too), and he squandered his money buying whorehouses in France...and obviously, either part would make ANY sense these days. So what I mean is, the mechanics of the movie are similar to the book. Like, Le Chiffre loses money, needs it fast, can't call payday loans, so he has casino game at Casino Royale, they kidnap Vesper, etc etc.
Including the "The bitch is dead" line towards the end of the movie. That was the last line in the book...he said that, and I actually cheered in the theatre. No kidding. I thought people were gonna lynch me.