The new James Bond thriller Quantum of Solace (Daniel Craig) has had a decent opening at the U.S. box office.
For its opening weekend (Nov 14-16, 2008), Quantum of Solace came in at No-1 at the U.S. box office with a total gross of $70.4 million, way ahead of the previous Bond flick, Casino Royale ($40.83 million).
The latest Bond movie had an average gross of $20,400, slightly lower than Will Smith’s I am Legend.
Here’s how Quantum of Solace fared compared to some prominent Hollywood and Bollywood movies in the U.S.:
Tired as we are of trashy Indian movies like like Vaaranam Aayiram, Dostana, Drona and Aegan, Quantum of Solace was welcome solace indeed.
As SearchIndia.com said in its review of Quantum of Solace:
Whether in the daring action scenes as he leaps across roof-tops in pursuit of the betrayer Mitchell or fighting high-up in dark, tall buildings or showing that faintly noticeable flicker of emotion about Vesper, Daniel Craig is a joy to behold.
You don’t expect great acting in a Bond movie, a Jason Bourne flick or a Superman sequel but Daniel Craig delivers.
…Its shortcomings notwithstandings, Quantum of Solace is decent fare – a lavish buffet set on a well decorated table with most of the usual Bond ingredients in abundant supply.
Quantum of Solace – Bond No-1 at Box Office added by SearchIndia.com on
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At the valleys of Himalaya I met Sadhus intoxicated with bhang who found solace from all the earthy matters; while backpacking Australia I met druggies who found solace from things which even they couldn’t tell; then I met SI who finds solace in QoS from Indian trash.
Idiots!!!!
And every Idiot for reasons unknown to sensible believes him/her as the master of the universe and presents reasons. SI also presents the opening box office figures to glorify QoS. Nothing to dispute on those figures, however with commonsense and sense of cinema it is not a mammoth task to predict the following:
1. QoS in few weeks will be declared as the least successful Bond film ever.
2. In all the polls that are going to happen in 2009 QoS will be voted as the worst Bond film ever
Leave alone the tag of a Bond film – QoS offers nothing; the story never engages you, the photography and editing is so childish – worse than a Bollywood trash. There is no characterization. It was good that Bond didn’t say, “I am Bond, James Bond†or else people would have asked “So what?â€
Still to SI it is a “Its shortcomings notwithstanding, Quantum of Solace is decent fareâ€
But why?
Wake up man/woman, for all these years you told us (though we weren’t listening) that Indian movies are trash. For the first time in life if you say that QoS is trash your American born daughter wouldn’t think that you are an uneducated Indian who can’t appreciate Hollywood stuff but for that you need stuff in you – Unfortunately all that you have in you are a plethora of bad words that your mummy taught you. Shame on you!
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write above: QoS in few weeks will be declared as the least successful Bond film ever
We’ll believe that when we see it. Don’t jump your gun now.
(WSJ Excerpt Added subsequently i.e. at 10:10AM EST)
Meanwhile, here’s an excerpt from the Wall Street Journal:
2. You write: In all the polls that are going to happen in 2009 QoS will be voted as the worst Bond film ever
You dreamin, baby? You dreamin?
3. You write: Unfortunately all that you have in you are a plethora of bad words that your mummy taught you
We’ve no doubt now that when the F in your user name is expanded the last two letters are ed and for sure, there’s an apostrophe after M is expanded…Must have been traumatic for you, na? Hearing her screams and all.
bigmadmf, you are blinded by your hatred of SI..
“QoS in few weeks will be declared as the least successful Bond film ever”.. certainly not gonna happen.. it has had the best opening ever for a Bond film.. better than “Die Another Day”.. the next highest at 57 mil. after adjusting for inflation..
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=jamesbond.htm
QoS has a much better user rating than Die Another Day on imdb.. it will probably be less successful than Casino Royale, but better than most other Bond movies.
Movie is crap..
If You say this SI Will be up u’r ass… HE would rate QOS Very well.
SI please learn to write a review.
QOS is one of the Worst Bond Movies ever made.
I will post the Review of QOS..if u still think the movie is good
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You write: QOS is one of the Worst Bond Movies ever made.
We know you are a total schmuck, who has a hard time understanding text.
Why don’t you at least look at the numbers in the chart that’s part of the above post. The numbers speak for themselves.
If QoS was really as bad as you say, it wouldn’t have got the box office response it did.
QoS had the best James Bond opening. Period.
Come on, get out of your Old Monk-induced stupor.
2. You write: I will post the Review of QOS..if u still think the movie is good
You are welcome to post the review of QoS or PoS or UpURs or whatever…on your handkerchief.
This blog is for you to only post comments (and you fail to even do that properly because you only post rants aganst us).
Trey
Stp licking SI’s a** for a minute and look at the Other reviews. FYI U suck supporting SI. Get a Life dude.
bimmer fµ**wad, I was kissing the QoS ass.. with some proof from imdb and box office mojo.
http://us.imdb.com/keyword/official-james-bond-series/
is ranked 5th among the James Bond Series.. it may drop down some more, but it is definitely not the worst..
I never attacked VA (because I haven’t watched it) and I defended Mugavari.. your pea-brain might have forgotten that..
You are the one who is licking Ajith’s a**.. he probably was in your same class when you both studied (and flunked out of) 6th standard in some sh!tty school.. he probably doesn’t even remember who you are now..
No comments yet on Slumdog Millionaire, which ought to have its own discussion because the average gross per theater is incredible. There was a story on Yahoo about it yesterday and it’s getting A/4-star reviews across the board.
Right now it’s not playing in NJ anywhere but is in NYC at Lincoln Plaza Cinemas and the Angelika Film Center. Supposedly it will have a wider release in another week.
Officially it’s a British movie, directed by Danny Boyle, but I believe the whole thing takes place in India. Unknowns in the lead roles, but Anil Kapoor and Irrfan Khan are in it in supporting roles.
Would be great for Khan to get more exposure after the solid jobs he did in The Namesake and especialy A Mighty Heart.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Yeah, we’ve been seeing the rave reviews Slumdog Millionaire has been getting in a lot of places except perhaps in the New Yorker.
The average gross ($36,002) was very impressive.
Irrfan Khan is a class actor and ipso facto a rara avis in Bollywood.
For some time now a bunch of idiots (probably retards) sitting in Search India were complaining that the Indian movie industry (bollywood and tamil industry) lacks originality and that they (Indian film makers) should learn the art of film making from Hollywood. To be continued…
But for sure I can completely agree to the fact that India has never produced a quality film reviewer. [To an extent Khallid Mohammed is an exception but not extra ordinary compared to his counter parts around the globe]
One of the finest directors of all the time, Francois Truffaut was a critic who wrote in ‘cashiers du cinema’. If SI knows French apart from few silly phrases that it uses often try to read one of those gems.
The point is when an Indian write a film review it stinks, because he don’t know how to write a review. There isn’t even one Indian film reviewer [no matter whether he sits in Chennai or LA] who knows the technical aspects of film making or who have attended a film review workshop. I can say that for certain as their writings evidences it. Search India is no exception. Having bunked all that classes in your Engineering College and watched all the matinees on your dad’s money doesn’t make you a film critic.
Look at what people elsewhere got to say on QoS. These are the people who not only make a living from writing reviews but also earn respect from millions of readers worldwide.
• With [this] too-shaken sequel, the Bond market experiences a dip.
• Quantum of Solace is a model of mediocrity, even though Daniel Craig gives his all to a production that doesn’t deserve him.
• The problems can be traced to a screenplay that is stuffed with internecine plot points and shades-of-gray complexities, but little else: no character-sharpening details and none of the wit and charm that buoyed Casino Royale.
• Frankly, Quantum of Solace is just one exasperated dressing down away from being Lethal Weapon 9.
• This is the least satisfying production since The Living Daylights.
• Forster is indeed a fine director, but he’s hardly a specialist in action films, and it shows. He can’t quite keep things moving fast enough to speed past the absurdity of the premise.
• If you held up your thumb over Daniel Craig’s face and took in the mayhem around him, you’d think you were watching The Bourne Simulation rather than the 22nd (and shortest-ever) ode to Ian Fleming’s suave government killer.
• The action and eye candy may be worth the ticket price, but this Bond needs to get back to business
The references are intentionally omitted as names of veteran film critics wouldn’t make any sense to Search India. To them they will be yet another ‘comedy pasangal’. Who ever said that ‘Ignorance makes a man happy’ was a genius.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Since you start off with an insult, let’s first return the compliment. We’ve no doubt now that when the F in your user name is expanded the last two letters are ed and for sure, there’s an apostrophe after M is expanded…Must have been traumatic for you, na? Hearing her screams and all.
1. You write above: But for sure I can completely agree to the fact that India has never produced a quality film reviewer. [To an extent Khallid Mohammed is an exception but not extra ordinary compared to his counter parts around the globe
We have yet to see an extraordinary Indian movie reviewer…And since this is confession time, let’s add – not even when we look in the mirror. And for you to even suggest that Khalid Mohammed is an exception is to engage in defense of the indefensible or drink the brand cool-aid.
A lot of Indian critics just narrate the story verbatim or engage in wholesome praise like the film site reviewers because of their incestuous relationship with the film industry. Breathtakingly crappy or at best ordinary movies become ‘best performance of his/her career‘ on film site reviews.
2. You fall into the same sinkhole that you and your ilk often accuse us, either tacitly or overtly.
You rush to a few foreign reviewers (ranging from Denver Post, WSJ, Boston Globe, Cinema.com, detnews, San Francisco Chronicle & Newsday) and since they all panned QoS ergo, it must be bad.
Since we’ve watched QoS, we prefer to believe our eyes. The movie is decent fare.
We repeat, QoS has had the best James Bond opening to date.
We also recommend to readers here, show Vaaranam Aayiram the middle finger and watch QoS.
3. The next time you launch a vituperative tirade against others’ writings, you might want to pause and look at your assault on grammar.
4. We’ll try to get hold of Francois Truffaut’s reviews (might take some time though).
5. We disagree with your suggestion (implicit) that attending a Film Review workshop will make you better at the job. Watching lots of good movies (foreign) and bad movies (Tamil obviously) is adequate training to pen a review.
Having said all of the above, we’d be amiss in not adding that most Tamil movie makers and actors are completely alien to the notion of quality cinema.
Below Comment is actually from BIGBADMF (this comment got deleted while processing…Having retrieved it from our backup system, we’re posting it here verbatim):
SI on a historical moment of admitting its folly and failure as a film reviewer uttered, “Since this is confession time, let’s add – not even when we look in the mirrorâ€
Oh! Finally you managed to get a mirror. You shouldn’t have spend that money as this is exactly what ‘sensible’ readers of this blog been saying for years which SI always masqueraded with bad words.
Then SI presents a very clichéd argument (pathetic than M.Bhandakar’s Fashion) to portray themselves as one eyed king in the land of blinds. SI says, “A lot of Indian critics just narrate the story verbatim or engage in wholesome praise like the film site reviewers because of their incestuous relationship with the film industry. Breathtakingly crappy or at best ordinary movies become ‘best performance of his/her career‘ on film site reviewsâ€
Truth is you guys are better neither. You abuse the director, call the directors/ actors funny names, some times even vulgar names, make awful personal comments on them in the name of review. To spice it up and to evade from the actual review compare it with a Hollywood movie and that is it. No artistic comments on the cinematography / editing / back ground score etc….[hello, these are all part of a movie – FYI]
I couldn’t content my laugh when I read this classic, “Since we’ve watched QoS, we prefer to believe our eyes…â€
It is ok believe your eyes, provided you have at least pea-sized brains to decode the data collected by your eyes!
The apostles of QoS i.e. SI continues, “We repeat, QoS has had the best James Bond opening to dateâ€
Very good, go ahead repeat it. May be a hundred times first thing in the morning and two hundred times before to bed. That would make very good jaw exercise!
Now let us get to some data. As per IMDB Casino Royale is rated as 8.00 the highest for a Bond movie. When CR was released there were strong apprehensions on the ability of D.Craig. The factors weren’t in his favour but CR went on to become history on the merits of CR and Bond fans around the globe embraced the first ever blonde Bond. Obviously they waited for the next in the franchise. To the serious movie goers there was the catch of Marc Foster at the helm who has proved himself as a fine director. All these reasons plus the fact that there weren’t any major releases colliding [except Madagaskar 2, and High Schoo3 which has its own viewers] made life easy for QoS. Result – grand opening, but that doesn’t make QoS a good movie.
Matter of fact, even Kuselan [the original Malayalam movie is selected to Indian Panorama] had a bumper opening! [We are talking about Tamil Nadu – the real market and not what NRIs in London or Honolulu did that weekend]. Considering the marketing techniques like global release; 1000+ prints; more than conventional (5) screenings in the same cinema; utilizing ‘you tube’ and other similar modes to promote the movie trailers and highly manipulated pre-release statements from lead actors (like O.Kurylenko saying she is few inches taller than D.Craig and D.Craig had to have high heels to be near her) all contribute to a grand opening. But that is not the barometer.
I didn’t want to say some thing which is as obvious as this but seeing SI repeating the same blunder again and again I realized that to an idiot even the most obvious thing is a highly complex concept.
Few more things to add here but need to rush to see my lawyer. Just wanted to know, like Chapter 11 bailout thing is there any government sponsored “protein tablet Programme†for IQ deficient people like SI. I know it is a waste of public money but looking at the larger common good that is the only option we got.
Above Comment is from BIGBADMF (this comment got deleted while processing…we retrieved it from our backup & posted it here verbatim):
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You are a fine one to blabber that we ignore ‘editing’ Have you ever looked at your interminably long nonsensical ramblings oops comments.
What our favorite essayist Macaulay once wrote in his review of Edward Nares’ biography of Cecil Burghley is apposite in your case. Macaulay wrote:
Macaulay may well have been writing about your jackass ramblings.
2. When we do a review on this blog, we provide a justification why we consider a movie crappy. Our reviews are very nuanced and most balanced.
Yes, we do often compare Indian movies with Hollywood movies. And we offer no apologies…Why should we? After all, a lot of Indian filmmakers are unabashed thieves…Saroja, God Tussi Great Ho, Ek Ajanabee, Thenali are just a few examples of theft.
Most Indian movies have nothing commendable in them…be it acting, cinematography, editing, music. And we’ve said ad nauseum, ad infinitum. If you could only wean yourself from whatever you’re high on, maybe it’d penetrate that concrete skull of yours.
3. You comparing Kuselan (Malayalam) to QoS? Boy, you sure left the little brains you possessed in the loo. Is there no limit to your asinine comparisons.
It’s like Marlon Brando was an actor. Ajith (or Abhishek Bachchan) is also an actor. Ergo, Ajith is a great actor.
4. We didn’t say we failed…we said we are not great reviewers. There’s a ocean of difference between the two. Obviously, distinguishing between two simple statements is beyond your ken.
5. You write: Now let us get to some data. As per IMDB Casino Royale is rated as 8.00 the highest for a Bond movie…
What you talk about is not data but a mere look at different opinions. Hard data is box office collections.
6. You write: You abuse the …
Far from it. We (like a lot of Indian movie fans) are at the receiving end of abuse from our Bollywood & Kollywood actors, directors, not to forget irrational commenters like you et al.
And let us remind you and others that you are the same dodo who used a filthy abusive expression against us (which we deleted) because your hyperventilating persona couldn’t stand criticism. And you have the audacity to talk of abuse. There’s a word for you in English: Hypocrite. Vandatanga pa comedy pasanga (here come the clowns).
Why do you think despite making movies for nearly 100 years, no one outside India takes our movies seriously – Because they are a joke.
7. You write: Considering the marketing techniques like global release… all contribute to a grand opening. But that is not the barometer
As if our Indian actors don’t engage in pre-release hype/marketing. You have the same publicity blitz in India too now, only on a smaller scale. Get your facts right, at least occasionally.
Around the time of the release of Taree Zameen Par, you have the controversy about Black…Your childish brain probably thinks it’s all accidental.
8. You write: Few more things to add here but need to rush to see my lawyer
Do find the time to stop at your Veterinary Surgeon on the way to see if anything can be done to fix your lobotomized upper storey.
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?id=jamesbond.htm
QoS has limped past Casino Royale to #1.. so by no means the least successful Bond movie ever.