BuzzSugar

Quantum of Solace: Just an Action Flick

BuzzSugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:34:39 -0800

Where Casino Royale was bright, shiny and breathtaking, Quantum of Solace is cold, steely, and flat. Don't get me wrong - the explosions, gun play, and dry quips are all present and accounted for. But where there might've been a compelling narrative there's just a string of action sequences and chase scenes, interrupted by the occasional heart-to- cold, mistrusting spy heart. It's not bad, it's just that it seems like there's no real pulse beating behind Bond's deadly calm veneer.

Daniel Craig reprises his role as superspy James Bond, who is still consumed by anger at having been betrayed by Vesper Lynd, the woman he loved. Still, he wishes to take revenge on the company that blackmailed Vesper and in his search, he and M (Judi Dench) uncover the plans of Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), the shady leader of an environmentalist company, to take control of Bolivia's water supply from the equally shady General Medrano (Joaquín Cosio). In the midst of all this, Bond meets Camille (Olga Kurylenko), who has her own vengeful plan in mind for General Medrano. Camille and Bond then become partners in crime (literally) in their efforts to take down Dominic and Medrano. For some more of my take on all this, read more.

One of the things I like best about this movie is that the "Bond Girl" (Camille) isn't just there to sexily wield a gun and sleep with Bond. In fact, she has her own past and her own agenda - and it never includes sleeping with Bond. It’s rather refreshing, really, and hers is the story that intrigued me the most, by far. While it’s fun to see Bond kick some butt and continuously lock and load, it might have been fun to have had some more mystery in this story of our "international man of mystery," so to speak. There is, however, plenty of the "international": we leap and soar and zoom from country to country (each with its own font, a quirky touch), with little breathing room in between each location's requisite fight scene.

In general, it would have been cool to have had some more scheming and more outwitting the opposition, and maybe less of a blindly rage-filled Bond just blowing away everyone and everything in his path. While that might have been the intention - to show how much Vesper’s death has messed with our hero and left him colder and crueler - it’s not altogether satisfying to watch for two hours. It is still a treat to see Daniel Craig onscreen, and the intense action scenes are sure to please many moviegoers, but expecting more than that may leave one disappointed.

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures

First Look: The Kite Runner

BuzzSugar — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:42:55 -0700

The new trailer for The Kite Runner has just been released, and it's already making me feel emotional. Having read the powerful novel by Khaled Hosseini, I've been waiting with a mixture of hope and fear for the movie version, directed by Marc Foster (Monster's Ball, Stranger Than Fiction, Finding Neverland). By the looks of the trailer, however, it looks like Foster might just be doing the book justice.

The story follows two childhood best friends: Amir, the son of a wealthy businessman in Kabul, and Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant. Before Amir and his father flee to America, the boys' friendship is tested by a moment when Amir falls silent as Hassan is brutally beaten. Settled in California as an adult, this moment haunts Amir until he learns of Hassan's death at the hands of the Taliban, and returns to his homeland to search for Hassan's young son.

Opening November 2, you have plenty of time to read the book if you haven't already. To watch the trailer, read more

Poster art courtesy of Paramount Vantage

Buzz News Roundup, 6/20

BuzzSugar — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:29:22 -0700

Monday's season premiere of "The Closer" broke the series' own record to become basic cable's all-time most-viewed episode of a series, Broadcasting & Cable reports.
Meanwhile, Lifetime's "Army Wives" has gotten more viewers every week, says the Futon Critic.
Children's series The Sisters Grimm, about orphaned girls Daphne and Sabrina Grimm (descendants of the Brothers Grimm), is being developed for the big screen with hopes to become "a huge family adventure franchise," Variety reports.
According to Pitchfork, we'll have to wait until 2008 for a new Magnetic Fields album, but on the bright side, Arcade Fire and LCD Soundsystem are touring together.
A "Speed Racer" cartoon is planned for Nicktoons and should launch around the same time as the Speed Racer movie, though the two projects technically aren't related, Variety reports.
Jack Black has been cast in Man-Witch as a man who realizes he is a witch but when he goes to witch school, he’s the only guy there, Zap2It says.
Toby Keith's new album, Big Dog Daddy, lives up to its name by landing at No. 1 on the Billboard charts.
Paula Marshall, recently of "Veronica Mars," will join the cast of "Nip/Tuck" when the new season begins, writes the Hollywood Reporter.
NME reports that the Black Crowes, Andrew Bird, and John Mellencamp are among the artists contributing to the Song of America tribute album conceived by Janet Reno.
Marc Foster, director of Finding Neverland and Monster's Ball, will direct the next James Bond film, Bond 22, says Reuters.