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...a blog by Richard Flowers

Sunday, February 03, 2008

Day 2580: Quantum of Solero

Friday


Ooh, James Bond!

Mr Daniel has been spending AGES trying to explain what "Quantum of Solace" actually MEANS. I think he should not bother – it is not like it is as important as how many EXPLOSIONS he escapes from, now is it!

"Quantum of Solace" is one of the few remaining titles that Mr Ian Flemming came up with that haven't yet been used for a movie. The others are "Risico" (which you COULD use but isn't iconically cool and memorable the way "Goldfinger" is), "The Hildebrand Rarity" (it's a FISH) and my personal favourite "Property of a Lady". (Although the PLOT, such as it is, was used for the Fabergé Egg at Sotherby's part of "A View to a Kill"; just as the plot of "Risico" is the main bit of "For Your Eyes Only" and "The Hildebrand Rarity" contributes bits to "Licence to Kill".)


Unlike Doctor Who titles – which are usually just "The Something of Something Else (usually Death!) – James Bond titles are REALLY HARD to do properly. They kind of need to sound like they are ALMOST a familiar phrase or saying, but perhaps twisted a little – like "Live and Let DIE" or "You only Live TWICE".

This is why "Licence to Kill" is a RUBBISH James Bond title (mumbles something about the film, no it's very good really) and why "Tomorrow Never Dies" is obviously trying TOO HARD.

I rather like "Quantum of Solace" though, and will look forward to seeing it very soon!

PS:
This has been my seven-hundredth (and oneth) diary, brought to you by the miracle of filling in all the gaps from last year!

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