# Please explain the plot of Casino Royal and Quantum of Solace **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 10, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140 "2011-01-10T21:20:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140/21 "2011-01-11T12:51:45Z")
Craig’s Bond is the only one I’ve ever found entertaining, and I have no interest in the source material. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140/22 "2011-01-11T13:27:24Z")
What got me about the reboots, and was closer to the books than the other movies is: He _didn’t_ have a lot of toys. (Well, other than the phone…and the defibrilator in the glovebox…you know…for poisoning.) But I’m finding that Bond moves sure don’t age well. I remember LOVING the Brosnan era. It just felt so _right_…and now…man, there’s some cornball right there! (Except for Onatopp.) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140/23 "2011-01-11T14:49:39Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > What got me about the reboots, and was closer to the books than the other movies is: He _didn’t_ have a lot of toys. (Well, other than the phone…and the defibrilator in the glovebox…you know…for poisoning.) Hey, better to have a glovebox defibrilator and not need it than need a glovebox defibrillator and not have it. But you’re right - I figure the car with a cloaking device from _Die Another Day_ was pretty much the low point of gadget plausibility. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140/24 "2011-01-11T14:52:03Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > While he’s beating the hell out of Bond’s nuts people from the evil organization from the beginning of the movie show up. They’re pissed at the bleedy-eyed guy for ruining their reputation, or failing them, or something. They kill the fuck out of all the bloody-eye guy’s henchman and **Bond and the girl get away**. Bond wakes up at a hospital and sends the old Hispanic guy into British custody (we learn in the next film that they tortured the fuck out of him). Bond and his chick flirt, talking about fingering each other and stuff and go to Venice to blow all the money they won at the poker game. Bond and Vespa are allowed to survive because they each hold part of the code to release the money. > [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > But then the girl steals his money and runs to give it to members of the evil organization. Bond chases, kills the fuck out of a bunch of them and tries to save the girl before she kills herself via elevator drowning. Turns out that the evil organization had **kidnapped her bf** and threatened to kill the fuck out of him unless she gave them all the money. So Bond, in the final scene, kills the shit out of the guy from the evil organization from the beginning of the movie. Which kind of sucks because he’d be dead if it weren’t for him and he’s not really responsible for the chick’s death but whatever. The boyfriend was a member of Quantum who seduces government operatives (women) and then does the _kidnapped_ thing to get them to betray their govt. There is a scene where this is explained near the end. I liked _Casino Royale_. I disliked _Quantum Of Solace_, particularly for the exploding hotel and weak plot. Si ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140/25 "2011-01-11T15:07:29Z")
> [@si\_blakely](#): > > I disliked _Quantum Of Solace_, particularly for the exploding hotel Yeah, what was the deal with that? Did the hydrogen people know that their safe clean alternative-energy heating systems and vehicles were going to displayed in a Hindenbergian look-crossways-at-it-and-blammo setting? That’d piss me right off. It’s like BMW supplying all the cars and the movie being full of characters crashing after a steering-system failure. I fear this movie may have slowed the adoption of hydrogen fuel-cells by several years. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140/26 "2011-01-11T15:16:33Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I agree, of course. There was much talk of Craig “re-inventing” and “re-starting” and “breathing new life into” the Bond franchise; he has done no such thing. I think he has turned a whole generation _off_ Bond because his Bond movies lack the one thing that made people like Bond movies in the past: fun. > > Craig-lovers can talk all they want about how much grittier, moodier, realistic-er, darker and therefore better the new Bond movies supposedly are. But this transformation removed all of the wild and krazy hijinks that made the earlier Bond movies enjoyable and set them apart from just another scowling, growling, violent action movie. In short, they’re now too “serious,” and they have no sense of humor. > > People who like the Craig Bond films inevitably come back with “but…they’re closer to the _book._” This doesn’t mean anything. Books are books, and movies are movies. The James Bond _movie_ franchise built itself up into a distinctive cinematic experience. Changing all of that just because it’s closer to the book doesn’t mean it will be better movies. > > Craig, through no fault of his own but rather as a result of bad casting and bad writing, has made the franchise drop dramatically in appeal and if it is canceled, as some people think it will be, Craig will be forever known as the man who killed it. You’re right. he should have made a movie like 'Moonraker". ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140/27 "2011-01-11T15:22:02Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I fear this movie may have slowed the adoption of hydrogen fuel-cells by several years. Hey Boss, you know that Luxury Hotel you wanna build out in the middle of the DESERT? The one with no utilities going to it? The one that would be AWESOME with the Eco-tourists if it were SOLAR powered? Yeah, can’t do it. Our Money Laundering scheme only works out if we use my Brother’s construction company, and they want to use hydrogen fuel cells. Where do we get the Hydrogen? Well, that’s shipped in using my Cousin’s Holding Company. ETA: “Quantum Construction and Smersh Hydrogen” ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140/28 "2011-01-11T15:31:27Z")
There is no Bond but Connery. The rest are posers, and Craig is just horrible. Worse than Lazenby. Worse than Moore, for Ghu’s sake. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140/29 "2011-01-11T15:36:53Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > Craig, through no fault of his own but rather as a result of bad casting and bad writing, has made the franchise drop dramatically in appeal and if it is canceled, as some people think it will be, Craig will be forever known as the man who killed it. I have to disagree. He comes closest to capturing the character of Bond from the novels. Yeah, bad writing, etc., but who cares if boobs and bombs are involved? Casino Royale did follow the plot of the novel fairly closely. Minor nitpick - the change from baccarat to hold-em was just plain lame. Baccarat is a much classier game. Quantam of Solace is whole cloth, following in the modern Bond tradition of using a Fleming title and developing a movie that bears no resemblance whatsoever to the story. Both of these movies are a “backstory” sort of thing, where we get to see Bond become Bond; his rough edges get smoothed off and he becomes more “swave and deboner”. He’s still the hard-ass secret agent, though. I don’t think the franchise is dying yet. I had my doubts about Craig, but I’m solidly in his camp now. The man’s a damn good actor. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140/30 "2011-01-11T15:49:24Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Casino Royale did follow the plot of the novel fairly closely. Minor nitpick - the change from baccarat to hold-em was just plain lame. Baccarat is a much classier game. I agree on this, totally. Bond would absolutely play Baccarat, but I’m sure they dumbed it down for the stupidos in the world. > [@](#): > > I don’t think the franchise is dying yet. I had my doubts about Craig, but I’m solidly in his camp now. The man’s a damn good actor. I am not fond of him as Bond, but I think he is a wonderful actor, yes. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140/31 "2011-01-11T15:53:08Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Minor nitpick - the change from baccarat to hold-em was just plain lame. Baccarat is a much classier game. I believe we are the only two people in the world who agree on that. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140/32 "2011-01-11T15:53:31Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I believe we are the only two people in the world who agree on that. THREE! Me too! ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140/33 "2011-01-11T15:53:51Z")
Four. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140/34 "2011-01-11T15:54:20Z")
And I. Texas Hold-Em was just pandering to fashion. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140/35 "2011-01-11T16:03:42Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > And I. Texas Hold-Em was just pandering to fashion. And not even _good_ pandering. For all the lip-service about playing the man, not the cards and such, Bond’s victory doesn’t depend on superior skills at bluffing or reading his opponent’s bluff, but by fluking his way into a straight flush. And he splashes the pot, which just annoys me. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140/36 "2011-01-11T16:07:30Z")
I like how they felt so uncertain that Hold’em was dumbing it down _enough_, they even started explaining the rules in the middle of a play. Ye gods, those people don’t have a lot of faith in humanity, do they? ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140/37 "2011-01-11T16:11:49Z")
There is no bluffing in Baccarat, right? I think they went with poker so that Bond could be seen using his “I know his tells” skills. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140/38 "2011-01-11T16:31:46Z")
And note that everyone had a ridiculously good hand - IIRC a full house was one of the worst hands held. Most amazing round of poker ever. I liked Brosnan (and even Dalton) as Bond but Ye Gods the scripts were terrible. The idea of Bond getting captured and tortured was interesting (until you discover the use of scorpions, which is idiotic) but the dialogue in _Die Another Day_ was so bad it made me want to punch everyone involved in the film. And to punch Madonna twice, just because. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140/39 "2011-01-11T16:35:59Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > There is no bluffing in Baccarat, right? I think you have a hole card the other guys can’t see. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140/40 "2011-01-11T16:42:44Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I believe we are the only two people in the world who agree on that. Here’s one more [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-plot-of-casino-royal-and-quantum-of-solace/567140.md?page=3)