Quantum Of Solace

The new James Bond movie was released yesterday in the U.S. and there seems to be much confusion on the internet and with the average citizen about what the title could possibly mean.

The name was taken from an Ian Fleming short story, but the movie itself ends all similarities (save for the obvious, as it is a Bond film...) there.

Warning: If you haven't seen the amazing Casino Royale, stop reading!

This film is the first ever sequel in the Bond film franchise, which spans all the way back to 1962 with Dr. No. The film is a continuation of the story lines from Casino Royale which by all accounts was a resounding success critically and commercially. The film was a reboot of the character and the franchise, giving a backstory to the character before and immediately after he had received his double-0 status.

The Marc Forster directed Quantum Of Solace is the sequel and the name seems to be referring to the theme of the movie.

Initially it seemed that Daniel Craig, who stars as the gritty James Bond and even suggested the name, maintained that the film's name had very little relevance, and the Telegraph quotes his story from GQ magazine, saying:

"As soon as it came out, people were saying, 'Ooh, it sounds like Harry Potter.' No, it's Quantum of Solace. I was saying, 'It's a Bond title! The name of a Bond film is not about anything. Live And Let Die? Octopussy? What does it mean? It means very little. We've got nothing to worry about."

Quantum of Solace was included in Fleming's 1960 collection of short stories, For Your Eyes Only. The film's makers have dispensed with the author's original plot and retained only the name, which refers to "the smallest unit of compassion that two people can have".

Later, Craig seemed to find the relevance of the title to the actual movie.

Via the Guardian:

"It's grown on me," says the 39-year-old British actor, who will be taking on the role of 007 for a second time. "I was unsure at first. Bond is looking for his quantum of solace and that's what he wants, he wants his closure. Ian Fleming says that if you don't have a quantum of solace in your relationship then the relationship is over. It's that spark of niceness in a relationship that if you don't have you might as well give up."

Adding to this, BBC News further explains:

Craig said the cryptic title referenced how Bond's heart had been broken at the end of Casino Royale.

"Ian Fleming had written about relationships," he explained.

"When they go wrong, when there's nothing left, when the spark has gone, when the fire's gone out, there's no quantum of solace.

"And at the end of the last movie, Bond has the love of his life taken away from him and he never got that quantum of solace."

Craig said the new film would follow 007 as he goes out "to find the guy who's responsible".

"So he's looking for revenge, you know, to make himself happy with the world again.

"But the title also alludes to something else in the film," he added.

So what does it all mean!?

I'd like to break down the story and the title, in opposite order. First, let's start with definitions of the words in the title.

Quantum is defined as:

1 a: quantity , amount b: portion , part c: gross quantity : bulk.

Solace is defined as:

1: to give solace to : console2 a: to make cheerful b: amuse3: allay , soothe
— so·lace·ment Listen to the pronunciation of solacement \-mənt\ noun
— so·lac·er noun.

The theme of Casino Royale was the evolving of Bond through love and loss, and he blames an organization that had Vesper ultimately betray him. Now, in Quantum of Solace, he is hunting down that organization in an attempt to end them. And so this is where we see the title play in.

He is searching for the right amount of consolation for what he has went through. He is looking for his quantum of solace.