007 title leaves fans baffled

THE 007 movie title Quantum of Solace has left fans scratching their heads.

The name is taken from a little-known short story by James Bond creator Ian Fleming and Bond actor Daniel Craig admitted: “This title is meant to confuse a little.”

Craig said Fleming defined a quantum of solace, it means, roughly, a measure of comfort as “that spark of niceness in a relationship that if you don’t have, you might as well give up.” Some film fans reckon it sounds more sci-fi than superspy and industry experts agree it will leave moviegoers baffled.

Olly Richards, news editor of Empire magazine, said: “It is confusing. I don’t think most people will immediately realise what it means — I certainly had to think about it for a bit and it is not a short story many are familiar with.

“But most Bond titles don’t make much sense anyway. What does Thunderball mean? Or Tomorrow Never Dies?”

Richards said the writer of the new theme tune might have problems: “You would have difficulty rhyming ‘Quantum of Solace’ with anything and it doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue as a song title, does it?”

But Bond aficionados love the name. Members of the James Bond International Fan Club said they were thrilled that producers have used an original Ian Fleming title.

Ajay Chowdhury, editor of the fan club’s magazine Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, said: “Bond fans think it’s a wonderful title. It’s a fantastic choice. It has that esoteric, poetic mystery which you associate with James Bond. And let’s face it, it has as much meaning as The Living Daylights.

The 22nd film in the franchise will see Craig’s 007, licensed to kill, search for the truth about double agent Vesper Lynd, the love interest who betrayed him in Casino Royale.

The film is unlikely to bear much relation to the original short story.