Editor’s Note

At least it’s not Octopussy

Yes, it’s a bad title. Quantum of Solace.

Literally, it means a bit of comfort at a time of grief. And that actually makes sense. As Casino Royale ends, James Bond finds out he’s been deceived by his lover Vesper Lynd and then she drowns as he watches helplessly. Gah.

But when you have to break a movie title down into its literal components, you lose something. It’s like having to explain a joke.

Still, I can’t help wondering, does it really matter what this movie’s titled? Most people are just going to call it “the Bond movie” anyway. Honestly, how many of you said, “Let’s go see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”? More likely you said, “Do you want to see Indy?” or “Let’s see that Crystal Skull movie.” I have to admit I even called it Raiders once or twice.

Over the past few years, Hollywood has been plagued by bad movie titles, and moviegoers have revolted by calling the films whatever they like. In defence of Quantum of Solace, at least it’s not one of those titles that goes on and on and on. Think of the abovementioned Indy pic, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (not to be confused with the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. The what now?

A few years ago I revolted and changed this magazine’s style guide so that we only have to name a movie by its full title on first reference — after that, just pick a word from the title, italicize it, and you’re done! Maverick, I know. (Somewhere in this issue I even truncated a superlong movie title on first reference, see if you can find it. Hint: One of the words removed was “Kazakhstan.”) Maybe my next act of rebellion should be to start calling movies what we call them with our friends — The New Bond, That Star Wars Cartoon or That Harry Potter Movie that got Bumped to Next Summer. Too long?

For “Now He’s Angry,” David Giammarco visited the set of next month’s New Bond Movie to chat with star Daniel Craig and director Marc Forster about how to follow up the fab Casino Royale.

In “Shared Vision,” Julianne Moore, director Fernando Meirelles and writer Don McKellar talk about their unlikely Canadian co-production Blindness. Based on a novel by Portuguese author José Saramago, directed by Brazilian Meirelles, and starring mostly American actors, the film was largely shot in Guelph, Ontario, of all places. That Don McKellar must be a powerful man.

Talk show host and political commentator Bill Maher talks about his new movie, Religulous, and why he thinks all religious people are crazy, in “God Love Him”.

“Love & War,” is our chat with Passchendaele’s Caroline Dhavernas.

And check out Famous Teens, with articles about Hollywood’s young and famous and an interview with Zac Efron, star of High School Musical 3: Senior Year (man, that’s a long title).