Battle of the Bonds!

Bond films are generally quite formulaic, which isn't necessarily to their detriment. Sometimes however, the formula can work against the said film. This is the first in a proposed series of weekly polls gauging where the series seriously stepped up from the previous film. In this case:

Casino Royale's Madagascar Foot Chase vs Quantum of Solace's Rooftop Chase.

After the success of Casino Royale, and particularly the parkour chase, the producers set about replicating the exceptional stunt work achieved in the 2006 film. The result: another footchase on the iconic rooftops of Siena. Which is more successful? Did Quantum of Solace build on, and better the sequence that came before? Does it prove that the producers were correct in trying to replicate the success of the previous film?

Vote and comment below!

Madagascar. It was original (for a Bond film anyway) and quite thrilling.

The Siena chase paled in comparison and that bit where Bond and Wilfred (can't remember his name, so I'll say Wilfred) were swinging around on the beams trying to reach their guns felt like something out of a Jackie Chan comedy.

These certainly aren't a highlight for me. They both feel incredibly contrived. Sure there is some great stuntwork in CR, but it doesn't quite feel like Bond. Mollaka could have killed Bond a number of times, and doesn't.

The CGI ruins the end of Siena chase for me, but I really love Siena as a backdrop, and the integration of the Palio and the rooftops into the sequence. I actually don't mind the old lady dropping the basket in the stairwell. Positively Mooresque.

I think the Siena chase is slightly more palatable.

Problem is, in my opinion, Siena came after Madagascar and therefore just felt like a rehash of Parkour-Bond.

But less offensive, no?

I thought Madagascar was OTT but fun. I found Siena bland, hampered by that famous QOS Identity editing, and made worse by the goofy rope sequence.

I agree with CJB, but I feel that Siena has the better score.

Walecs wrote:

I agree with CJB, but I feel that Siena has the better score.

Hmm... Don't know about that. I'm not the biggest fan of CR's score, but I like the incorporation of YKMN in the Madagascar chase... I would have liked a more Italian flavour in the Siena sequence. The 'No Good About Goodbye' motif is nice though.

The Madagascar chase is overblown, overlong and imo too mindlessly stupid for words, the Sienna foot chase is perhaps the most ineptly handled action set piece in QoS...but it is shorter and has a better climax so I prefer it.

I also pick the Siena chase. While the editing is awful and some of the CGI is a bit obvious I overall felt more engaged by the Siena chase than the Madagascar chase which kind of felt unintentionally silly rather than thrilling.

Heh... Interesting to see the Siena sequence in the lead. Wasn't expecting that at all.