Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-check it out:

• The soundtrack in this movie is way above par. 
• There is a real actual plot in this supposed teen movie.
• Apparently, many real life porn stars have cameos. Not that I would know.

The more you know:

• Bond once again here drinks a Vesper, though it is called out by ingredients, and not by name. I guess he's still pissed at her. 
• If Quantum really is the name of thebig secret conspiracy organization, should they really be wearing those "Q" pins so fraglantly out in public?
• What the hell are those fuel cells made out of, nitroglycerine and bubble gum?
• Check out the tasty typeface treatments introducing each of the exotic locations Bond visits.
• The title sequence wasexecuted by the design house MK12 (I think they did all the infographics in the movie as well, but having trouble finding confirmation): http://www.mk12.com/
• Oil is the new gold. That's all I'm going to say.
• "We are teachers on sabbatical."
• Also, watch for Agent Fields' first name in the credits.

Question for my viewers: does the opera Tosca have anything to do with the plot of Quantum of Solace? Any parallels, etc.?

Casino Royale (1967)

• One possible explanation for the disjointed nature of the movie is that Peter Sellers walked off the movie before he had finished all of his scenes. Of course, there is that whole "five directors" thing.
• David Niven was Ian Fleming's original choice for James Bond.

Casino Royale (2006)

• For the first time, the gun barrel opening sequence has been integrated into the narrative of the film. Being as such, it is inderted in the heat of the action, and without the usual slow walk by Bond in a tuxedo. 
• The title sequence does not feature any women, aside from the face of Vesper Lynd briefly revealed as the face of the queen of hearts on a passing card.
• The drink that Bond invents at the poker tables, the Vesper, comes directly from the Ian Fleming books, as opposed to that "vodka martini, shaken not stirred" nonsense.
• The recipe for the Vesper: "Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel." Serve "in a deep champagne goblet."
• For a modern update of the Vesper recipe, check out this Esquire article: http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ1106DRINKS_84

Check out:

• Madonna's awful cameo as a fencing instructor.
• Halle Berry became the first Bond girl who was also an Academy Award winner at the time of the movie's release.
• Fords, Fords, Fords, Fords and Fords. Oh, and Aston Martins, Jaguars, Land Rovers, and Volvos; all of which are owned by Ford.
• The book that Bond picks up in Cuba is "A Field Guide to Birds of the West Indies," written by James Bond. This is the book whence Ian Fleming originally got the name for 007.

Check out:

• This film mark's Desmond Llewelyn's final appearance as Q, a role he held since Bond #2, From Russia With Love.
• Q's last lines are "I've always tried to teach you two things: Never let them see you bleed… and always have an escape plan."
• The BMW's horrible user interface for the rocket launcher. All those unmarked buttons!

Factoid-a-mundos:

• Admiral Roebuck is Geoffrey Palmer, Judy Dench (M)'s co-star on the British citcom As Time Goes By.
• Starting with the previous film, Damiel Kleinman has taken over the title sequence duties from Maurice Binder.
• Keep an eye out for the moment where Carver mock's Wai Lin with his ridiculous parody of Kung Fu. Heh. I'm just amused by Jonathan Pryce acting goofy.

It's time for more trivia to bore your barmates with:

• The building we see that stands in for MI6, is in fact… MI6. http://www.sis.gov.uk/output/sis-home-welcome.html
• In this film, M is a lady!
• The gal in the back of a minor Russian baddie's bar, singing Stand By Your Man off-key with a bad Slavic accent? Minnie Driver.
• We learn that James Bond was recruited as an orphan, as his parents died in a climbing accident.
• Eric Serra, who also composed the score for The Fifth Element, updates the Bond score here for the 90s. But not necessarily in a good way.

Yes, it's a British movie, and the title is spelled "Licence". So what if they changed it for the American release? That Doesn't make Lola Rennt's original title Run Lola Run.

Fun facts:

• The film can't decide what sort of tone it wants to take.Even the pre-title sequence flip-flops between lighthearted and almost jokey, and a dark, brutal murder/torture scene.
• Even though Felix Leiter's just-married bride was killed at the beginning of the film, by the end, he's recovering in hospital and seems happy as a clam!
• Wayne Newton plays a televangelist for a bogus meditation institute. The Book that he offers to give away for a donation of $100 is entitled Secrets of Cone Power Revealed."
• That minor bad guy? Yep. Benicio del Toro.