Quantum of Solace (2008)
By Shane Rivers
James Bond returns in his 22nd big screen adventure, and I’m happy to report that Quantum of Solace does the venerable spy franchise proud. It’s a vast improvement over the previous entry, Casino Royale, and the emphasis is back where it belongs: on beautiful women and well-choreographed action scenes.
Quantum of Solace picks up just after the events of the last film, with Bond (Daniel Craig) still in hot pursuit of those responsible for the death of his lover, Vesper Lynd. He eventually comes into contact and matches wits with Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), a wealthy environmentalist who’s part of a mysterious group of powerbrokers known as Quantum. In the course of his adventures, Bond also meets Camille Montes (Olga Kurylenko), a dangerous Russian/Bolivian beauty seeking her own brand of vengeance. As you might expect from a Bond film, sparks and bullets fly in equal amounts.
Daniel Craig portrays Bond as a revenge-fueled grim reaper in this installment, and he does so without lengthy speeches or emotional outbursts. Instead, he allows his fists and guns to do the talking. That’s great news for anyone annoyed by the previous film’s overblown love story or games of Texas Hold’em.
Bond’s habit of killing potential witnesses is even treated as something of a twisted running joke throughout the film.
There’s loads of action for audiences to enjoy, and the film opens with a thrilling car chase down an Italian highway. While events careen out of control, director Marc Forster does an admirable job of keeping everything in focus and avoiding the modern pitfalls of shaky cameras and too many cuts. The chase remains frenetic without completely confusing viewers, and that’s always a plus.
And there’s plenty more where that came from. Quantum of Solace provides an occasional breather, but then it’s right back into the action. For example, the pursuit described earlier is almost immediately followed up by a bone-jarring foot chase across the rooftops of Siena, Italy. With impossible jumps and acrobatics, it’s very reminiscent of a similar scene from Casino Royale (which stole the show, in my opinion).
When the action begins to cool down, the romance heats up in traditional 007 style. I wasn’t very impressed with Eva Green as Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale, so I viewed Olga Kurylenko and Gemma Arterton as major improvements. They’re hardly asked to stretch the boundaries of acting, but both women do look fetching in (and out) of their clingy dresses: the true test of any Bond girl.
Judi Dench is present a little too much for my taste, but that’s not a knock on the talented British Dame. I’m just not sold on the character of M really adding much to the proceedings other than to give Bond his mission and send him on his way. Of course, I also miss the boys from Q Division, so I’ll freely admit that I’m having a little trouble letting go of the past.
The film falls short in the villain department, but it’s obvious that the modern franchise is trying to distance itself from classic over-the-top creeps such as Jaws and Odd Job. Still, I would like to have seen a villain a bit more interesting than Dominic Greene. After all, we all know the Bond villain is going to get his in the end; it’s just a matter of how much style he displays beforehand.
While Quantum of Solace doesn’t break new ground, it’s a lean, mean action film which will hold your attention from start to finish. If you’re new to the series, it serves as a fine introduction; if you’re a Bond veteran, it’s a must-see.
This Quantum of Solace movie review is copyright 2009 Small World Marketing and Shane Rivers. This Quantum of Solace review should not be reprinted without the permission of the copyright holders.
This movie review of Quantum of Solace expresses the opinion of the author only. Other Quantum of Solace movie reviews are available online, and some of those might or might not express different opinions on the movie. Like those other Quantum of Solace movie reivews, this Quantum of Solace review is intended for the entertainment and education of the reader. This Quantum of Solace movie review is provided as is with no warranty or guarantee implied.
