Quantum Solace review

"Quantum of Solace" is the newest entry in the famed James Bond film series. However unlike many of the films in the Bond canon, this is one of the rare occasions that it is a direct sequel to the previous movie. "Quantum" directly follows the events of the last Bond film "Casino Royale." For those who missed the last film, "Casino Royale" was a reboot of the James Bond franchise, placing the story early in Bond's career as a "double-O" agent for Britain's answer to the US's CIA, MI6. In that film, Bond's lover Vesper (Eva Green) was killed. In this film, Bond is out to find out what why she died and who was responsible for it.

This film starts out with a bang with a car chase where some men in lavish cars fire machine guns at Bond as he races along cobblestone roads in Italy. This ends with Bond's Aston Martin gashed and smashed with a door missing and leads into the famous Bond music intro with flashy graphics.

If there is anything that is great about all Bond films it's the opening credits sequence. The graphics are always cool and flashy, but the music is usually subpar.

The remainder of the film deals with Bond and MI6 trying to figure out information about certain members of an organization of a secretive nature. This organization is tied to the death of Vesper, and also has their fingers in the pies of every country in the world. The CIA's involvement and a revisit of Felix from the last film ups the stakes from "Casino Royale's" last encounter with Bond's US counterpart. Now, the CIA is after Bond, and MI6 is having issues with his rogue nature, causing difficulties with Bond and M, who is once again played by the wonderful Judi Dench.

The casting for the film was above par. Daniel Craig reprised his role from "Casino Royale," as Agent 007 James Bond. Craig has been praised as a grittier, tougher Bond in the last film, and he delivers yet again. The viewer sees Bond struggling to keep the cold killer attitude, while underneath there are hints of his lust for revenge, all in Craig's facial tics and gestures. One can see many allusions to the "Bourne" franchise in fighting styles displayed by Craig.

This film's Bond girl is Camille, a Bolivian agent played by Olga Kurylenko. She may not be the most beautiful Bond girl compared to the others, but she is quite attractive. And, unlike most Bond girls, she can fight, and has a reason to actually be there.

Most Bond movies have the classic "I am a spy, you're a spy, and were on the same mission," however in this one they explain that she is out for revenge as well, but not for the main villain, but for a general who the villain is dealing with.

This film is not without its flaws. The car chase scene mentioned earlier is very jumpy and hard to follow; the editing is all over the place.

However, the real problem is with the villain, Dominic Greene, played by Mathieu Amalric. He is just not all that menacing. He comes off as the snide, evil business man. Which is realistic, and fits with the series, however, Greene is just not that scary as a villain, and he is not that exciting. He just seems blasé. If they gave a little more back-story on him, or made him a little more sinister he would be one of the more memorable Bond villains. Unfortunately, he is just a standard bad guy in a slew of others.

"Quantum of Solace" is definitely one of the better Bond movies. It's exciting and fun, a great popcorn movie. It brings the series into a better level of a spy movie.

However, it is just a little lacking compared to its predecessor "Casino Royale." The action is much tighter, except in the car chase scenes, and the story is above standards. With Craig signed on for another Bond film, which may carry this story over into a trilogy, let's hope the next film will iron out the bumps. Great Bond film, but see "Casino Royale" first.