Review of Quantum of Solace (2008) by Kevin G — 13 May 2013

If this is a Bourne movie, it's the best damn Bourne movie there is. The Bond history has shown the series taking on other trends (Moonraker, Octopussy, Die Another Day) and this is just another example.

However, if this Bourne movie comparison thing leads to discussion on Quantum being nothing but high-octane energy and no classic Bondisms, that's just bein elitist. And trust me, I know a couple things about elitism.

Quantum of Solace needs to be watched under the pretense that it just the extended coda for Casino Royale, a movie about who James Bond was before he became the James Bond we all know and love. And just because it's Craig's second movie it doesn't mean that he must automatically settle into the standard Bond formula.

Connery took till Goldfinger to have an absolute hold on the character, and he's universally revered. Moore got to some bastardized version of Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me that I no longer enjoy that much.

Brosnan started off smooth, but he soon bordered on bored. Coming off that tangent, looking at Bond as a man hell bent on destroying everything and everyone in sight, he seems in no mood for more than pert quips.

The scene in the opera is stuff of movie-making magic, it gave me goosebumps in the theatre, and still does. The action in high-octane, and rarely lets up. I love the interaction between Bond and M; Judi Dench once again (as always?) is fantastic.

A more coherent plot would've been nice, but they made up for it in adrenaline. I feel Daniel Craig found the very chore of the character written in the script, and if he wasn't really James Bond in your eyes, just remember, he still has one more movie to find who his Bond is going to be, and if he's going to be a Bond you can love.