Review of Quantum of Solace (2008) by Hugh R — 07 Mar 2015

Quite frankly this movie was a dismal follow-up to Casino Royale. I loved the story driven Royale but Quantum was two hours of shiny objects and pointless characters. The bond girls looked and acted like teenage girls trying to be tough guys. What on earth was the point of the redhead who "was an office worker" being sent to bring Bond in? He's a "Double O" and they send the gopher from the secretary pool to pick him up in a kinky Eskimo-hooker-boot and raincoat outfit? Good move. I guess if we followed that logic in real life we'd send girl scouts after Bin-Laden. Throw the cookies at him girls! Get him! Get him! I do have to admit, however, that Craig and Dench really work well together and their scenes together are spectacular. Aside from that this movie really didn't even seem to try. Maybe because people complained about the long run time for Royale they chopped this one up into tiny bite-sized action shots and shortened it by cutting out all the quieter moments that give us time to breathe and reflect on why that last action scene was necessary while giving us a scene with actual acting and dialogue. Keep the longer run time and give us more intrigue and less explosions. And a less annoying opening montage would be better too.

I have read reviews where some have said that the theme song for Quantum was wonderful because of the two vocalists involved. I hope you realize how flimsy that is. Even Beethoven did some second rate work. I thought that the entire opening sequence from song to visuals was a sad throwback to what made some (just some, not all)of the old bond films laughable in the first place. What is the point of a reboot for a series if you are going to repeat the mistakes of the past? I loved the visuals and music for Royale as they took the old theme and blended it together with some very interesting ideas. Quantum's opener features naked women gadding about to music that seems to have been created by recording two cats being smacked together.

As a closing note I would like to say that this movie, despite comparisons to the contrary, did not remind me of the Bourne films in the slightest. At least those movies kept a thread of dignity and actual plot mixed in with the hectic "Shakey-Cam" action sequences and car chases. What I wouldn't give for a genuine spy film these days.