Review of Quantum of Solace (2008) by Peter N — 10 Nov 2012

Expectations were as high as they have ever been after Casino Royale, and while this one doesn't match its predecessor, it's still an okay, if less than average, Bond film. It's also the first direct continuation of a previous 007 picture, which allows it to address the doors left open at the end of the last one.

However, the continuation factor also prevents it from feeling like a standalone film, requiring the audience to re-watch Casino Royale beforehand just to get a better sense of what is going on. Daniel Craig is once again stellar as James Bond, picking up right where he left off, and despite the fact that his relationship with Camille (Olga Kurylenko) is dull and sexless, she is still a welcome entry to the series.

The Quantum organization is mysterious and interesting, providing a touch of nostalgia to the SPECTRE organization featured in the Connery-Bond films. However, it's a pretty lame attempt at incorporating part of the title into the story.

Just call them SPECTRE and resurrect Blofeld (now THAT would be interesting.) The fighting and action sequences are well choreographed and serve as the highlights of the film, but the plot itself seems hastily put together and bland (I guess that can be partially blamed on the writers' strike).

Still, it wraps everything up quite nicely and finishes the story that Casino Royale set out to tell: how James became Bond.