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“Bond is Back!” [Quantum of Solace] |
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Friday, 21 November 2008 |
By Frederic Germay
 “Casino Royale” was the first Bond movie I ever watched, and I was blown away by the cinematic style and classy action. Since then I was inspired to go back and watch all the old Bond classics, and with the obvious exception of Sean Connery; I feel that Daniel Craig is one of the best Bonds ever. That being said, after experiencing the brilliance of “Casino Royale,” anyone would have high expectations for the newest Bond flick – “Quantum of Solace.”
The plot centers on an elite organization, which spans from environmental awareness groups to the British Secret Service. One of the services this secret association provides is aiding key foreign officials into gaining power in their respective countries by withholding valuable and essential domestic resources. One critical component of this plot I found irritating was that it was difficult to ascertain exactly what relevance certain plot devices had until quite later in the film.
One might argue that this particular film style reinforces sentimentality as an important aspect of this particular Bond legacy. However, I felt that it detracted from overall pace of the movie, in turn making it a fluid action-filled film with intermittent storylines that felt somewhat insignificant for the better half of the film. Until the plot is firmly established, the viewer is left primarily clueless to exactly this organization is about.
When the pieces start to fall together, then the audience is hastily trying to recall which elements of the film had particular relevance to the finished product. Unfortunately, during this mental process, I feel that the audience would pay less attention to what is currently playing on the screen – making the movie, as a whole, feel slightly incoherent.
Despite these faults, “Quantum” is a rollicking good action film, filled with more than enough intensity to satisfy even the most jaded of Bond-loyalists. “Quantum” doesn’t surpass its flawless predecessor, but it compliments “Casino Royale” brilliantly. The subplot during the film that deals with Bond’s issue of vengeance and rage following the events of “Royale” serve the film better than the main plot. In ways, the subplot perhaps even redeems the film’s haphazard storytelling technique with its mesmerizing conclusion.
The acting of Daniel Craig never fails to disappoint. He may lack the necessary look of the average Bond, but that element is later considered pointless when he utters his own name, “Bond…James Bond,” with perfect inflection. This is one of the better films this year, and I would highly recommend it to both avid Bond fans and newcomers alike. I give it a 9/10 |
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