QUANTUM OF SOLACE REVIEW

James Bond is more than just a franchise of action films. It’s an institution, a kind of legacy. And every fan expects a certain level of quality. Oh, sure, everyone has their favorite Bond era. Most consider Sean Connery the best ever. I agree. Some like the Pierce Brosnan, some enjoy the kinda goofy fun of the Roger Moore era. You even get the occasional Timothy Dalton fan, but not many. And of course, only a select few even know of George Lazenby’s single appearance as Bond. But for my money, after Connery, Daniel Craig is a very close second. This guy is tough, ruggedly good looking like Connery, and doesn’t mind being a complete bastard. This Bond gets the job done, and he’ll get his hands dirty to do it.

This time out we see James seeking revenge for the death of his babe from the last film and also sets out to stop an environmentalist from taking control of a country’s water supply. Those pesky environmentalists. Gotta watch them.

“Quantum of Solace” is indeed everything you expect of a Bond film. It’s full of action, foreign bad guys, and hot Bond girls. The tone is much like the previous “Casino Royale”, more serious, more realistic, and gritty. For me, this is the best thing to happen to the Bond series. None of the wacky gadjets, no “Q”; this is serious stuff. Not to say there isn’t the occasional bit of humor, because it’s there, in just the right amounts and time. And surprise, surprise, it’s quite dry. Who’d have guessed coming from the Brits? (Yes, that’s sarcasm.)

Much of the action in this film is far and away amongst the most complex and kinetic I’ve ever seen. I can’t imagine how much work it must have been to choreograph these sequences. They are breath-taking and utterly amazing. The only think I might say is that sometimes the camera work is a little too tight and is a little hard to see. But it’s a small thing and I wouldn’t stress it too much.

This films Bond girl is Olga Kurylenko and she is everything a Bond girl should be: ridiculously gorgeous, able to handle herself when things get tough, and like, freakishly sexy. You’d pretty much kill a man if she asked you to. Oh, please, don’t give me that look. Hell, you’d kill your family if she asked you to. Oh, ok, fine. But just wait ‘til you see her. Your homo-phobic wife would leave you for her in a heartbeat, believe me. And that’s what I want in a Bond girl. I want to question my moral and ethical values for her.

This is a great Bond film, no question, probably one of the best so far. There’s so much great action, cool spy stuff, and even some emotional content that never gets too heavy or preachy. And we get to learn a little more about James Bond, too. And in particular, look for a really cool scene that pays some serious homage to “Goldfinger”. It’s really cool.

This is a no-brainer. It’s a great film, with a great cast and easily stands as one of the best Bond films. It certainly does the series justice. Daniel Craig is fantastic. I hope he stays with the character for some time to come.

—Neil T. Weakley, your shaken, not stirred, movie goer.