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Last Updated: Jan 1, 2009 - 6:19:39 PM

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Quantum of Solace By Zak Edwards Nov 15, 2008 - 1:41:01 PM

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Starring: Daniel Craig, Mattieu Amalric, Olga Kurylenko, and Judi Dench.
Directed by Marc Forster
Producer: Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli
Action/ Adventure
Released: November 14, 2008 (N. America)
PG-13
MGM Studios

Quantum of Solace, the latest James Bond 007 movie starring the very dashing (and very blonde) Daniel Craig, is just as hard-hitting and action packed as “Casino Royale” from a couple of years ago.  In fact, this Bond film is more brutal and violent than its predecessor, with the protagonist being much more of  a tortured soul and taking this out on those around him.  This Bond movie is one combining much of what made the originals great while bringing in much of the elements which have become expectations to the modern American cinema audience, to a great success.  But, of course, if you hated the last one because it didn’t have a Q and Sean Connery and a male M then you’ll most certainly hate this one.  But for those willing to take the essence of those old films and allow it to be given new life, then this Bond film is amazing.
The plot (without giving too much away) follows Bond almost immediately after the last film, chasing down those he holds responsible for the female interest last time.  The girl won his heart and then betrayed him, so Bond goes on a rampage.  This really is the essence of this film, focusing much more on the super-spy’s inner turmoil than much of what is going on in his self-appointed mission.  Not to say the other aspects of the film are under produced, in fact they all are given an amazing level of detail compared to the screen time they may get.  Quantum of Solace demands your attention, though, if you get too caught up in the action, you may miss the important, quick dialogue filled with the plot.  The villains and their plots for world domination have become more feasible with each of the latest films, and Quantum does as well.  But the focus is on Bond, so what about him?  Daniel Craig plays the hardened, emotional wreck very well, without the character becoming too brooding to become annoying.  Although, I believe much of the reliance on this attitude not getting old is dependent on the audience’s familiarity with the character.  We know what he’s supposed to be like, a womanizing super-spy, so he can be a brooding mess because we know how he turns out.  But this Bond makes the other Bond’s much more sad characters in retrospect, hardened characters with so many defense mechanisms in place they are almost plastic in comparison.  But a Bond like this for a single film is fine, despite the toll he takes on Judi Dench’s M.  Dench’s role is emphasized more in this film, where M used to jut hand out the assignment, M now is a mentor and baby sitter of the younger, rasher James Bond, and Dench does not disappoint.  While the plot is rushed in concise in places to make way for the high amounts of action and Bond’s brutally efficient fights, it does not leave the audience wanting.
For the how of the film, director Mark Forster makes an action film.  This may sound like a non-statement, but the use of the camera is very standard, what is shot and how are typical of what you would expect.  My major complaint is Forster’s choice of how to shoot some of the action sequences, particularly the car chase scene in the very beginning.  Forster makes constant, rapid-fire cuts between different shots which all have some sort of shaky cam, the results being each second of film having about five shots of a camera moving around too much to understand what is going on to any degree.  You can tell there is a car chase, but not much else.  It’s disorientating.  But much of the sets, costumes, and even one of the victims, are what ties the movie to the others.  Bond is classically dressed, nothing too modern to place him in out times, and certain shots are completely there for nostalgia.  If Bond is taking a new direction, the crew were careful not to forget the old, which is a nice reminder everyone’s favourite British spy is in very capable hands.  And he is, bring on the next one, I say.
8/10    Action, layered characters, good spy story, Judi Dench being bad ass.  What else do you need?

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