Quantum of Solace is a grower.

Its opened with mixed reviews and I cant understand why – its very very good.

Its a very tight little thriller with some very dark undertones. Torture and interrogation are the order of the day, there are som e very grisly death and the theme of vengeance runs through it like a steel coil.  If you are expecting the flippant glib Bond of yesteryear with its volcanic sets, white persian cat and Bond girls with silly names then dont bother – rent Moonraker or Die Another Day instead.  This is adult Bond. This is the Bond of the 21st Century where everyone is jittery and distrustful of each other.

It does help to see Casino Royale first but if not like Godfather II you can still pick up the pieces. They seem to have found their menace as well. Since SPECTRE disappered in the early seventies they’ve been flailing around for another non-political nemesis for the free world – they’ve experimented with rogue Russian generals, mad capitalists and drug barons but Bond always at his best against a shadowy enemy.With the Quantum organisation they can have a setr of villains for years to come. One of my favourite parts of the film was the organisation holding a meeting via earpieces with them all hiding in the audience of an opera house. The subsequent ediiting of the murder being committed and the death on stage was very dramatic.

Ah, the editing – that bane of recent 007 directors. There is no doubt that Marc Fosters cuts are very fast, at one point I thought I was going boss eyed – but he still has a feel for stunning action. The foothchase through the streets of Siena while the Palio goes on overhead is amazing and the plane attack is in the great tradition of him defeating his enemy through trickery not just force.  The editing is very fast in places but it does not hinder the exposition. Despite what the critics have said there is humour in this Bond but it is of the subtle type rather then Roger Moore innuendo.

The script and cast are good with Daniel Craig literally stealing every scene he is in. The man has the charis a of a John Wayne or a Steve McQueen. The camera just loves him.  His acting particularly the “Vesper pain” . Olga Krulyenko is very likeable in the role of Camille. Shes abit like Melina Havelock for the 21st century but instead of her families killers being the main villain it is a secondary odious Bolivian Colonel. The two revenge strands do run paralell together and Camille, while being very capable and “Bonds equal” didnt come across as smug and overcompetitive like alot of the Brosnan girls did.
Judi Dench and Giancarlo Giannini are the other two scenestealers. Dench does gravitas in her sleep adn I loved the scene where she is givig orders to MI6 while running a bath. Giancarlo Giannini is absolutely charming as Rene Mathis and is easily one of the highlights. Dominic Greene isnt a very scary villain but like Le Chiffre, Kristatos or Largo – he is a minion of the big bosses, a small cog in a big machine.But he has a wonderful death.

A word must be said for the cinematography and look of the film. I love South America and have been there two times and I adored the feel of the Latin world – the native women, the shabby hotels, the endless desert. The desert is a theme in this one – its where Bond and Camille are at – its exemplifies their pain and detatchment from the world.

So, all in all – a little diamond. Certainly better then anything produced in the Brosnan era. The producers have come up with an excellent little thriller. One which will be appreciated for years to come.

Bond has moved out of the cliche, he’s grown up and taken a new direction. And for this fan he succeeds admirably.

Recommended: Yes

Movie Mood: Action Movie
Viewing Method: Sneak Preview at My Local Theater
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Duration