Quantum of Solace (2008)

Director: Marc Foster
Starring: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Olga Kurylenko

Bond is out for revenge, even if he is in denial about it.

Fast paced, one cold hearted attack after another, this is less about storyline, and more about Bond getting some of that angst out to maximum effect. Plus, someone tried to shoot 'M', how dare they! This all leads Bond to discover an international baddie organisation more convoluted than the Russians during the Cold War. They have their sticky fingers in everything without any of the goodies knowing about it, mainly because, they seem to be the goodies! Confused? Don't worry, Bond sorts it all out.

The storyline does get a little bit swamped by the thrills and chills, I admit, but I have that fantastic information retention, so I didn't mind. The director was an interesting choice for an movie that is so action focused. Marc Forster's previous movies include Finding Neverland (2004) and The Kite Runner (2007). Not your average action movie director choice. But his direction is more than competent, and it includes some beautiful scenes that really highlight contrasts in the landscape.

Daniel Craig was definitely a cold heartless bastard out for revenge, and played it beautifully. His emotional story ark was fantastic. The movie script wasn't absorbed by it, but was blended in perfectly with the chasing of the bad guys across the world. Olga may be beautiful, but she ain't a bond girl. Something was missing. She just didn't quite fit into the movie. Judi Dench was fantastic, as always. Gemma Arterton was not used well, but her small part was good. Someone had to be the real bond girl.

I loved the modern twist to the storyline. Bad guys using Humanitarian organisations to get the world's good intentions to work against themselves, and how governments seem to do really bad things with the best intentions in times of financial instability. Considering the UN just decorated one of their ceilings with money from a relief fund in Spain, it seems the idea does have a grain of truth in it.

The continuity from the last movie was good, though it seems I am one of few that seemed to be able to follow it. Maybe I am better at information retention, but I did not see Casino Royal just before I watched Quantum of Solace, and I was able to follow the storyline fine. Some of the continuity wasn't needed, for example, bringing the same CIA agent back. Actually, why bring the Americans into it at all again? This is Bond.

Credibility was also a question that I heard rise after people saw the movie. I ask you this. If you want to watch something credible, what are you buying tickets to a Bond movie for? Thrills and chills and unbelievable moments are what you are going to get. Deal with it.

Fun fun fun. Do not expect high quality cinema, but high quality bangs and smashes.