Quantum of Solace

Daniel Craig is back as James Bond and he’s still blonder, badder and buffer than any previous Bond. And, he’s going to introduce us to some hot babes. All is right with the world.

From the get go, we find out Quantum of Solace is all about revenge as we pick up where Casino Royale left off (don’t worry if you didn’t see the first, you get a quick update at the beginning and enough info throughout to get the connection). Bond is speeding away with Mr. White (Jesper Christensen) with the intention of interrogating him and finding out the truth behind Vesper’s death. However, Bond soon realizes that not all is at it seems, no one can be trusted, and a deeper plot is afoot.

A mysterious businessman and environmentalist, Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), has been purchasing large parcels of land all across South America, and many powerful forces want to embrace his efforts. However, Bond, with the help of a woman, Camille (Olga Kurylenko), who is using Greene to help her get revenge on a man who wronged her years ago, starts to realize the philanthropist’s intentions are not as pure and good as he would want the world to believe.

What is Greene’s plan?

Will Bond be able to uncover it before the CIA, the British government and M (Judi Dench) try to stop him?

Director Marc Forster had a decision to make. He could craft Quantum of Solace into a thoughtful rumination on revenge and what it does to the soul or he could blow stuff up. Guess what he does? BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE!

Quantum of Solace is all about revenge, action and bringing some fun and comedy back to the James Bond franchise. The plot? It’s those minor details that happen in between explosions.

It’s almost like Forster comes to the conclusion that the story isn’t very important and starts to focus on the flair and visual appeal of Quantum of Solace. We don't have the old fashioned unveiling of gadgets like in the past, but we do get to see huge, interactive computer displays at headquarters, gritty, but fascinating foreign locales, and Bond barely escaping death at every turn. Much like the last movie, Forster continues to modernize Bond as a guy who gets bloodied, gets beaten and shows the bruises after every encounter with the baddies, but still has what it takes to fight for good to triumph over evil, and meet up with some hot chicks along the way.

Meanwhile, writers Paul Haggis, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade try to provide a story with intrigue and twists and turns to make you question who is telling the truth, but the story never is central to Quantum of Solace. However, they throw in some hilarious lines, especially as M is exasperated over her young operative’s methods, and Forster does a great job showing us some fun action that makes you giggle at the ingenuity.

Craig doesn’t get any great acting challenges, but still proves to be the second best Bond in the franchise.

Quantum of Solace is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and some sexual content.