Bring back Martin Campbell and let's have some real direction around here

Rating: 6/10 (9 November 2008)

Quantum of Solace  from another point of view
Two sexy spies (one named Strawberry Fields) a brush with the Bolivian secret service, a fighter jet spinning out of control, two memorable car chases and a body count climbing with every scene. Pistols, fist fights, explosions, a white shirt that seems to never get stained, jet-setting from London to Haiti to Bolivia and to top it all off, a villain named Dominic Greene with lank hair, a manic expression and a sadistic streak who is determined to take over the world. What could be more Bond than that?
This film takes up where the brilliant Casino Royale left off, with James (Daniel Craig) vowing revenge against the men who caused him to lose the only woman he ever loved, and the woman who eventually betrayed him, Vesper (the beautiful Eva Green). He discovers that the men who blackmailed Vesper into deceiving him, control an organisation (Quantum) more complex than the CIA or MI5 had ever imagined. Thus, he sets out on a confusing mission to uncover the truth behind Quantum and prevent Dominic Greene who heads this criminal group, from exploiting the world's natural resources. Absurdly, there is also a flimsy sub-plot, which Bond gets caught up in, involving a General Medrano and a attractive young spy for Bolivia (Camille) who is on her own personal assassination mission. Both are tied up somehow, in relations with the treacherous business of Quantum.
So why was I so very disappointed with Quantum of Solace?
It had all the elements of a 'true Bond' but the pieces were put together without any feeling or wit. It was clumsily arranged and too focused on the shaky camera action during the fight scenes to get back any of the fun and exhilaration that Casino Royale had left us with. We were expecting a tantalising new type of Bond, hot, sexy and ready to go. This brings us back to the old Bond who was failing to raise an audience and ready to be shelved. I wanted to be on the edge of my seat, but instead I was half-asleep. It was mediocre and left me longing to be watching its predecessor.
The storyline is poorly thought out and its translation onto screen is even worse. There is little or no dialogue worth remembering in this film and Daniel Craig's acting talents seemed to be limited to a few grimaces and numerous encounters with M. The Bond girls are limited in their roles and far too clichéd. It feels rushed, over-produced and too concerned with its own flashy exterior to worry about the story it is trying to tell. This should have been the film of the year, and it could have been! Quantum of Solace, all style and unfortunately, little substance Bring back Martin Campbell and let's have some proper Bond direction.