Shaken, but not stirred.

Rating: 7/10 (24 April 2009)

The latest 007 adventure stars Daniel Craig in his second appearance as the secret agent. But the question is: is it worth watching?
After the events of Casino Royale, James Bond seeks revenge for the a loved one's death by tracking down the mysterious organization, QUANTUM. He finds ally Camille (Olga Kurylenko) and enemy Dominic Greene (Mathieu Almaric).
Daniel Craig once again proves himself worthy of the role, but lacks the style and effort that past actors Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and Pierce Brosnan. He plays more of a dark character driven by revenge, and puts on a realistic and human Bond, one that Ian Fleming might have enjoyed. His dark 007 reminds us of Timothy Dalton at times.
Olga Kurylenko is an acceptable "Bond girl". Eva Green is a tough act to follow, but Olga proves she's worthy, too. She fights baddies, loves James, and is good-looking. However, she, like other girls such as Denise Richards and Lois Chiles, fails to put in the aspects of a leading lady and definitely does not surpass leading ladies Barbara Bach, Eva Green, and Diana Rigg (who can?).
Mathieu Almaric is satisfactory as a sinister mastermind bent on destroying the world's water supply. He may be more of a coward than an enemy ready to fight, but you should see the way he handles an axe in his fight with Bond!
The musician David Arnold returns with a great musical score that will give you chills and thrills. Still, none can surpass Casino Royale's great music.
Jack White and Alicia Keys sing the new theme song, "Another Way to Die", the first duet in a Bond movie. Many fans think this is the worst Bond song in the history of the franchise. I disagree. Some parts sound like the duo became lazy and created random tunes, but many parts are catchy and stay in your head, especially the themes on the piano.
The action sequences are very well done. But there is almost too much action! A car chase, foot chase in Siena, Italy, boat chase, plane chase, and a battle in an enflamed hotel room provide many thrills, but it really focuses on these scenes, not the story.
The movie is also very dark. None of the classic lines "Bond. James Bond." or "Shaken, not stirred." are heard. Gone are all the funny one-liners Connery and Moore possessed. In its place is a serious revenge story. Marc Forster nearly sucks all the fun out of 007!
Overall, Quantum of Solace is a worthy Bond film. Though the story lacks many things, it will give you thrilling feelings. However, I prefer Casino Royale. If you're looking for a real James Bond movie with everything 007 must be, I recommend:
1.) Goldfinger 2.) From Russia With Love 3.) On Her Majestys' Secret Service 4.) Casino Royale 5.) The Spy Who Loved Me 6.) Dr. No 7.)GoldenEye 8.) Thunderball
The next four may be a little serious, but are worth the ride.
9.) Licence to Kill 10.) The Living Daylights 11.) For Your Eyes Only 12.) Octopussy
Anyway, you can take your chances with Quantum of Solace.
6/10