A different Bond better than Casino Royale

Rating: 8/10 (19 November 2008)

Quantum of Solace/2008/***1/2
Main Stars: James Bond: Daniel Craig Camille: Olga Kurylenko Dominic Greene: Mathieu Amalric M: Judi Dench
There are many reasons why I like certain genres of films. It is safe to say that James Bond has created its own genre. Yeah, it's an action-thriller movie most of the time. But there are also plenty of gadgets and cars and bombs and stuff, so it could be considered a machinery, techno film. Regardless, this film fits the James Bond genre. What did NOT was 2006's Casino Royale. It had the agent and the car and the gun, but where were the incognito parties/meetings? The gadgets? The cleverly named villain? Nowhere.
Quantum of Solace delivers on countless occasions and succeeds greatly in the long run. It's fast and furious (literally), smart and engaging. With the slight motifs of the James Bond theme in the background, everything is present. Yeah, there is no Q or MoneyPenny but there are gadgets and women that are flattered by Bond's charm.
Daniel Craig does very well as James Bond, second best Bond following Sean Connery. Now, he's faced with a man named Dominic Greene and ones that work for him and/or with him. And yes, the film does have the question, "Who do you work for?" in it. What is Greene planning? It's simple: to take control of a country's water supply. Why? Who cares? But the film does get released during the right time. He's an evil environmentalist, which meets right up to today's standards.
The film was directed by Marc Forster, whom I find to be quite a visionary. I think he did put his own twists on some scenes but he's not known for action movies at all. He's known for creative talking films. But if this is his first ever action film, he did one hell of a job! There's plenty of action here and plenty of vision, so it was a smart decision to choose him (unless he chose himself for the job). Two of his past films are Stranger than Fiction and Finding Neverland, two films which I liked very much. There was no action in these movies, but there was plenty of vision.
This film has both plus a few extra. And doesn't that make the movie all the more enjoyable? Bond films should have everything. A little dialogue, action, comedy, romance, etc. Even if it's corny dialogue or comedy (like the originals) it's still better than just one aspect.
This film was highly entertaining but I don't know if I should have my hopes up for the next Bond unless maybe I see Forster as the director, who's proved himself to be an excellent action director and visionary.
Movie directed by Marc Forster.