So much undercover that even "he" seems unrecognisable.

Rating: 5/10 (4 November 2008)

German born Marc Forster (The Kite Runner, 2007) has the deft task of giving our most prestigious secret agent his next assignment. He has assembled a workforce that has worked hard to achieve a wonderful and exiting visual that is Quantum of Solace; fast edits; close-up action from start to finish, all quick, all skilfully put together this constitutes competent film-making indeed.
We expect the usual, that is the new modern Bond, high octane spy adventure thriller here and we have it, with the story coming from Ian Flemings short story, in title only, this, it seems really is the end of the line of the Fleming family-tree. Sadly, this shows too, as the film progresses, we see what can also seem just an average-come-lately action film. You see, Bond is individual, Bond is maverick, Bond is trademarked. Quantum of Solace stands out on its own, or does it? When we have a new Bond, we should at least have old style, old witticism, old charms and more importantly old signature tunes.
There are moments that we have to remind ourselves that we are watching a James Bond film. The new has pushed out, and advanced along the way, the old, we often see that at the sacrifice of old tunes, pleasant reminders and musical signature motto's, that at times, even the James Bond franchise seems to be so much undercover that even "he" seems unrecognisable.
What is particularly interesting is the connection between Bond and his superior, M, now the ultimate Bond girl. Given his ruthlessness and her pleasant sternness set against each other and the mixture of their works' combined makes a good team and with this comes humour and a job well done. The bad-guys are the same old bad guys and the Bond girls are just as gorgeous as ever.
Unfortunately, as the pace quickens the narrative slows and falls a little flat, not the most exciting plot. Madmen wanting world domination it isn't, but for what it is, in their own unique way, even Harry Palmer, Alec Leamas, Austin Powers and dare I say it Jason Bourne could have pulled this one off. So much is the unfamiliarity and development of this new creation, we could be watching anyone here.
"Bond. James Bond". Did he say that in the film too? Another missing link perhaps? Are the new creators' wanting to distance the old and bury the hatchet? The time has finally arrived that a Bond film has not been written by its creator. It is all too painfully obvious that this Bond just may be batting for the other side by not showing his true colours and thus blending in with his counter-parts. But hey, even with Bond heading in this new uncharted territory it brings little solace in thinking that bygones be best forgot.