No 00 in this Bond !!!

Rating: 5/10 (19 November 2008)

After Casino Royale i think most expectations were high for QOS and mine were no exception. After a more comic book style of Bond with Die Another Day i felt the producers brought Bond back to life in Casino and created one of the most highly regarded and memorable Bond movies in the entire series. With some trepidation i read some reviews before i saw QOS and prepared myself for the worst. This was never going to be as good as Casino but even going in with my eyes wide open i did not expect the mess that was QOS. Without a doubt i agree with any reviewer that has made comment on the direction. Plain and simply...it sucked. To a great degree even the worst Bond films have a Bond stamp on it including majestic locations, rich scenery, dry wit, extended action sequences and direction that is tight but leaves at least one lasting imprint. This film had none of these elements and all due to the direction. sure we had lots of locations but none had any elements of awe besides a few shots here and there of the Mediterranean coastline. Most shots were dull and lifeless. There was no outstanding dialogue leading to no suspense or tension. All action sequence were poorly directed and missed the entire key to Bonds success. Epic action sequences that for the most part don't use tricks of the camera or CGI. All the action scenes ARE poorly edited and as others have commented just to damn reliant on quick cuts to build a frantic pace. I have seen all Bourne films which many compare to the style of action in this film and can say that they are directed way better than this film. I would gladly have put up with a Bourne style movie but this was even worse. simple put the director killed the action sequences in a Bond film by giving no epic stunts and actually SHOWING the scene. He is far to reliant on ultra quick edits that confuse and remove any awe from the scene. The same is with the pace of scenes and story as well. We have what i think is a great story but it is ruined by the poorly directed scenes and moves along too fast to build any tension or mystery. My main criticism of the film and sheer disappointment came soley from the direction. I could nit pick and say the opening sequence was the worst bond opening ever but at the end of the day i can get over all that if the film had been directed well.
What i did like about the film and gave it 5 stars for is that it is still a Bond film. The story was a great continuation of the story arc left from Casino. Daniel Craig is in my books is by far one of the best as Bond. The on-going story arc of Bond, Mathis and the CIA Agent from Casino had a nice emotional reasonace for me in the film. And something opposing common opinion, i thought the villain was decent.
I believe this film would have been greater if not for the direction. What we have left here is a poor Bond film when we were all expecting after Casino a great one. Regardless of the fact it is Bond i feel that at best this a average movie that without its pulling power of title and actors would be quickly forgotten.
Casino was great, QOS was average to mediocre. My suggestion for the third is simply....never , never and i mean NEVER hire this director again.