The sequel to a better film

Rating: 7/10 (3 August 2015)

The reboot of the Bond series with Casino Royale was a success. Casino Royale was an excellent film bringing James Bond back to tough, realistic films in which he doesn't rely on unbelievable gadgets.
Quantum of Solace follows from the events of Casino Royale, making it a sequel. So, as with most sequels, it falls far below par.
There is nothing specific within the film I can pinpoint that doesn't work. The casting is appropriate, the action sequences are competent, the organisation of Quantum is well created and there are several decent scenes. Yet still, the film just does not work as a whole.
There is nothing wrong with the construction of the action sequences, but they are just dull, not gripping in the slightest. Quantum is introduced well, and the concept is promising, but in the end it's revealed all they are doing is threatening to withhold water from the greater part of a country thousands of miles from London. A serious affair for the inhabitants, admittedly, but hardly a fitting mission for the UK's top secret agent. (Admittedly the main storyline for Bond is dealing with Vesper's death, but they still could have made Quantum's operation something more relevant to MI6.)
Quantum, James Bond going rogue and finally sacrificing personal vengeance through self-control, a deposed dictator trying to retake his country - these are all promising themes, but none of the promise is realised. Personally, I did not find it bad as such, only tedious. The film is just two or three brilliant scenes stitched together with unnecessary, boring action sequences: like all sequels, it isn't as good as the original.