Quantum of Solace is the perfect title

Rating: 8/10 (14 November 2008)

Let me start off by saying that this film has received a bad rap from the get go. Let's go over the negatives very quickly. Yes, the opening song is God awful. It sounds like two artists that have zero chemistry with each other got together, in a rush, and slapped a song down on a track recorded in the Broccoli family garage. No, Bond does not say his name once in the movie (See title of opening song to Casino Royal for a good enough reason why) and heaven forbid an audience be treated with enough respect to their intelligence to allow that these villains know Bonds name already due to the technology at their disposal. I mean one of the damn coffee tables in this movie lights up and becomes a giant I-phone anyway. There is no sex scene (that the audience can see) nor is there the traditional foreplay and Roger Moore-ish antics of the 80"s (If I'm not mistaken that's one of the reasons the Bond franchise was in trouble in the first place). One negative I will mention now and revisit later is that the gun barrel sequence is at the end of the film (and I think with good reason)
Now for the positives: The Direction. I have read much about Forster and that he doesn't really watch Bond films nor does he care for them. He is even quoted as saying that. This has no doubt worked many Bondians into a frenzy. Let me tell you something, Forster understands the re-boot of this franchise better than you think. He has provided a fast paced action film spliced with artistic shards that complement this film very well i.e. the opera house scene as well as many of the chase scenes. He ties the film in very well to its predecessor and in my opinion leaves us with a very good level of closure to these two films. Bond's final comments in the film to "M" "I never left" gives us, and who ever may helm the next Bond film, the green flag to send Bond out into the wild with the same whit, the same style, and maybe even the same formula that we have been accustomed to in the past. If it's the past you lust for you will not be able to resist one moment that pays homage to one of the great Connery Bond films. I don't want to spoil it for you. You true fans will know it when you see it.
This brings me to the gun barrel sequence. The reason this is placed at the end in my mind symbolizes that Bond is now back to his old self. We have seen how he arrived at his take on life, women, trust, and more importantly Martinis! The gun barrel at the end says welcome back to the Bond you knew fans. Hopefully it will appear at the beginning of the next films.
Craig is superb again as the, dare I say "Bourne" again Bond, and does his job well as a man on a mission. That mission: revenge. The bond ladies are just as hot as always with Camille being far superior in screen time as well as emotional involvement, but Strawberry Fields shows us that side of Bond that many long to see. The side interested in "you know what". Felix Lieter, while having a very small role, serves his purpose and hopefully we will see a meatier role for Jeffrey Wright to sink his teeth into in the future as he is the receiver of good fortune in this Film. The villains do an average job but come off some what; if you'll forgive the word "wussy" (This is a direct quote from my Girlfriend)
In conclusion, this film bridges the gap between the James Bond we are introduced to in Casino Royal and the Bond we were introduced to in Dr. No. This by no means on the same level as Casino Royal but without Forster's film we are left with too many questions unanswered and not a very high Quantum of Solace.