Quantum Of Solace Shines - Another Step In Right Direction For Bond

Rating: 10/10 (20 November 2008)

Quantum Of Solace is a step in the right direction for the Bond franchise. Going into this film, I was a bit nervous due to the the mixed reviews. But true Bond fans with and open mind should come out of this film feeling very excited.
Like Casino Royale before it, Quantum is not your typical Bond film. There are no over-the-top gadgets, no Miss Moneypenny or Q, and no blatant sexual names for Bond girls. This is attempt to make the franchise more realistic and bring it into the 21st century. Audiences are craving movies that are more realistic such as The Bourne Series and the new Batman films. The Bond we have known in the past is great, but for the series to continue it must be re-bourne. But, do not be mistaken, this film is not a Bourne copycat, it is true Bond.
Where Casino's storyline took some time to develop giving us the foundation for the series rebirth, I found Quantum to be action packed with a tight storyline. To me, I enjoyed this pace and I think the next act will be even better.
Bond still has witty one liners, but only during moments where it truly works and not for comedic response but to show how cool he is. There are still gadgets, but realistic ones...where can I get a mobile phone link like Bond? Craig's Bond is a true bad ass. We saw him develop James Bond in Casino Royale and in Quantum he further develops the character. Unlike Casino where Bond is somewhat wet behind the ears, Quantum's Bond is now arguably the best secret agent/assassin in the business. We witness the progression of how Bond develops relationships that will be essential in the story of future movies (with M and Felix Leiter and even with Mathis). We understand a little bit about who Bond is based on what happened to him in Casino and now with Quantum. The next film will elaborate even more I'm sure.
For Bond fans, you have to enjoy how the series is moving forward in a nice storyline. Dominic Greene, like Mr. White (are the names named after colors for a reason? first White, then Greene...you that dabble in martial arts understand). There is some evil organization that the world is trying to discover more about. Could this organization be SMERSH or perhaps SPECTER? Could Ernest Stavro Blofeld be its number 1? You also have to enjoy the subtle references to the old tongue in cheek Bond. A girl dies covered in black oil (Goldfinger), Bond killing a victim who grasps to his tie on a rooftop (The Spy Who Loved Me), Bond and his girl jumping out of a cargo plane (The Living Daylights). How about the girl Fields? What was her first name? I wouldn't be surprised if it it was Pussy. We even get a refreshing description of Bond's drink from the bartender, which is so much less hokey than hearing it uttered from Bond. Incidentally, Bond acted a bit inebriated after drinking 6 of the martinis and looked hungover yet ready to go the day after, but alas that is more real than we have ever seen in a Bond film.
Quantum packs in a lot of cool action to go with the story. Namely the story is the discovery of this evil organization which will probably be named in the next film. Quantum is an Act II of a well orchestrated play and I look forward to Act III.
Previously the franchise had run aground in creating a storyline, an Act 1 through Act 21. With Craig's Bond, the Acts are progressing very deliberately. We get to see Bond develop as a person and professional. To me this is exciting and I only wish the next film was being released next year. Rating 10 of 10 stars.