Good action movie, better than many, not James Bond

Rating: 2/10 (19 March 2009)

Quantum of Solace is a good action movie better than many as it has some good actors in the principle rolls. But that's all it is, an American style action movie with a series of special effects linked together with a tenuous plot and a high body count, with a few plot devices pilfered from earlier JB movies throne in for good measure. If action movies turn you on then you will love this movie, you may even believe the studio hype that it is "The perfect Bond film" and I have no doubt it will make a lot of money for the studio. As a James Bond fan the things that set the Bond films apart from the rest and has kept the franchise going for over 45 years wasn't just the stunts and the special effects, it was the element of fantasy, the portrayal of Bond as a intelligent, charming, sophisticated character rather than a macho thug. It was Q, the gadgets and the cars. It was the clever dialog and the humour in the script. All these things are missing in this movie. The studio must have decided it was more profitable to go with the trend more violence and effects and less plot and intrigue, where the thrill of the ride was more important than the dialogue. This movie would have worked just as well whatever the lead character was called. As a current generation American style action movie I would give it eight out of ten but as a James Bond movie maybe one or two if I am feeling generous. Bond, James Bond, I don't think so.