An Entertaining Sequel

Rating: 8/10 (5 May 2009)

Most die-hard fans of the Bond Franchise have always been incredibly divided, their loyalties pledged to one of the Bonds or another. Connery, who was known for his suave, sophisticated Bond brought action and a touch of lightheartedness to the role, while fans of Roger Moore's rendering would say that he added a greater degree of comic relief. Brosnan was lively, and Dalton ruthless, while Lazenby's one-shot appearance is generally seen as the low point of the series.
In his second outing as the iconic super-spy, Craig has again proved that he can masterfully combine almost all of the better elements of the five prior Bonds. His wit, though dry, is still present (albeit in limited quantities). His dogged pursuit of a goal and his recklessness hearkens back to the days of Dalton, while his emotionally-charged drive for revenge touches on that human side which fell flat in Lazenby's hands. And the return of an overarching, multi-film criminal organization is a welcome addition to the storyline which has, for the most part, struggled since the collapse of Soviet Russia.
And while "Quantum of Solace" is far from the best Bond, it is definitely entertaining, featuring the customary, climactic battle with the latest of super-villains (again an enterprising, if not unscrupulous, business tycoon); another alluring femme fatale; and a number of hurdles over which the titular character must leap.
In essence, it is a strong move in the right direction for the series, tapping not our fear of a menacing rival with a face, but our fear of the enemy without one.