007 Hardboiled: Another Way to Die

Rating: 8/10 (10 November 2008)

Another Way to Die is the Title of the Opening Music Theme of this Movie. No the Song isn't great but the Title of this song has more to do with the movie as in other James Bond Movies. Daniel Craig is back as 007 and he is more hardboiled as in Casino Royale. No wonder he lost his Love and now he is dead. Not physically dead but dead inside. He has a new Target to destroy and kill all the members of a mysterious Organisation. Through this Movie we will find out more about these people and what they are planning.
I have to say I watched it twice. The first Time I saw I thought: Yes it's a simple Vengeance Story with some great Action Scenes. I was wrong. 007 is more adult now, he isn't the spy with an arsenal of funny gadgets and only on a Mission, he is man full of emotions and he is not Superhero anymore who knows everything. He is a realistic character more about the novels of Ian Fleming as of the Roger Moore Bond in Moonraker or Pierce Brosnan in Die another Day.
All what you see in QoS is State of Art and Technique. Some of these have been already used in the Bourne Action Thrillers. Like it or not the fast editing of some action scenes. The first time I watched QoS it surprised me badly and I was a bit annoyed. Not the second time. The scenes are looking realistic, Bond sweats and blooded and it's more like an adrenalin rush. The scenery I still like best is the one at the Bregenz Sea Opera in Austria. It's Creative Thriller/Action scenery next to Puccini's great Opera Tosca. Here you can see the talent and the potential of the Director Marc Foster.
The acting is much better as I thought the first Time. It's good to see that next to terrific Daniel Craig the bond girls aren't just Bimbas without brain anymore. Both actresses (Olga Kurlyenko as Camille and Gemma Aerton as Fields) are showing fine performances. Camille is not only beautiful no she has a past. Similar to Bond she has an unfinished business to do. The scenes with Fields are fun to watch and will satisfy James Bond Fans. Next to these Beauties we see the return of Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini) from Casino Royale. The scenes between Mathis and 007 are really Bond-Buddy like and this is James Bond pure. Of course M and Felix Leiter have a Comeback so. Sorry but you'll not find Miss Moneypenny and the Master of Gadgets Q.
As stated before Another Way to Die wouldn't be a bad Title instead of Quantum of Solace. James Bond is a much more complex character and next to his character development there is still a thrilling plot. Dominic Greene and his strange looking Assistant Elvis are the Villains with a plan who is more believable than just not destroying the World for a lot of money. I'm still not quite sure who this guy Elvis should represent because as Bodyguard he seems to be useless. But there are some more enemies waiting for Bond: a former Bolivian Dictator and a stupid Agent from another Agency.
It's the shortest Bond Movie ever but the plot isn't easy as usual. In a way this Movie needs full concentration on the screen what is going on there. Before watching it you need to know who Vesper was, maybe you should watch Casino Royale before. Daniel Craig is a dark gritty James Bond. There is humor in this one but not as much as I wished Not to forget a lot of references to old James Bond Movies. Real 007 Fans will not have troubles to find them all.
IMO QoS wasn't as good as Casino Royale but it was a good sequel to it and pretty fine adrenalin entertainment. For those who complain about Quantum of Solace remember the last line of a James Bond 007 Movie is: JAMES BOND WILL RETURN.