Second Thoughts

Rating: 8/10 (1 April 2019)

I have to admit, that over the years I've changed my thoughts about Quantum of Solace. Loving Casino Royale and the Daniel Craig - inspired Bond reboot, I was really looking forward to the follow-up, only to be initially disappointed, like so many others, with the frantic pacing and editing, especially of the all important action sequences.
Regarding those action set pieces, I must be getting used to the manner in which they're staged. These days, I find them pretty accomplished, although I don't deny the producers and director were obviously influenced by the success of the Bourne franchise in constructing them. But their breadth, scale and variety as seen in the movie are quite staggering. Whatever else it is and may be isn't, in my view, Quantum of Solace is one very good action movie. Savage hand to hand combat, metal-crunching car chases, bone-shaking boat chases where you almost swear you've been sprayed by salt water, aerial dog fights culminating in a breath-taking sky-dive sequence, not forgetting your traditional gun battles, this, the shortest of Bond movies, just about has it all.
It's certainly not flawless by any means. As inferred I can understand the criticisms concerning the rapid-fire editing, even if I've acquiesced towards it over the years. I believe there should have been a stronger introductory connection/mini-recap to the previous Casino Royale, rather than the void with which we have to deal. And I know after 22 films, directors do find the need to repeat themselves. But seriously did we really need a virtual recreation of the gold-painted murdered girl from Goldfinger, in oil, in this film? I also think there did need to be some clearer, perhaps slower-paced intervals of exposition, just to make the narrative more user-friendly. In Quantum, these episodes generally occur when Bond has got a drink in his mouth, or when he's communicating to his HQ, in the middle of one of those afore-mentioned chases.
However if you want to see Daniel Craig reinforce his nailing of the James Bond persona, if you want to appreciate some great interchanges between Bond and M, marvel at some brilliant location set-ups as well as excellent sets (eg MI-6) besides take-ing the opportunity to apprize the first sequel in the Bond franchise, Quantum of Solace just may be the movie for you.