An over-all impressive film

Rating: 9/10 (7 November 2008)

Daniel Craig continues to offer us more of his specific type of Bond. He's blunt and straight-forward, his witticisms aren't as colourful but he has a lot of heart. This movie ties up the loose ends from the previous one and in that manages to not only match its quality but also go beyond.
The film has a feel of a good Bond film. The story has a global feel, but instead of being driven largely by action, Bond makes some smart choices and over-comes all odds with determination. This is one of the best aspects of this film since it seems to have a clear on-going narrative and the motives of the characters are much more clear this time around.
It's also nice to see old faces returning. Olga Kurylenko performs well, although her performance may seem very familiar to those who've seen her in Hit-man and Max Payne. She none-the-less provides the film with a fairly sympathetic female lead. I was also happy to see the film have a little bit more levity to it which helps balance its more grittier and serious parts.
Over-all, Quatum of Solace feels like a whole film. My biggest regret is that some of the action-scenes, while appropriately intense were a little difficult to follow due to violent camera-shaking. Beyond this minor flaw the film is a definite step up for Craig and the current Bond-series. I can't wait to see what's in store next.