This film really needs to be watched a second time

Rating: 9/10 (10 April 2009)

When I first saw Quantum of Solace in the cinema I was disappointed, as were many others. I had even prepared myself to be let down after Craig's first outstanding outing as Bond in Casino Royale. But I still couldn't help feeling let down. What I wanted this time was a Bond right on the edge, embarking on a savage quest for revenge and I'm afraid I felt I'd been cheated. Skip forward six months and I have just seen it again and I have to say I have completely changed my mind. I now think this is a very good film and a worthy next step in the development of the raw James Bond character. Craig is again brilliant in the role and the whole film is now far more rugged and angry than I remember. Any feelings of being let down because he wasn't bent on revenge enough was clearly my own fault, for not recognising this in Craig's brilliant portrayal of a man bent on revenge, who is only prevented from going completely over the edge by his training, which along with his natural brutishness furnishes him with the ability to exact the revenge he needs before he can get on with his life. However there is still one inescapable fault with the film: it is undeniably too short and at times this leads to a feeling that we get to where we need to be a little too quickly, especially in the final third things feel a bit rushed. But all that said for me the name most definitely is Craig and I really cannot even imagine anyone else ever doing a better job.