James Bond Wussified

Rating: 6/10 (17 November 2008)

I wonder who the heck thought it was a good idea to wussify James Bond, having him white wine repeatedly (WTF?). I wonder how much the wine industry paid them. While the licensing geniuses are at it they should have Bond drinking a Pepsi, eating a Taco Bell burrito and wearing Oakley sunglasses in the next installment to one up themselves from the obvious product placements of cars and cell phones of the past.
Bond was agile, quick and opportunistic but strangely lacked the cunning and charm viewers have come to expect. I really liked Daniel Craig in Casino Royale and Layer Cake so I think the poor impression must come down to poor writing and direction.
As for the movie they have strayed dangerously far from the successful formula and not at all in a good way; the villain is the least menacing and charismatic in Bond history, there is no obvious scary lead henchman, the enemy lair is uninteresting and dated, the tables never get turned on Bond and the Bond Girl is the most average in terms of interest and sex appeal in decades (somehow there was more character development for her but she ended up less interesting). The intro scene was also below average as was the title song and presentation.
Supposedly they spent more money than ever ($230M vs. Casino R's 150M) but it does not come across as an expensive film because all the locations are deserts in developing world countries and other than numerous fiery explosions the special effects are barely mildly impressive. Also a few of the action sequences seem to be rehashed from previous Bond movies but not in an homage kind of way and not in any new interesting variation.
This movie was not The Worst Bond Movie Ever, but it is definitely in the bottom few in my opinion. It is also not a Bad movie, but after such incredible outings the last few times out, this movie is a Big Disappointment. Hopefully this is not a sign of things to come.
I would give this movie a 6.5 if I could, but it definitely does not merit a 7. I would give Casino Royale a 9.