What happened?

Rating: 5/10 (16 November 2008)

I am compelled to write this as a Bond fan but from a female perspective. My husband (Mr. Action) and I went Saturday night super excited to see this movie. We both loved Casino Royale and Daniel Craig. The five best things about that movie were Daniel Craig portraying a handsome, cold blooded, multi-layered Bond, a great plot taken from the book, gorgeous scenery, well written supporting characters and edge of your seat action.
So what happened? None of it happened --- that's what happened. Quantum of Solace missed on every count. Daniel Craig was given little to do but action scenes, the plot and the action didn't mix (like oil and water if you will), the scenery was awful, the characters poorly written and the editing was choppy and hard to watch.
I had hoped this latest franchise would continue with the development of Bond. In Casino Bond has his first kill and it eats at him. So what happens to a man when he kills repeatedly as he did in QOC? When you lose the love of your life and stop caring, is this why women become objects? You saw glimpses of this character development in QOC and why they didn't push it escapes me. And I'll be totally sexist here, as a woman I wanted to see hot Bond. Beyond a token bed scene, there was too little of Bond in a tux, towel or trunks let alone a romp with a woman.
As for the action, it made my head hurt. I felt like I was watching a Pierce Brosnan version all over again. If they intend to go back to action for action's sake, then they should bring back all of the Bond gadgets and Q. At least then, it's more fun.
They actually had a path they could have taken the plot and that is Mr.White's comment that members of his organization are everywhere. Now that would've given Bond something worthwhile to do  protect Queen and country, unearth and destroy the villains, solve the Vesper mystery and establish Bond as the go to guy who gets things done.
Alas, we were left with a mostly one dimensional, blow 'em up Bond. My popcorn was good though.