What a fickle bunch you all are!

Rating: 9/10 (31 October 2008)

Quantum of Solace is a great movie that has received far to much undeserved criticism. I am so sick of the tired old comparisons to the Bourne films. Surely Jason Bourne was made in the mould of James Bond? they share the same profession and even the same initials. These comparisons are lazy, people calling Bond a pale effigy of Bourne have really got things the wrong way round, QOS is proof nobody does it better than Bond.
Gone are the days when Bond saved the world by vanquishing megalomaniac communists. QOS paints Bond as an idealist who defies orders to rescue capitalist governments from their own greed. A lot of people have been calling Craigs Bond "a thug" but he is the only Bond who shows any kind of feelings at all, unlike the androgynous smarmy and infallible Bonds of the past. Craigs 007 has clearly been informed by the books where James is complex character.
The film at times does feel quite "un-Bondian" but it still contains all the essential ingredients of a good Bond movie, exotic locations, fast cars, beautiful women, and none stop action. Some of the action sequences are truly stunning and cleverly stylised, such as the gunfight during a performance of "Tosca". Others are blunt and bruising, like a brilliant fight scene where Greene puts an axe through his own foot.
In all the action though the film looses out a little on script, and would have benefited with more dialogue to bring a few lighter touches to the film as well as developing the characters a bit more. This would have probably improved the chemistry between Bond and Camille. Camilles character was a strong one and the partnership promised much but unfortunately failed to deliver.
That said Quantum of Solace was a hugely enjoyable Bond outing that has added a new dimension to the Bond franchise. It cant wait for the next instalment as it will be interesting to see where Bond goes from here.