New James Bond Film: Quantum of Solace
Daniel Craig Gives Franchise Stunning Second Entry
Nov 13, 2008
Mere minutes after the end of "Royale", Bond (Daniel Craig) continues his journey towards retribution and vengeance, but it soon becomes clear that he and MI6 boss M (Judi Dench) have stumbled upon a criminal organisation vaster than they could have imagined. A member of the organisation, Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), is Bond's new target, and alongside the vengeful Camille (Olga Kurylenko), Bond seeks to discover some truths as well as find some closure.
Craig Goes from Strength to Strength
With such an iconic character, any actor would need to be up to the challenge. Sean Connery, long considered the best Bond, may have to cede his title if Daniel Craig continues to be so good. The British actor combines an icy calm with a barely-hidden anger, and Bond's mission, largely built on revenge, is one that shows the audience just how far Craig has already come in the role.
Mathieu Amalric presents Greene as a slimy antagonist whose entrepreneurial front hides his true evil, and the actor's performance is reminiscent of his information dealer in "Munich"; dark, cold and mysterious. Kurylenko provides a Bond girl who is more than equal to the man for once, and the Russian actress plays Camille as a mirror to Bond's anguish and hate.
Director Forster Balances Action and Tension
Marc Forster, known for the dramas "The Kite Runner" and "Finding Neverland", moves into new territory with "Quantum", and for a first time action director he does fantastically well. From the bruising car chase that begins the movie, to a rooftop chase and an aerial dogfight, the film never seems to let up on the action, itself brutally painful to watch at times.
However, Forster balances this with scenes of pure tension, humour and drama. Bond's trip to a performance of "Tosca" chillingly depicts the depths of the organisation, whilst the bubbly Agent Fields (Gemma Arterton) helps to inject the film with a slice of old-fashioned Bond humour. Dench's M provides the exposition and stern guidance needed to keep Bond in check, and the British actress offers steely class.
Escalation and Excitement
With nearly every aspect of the movie, Craig and the filmmakers have pushed on from "Casino Royale" towards higher aspirations, and whilst this film is a direct continuation (a sequel, unseen in Bond's filmic history) of the previous, it is better in many senses; shorter, more fluid and finally allowing the agent to get some closure by the conclusion.
The film is, more than anything, an indication that the "Bourne" films, which many portended would end Bond's dominance of the spy film, could not ever compare to the British spy's new exploits. Whenever the next film is to come, audiences can be sure that it will surely exceed the excitement provided here, as well as escalate the war against the organisation.
