Author: Zak Stoltz and Cindy Tang
Casino Royale (2006) left our favorite secret agent James Bond shaken, but now, in Quantum of Solace (2008), he’s stirring things up.
Literally picking up where Casino Royale left off, Quantum of Solace follows James Bond (Daniel Craig) on his quest for answers and vengeance for the recent death of his love.
Bond and M (Judi Dench) discover that the underground organization, only known as Quantum, that forced Bond’s lover to betray him, is far more complex and dangerous than they ever imagined. The investigation leads Bond to Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), a corrupt businessman and key figure in Quantum, who is attempting to overthrow the Bolivian government, as well as Camille (Olga Kurylenko), a pouty partner looking for revenge.
Unfortunately, this is not one of those movies you can jump into without previously viewing the prior film. Quantum of Solace is more of a direct continuation of Casino Royale than anything. This doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have a distinct storyline, but without a fairly comprehensive knowledge of the events and characters in Casino Royale, there are a few things in Quantum of Solacethat will undoubtedly fly right over your head.
Bond does it again with over the top action scenes that make the audience “ooh,” “ah” and groan in exasperation all at once. Somehow, Bond not only gets into a chase scene on foot, but also in a car, and a boat . . . and an airplane. However, whereas many Hollywood action films these days sacrifice a good story in order to blow more shit up, such is not the case with Quantum of Solace.
Quantum of Solace takes the Bond franchise to a whole new level. Whereas before, Bond could have capped all the bad guys he wanted without MI6 blinking an eye, now he’s under sharp scrutiny and is constantly being questioned by his own organization, as MI6 is having a hard time keeping track of who they can and can’t trust.
Daniel Craig’s James Bond isn’t necessarily the charming, sophisticated secret agent we’ve all come to know and love. Instead, he’s a cold, rugged rogue who doesn’t need a high tech gadget (or even his hands for that matter) to take down a room full of agents. Bond’s signature womanizing, one-liners and sci-fi like gadgetry are scarce, but Craig’s modern, pragmatic Bond is just as captivating. The new tone is grittier, more realistic, and Bond himself is more human. Deep down, he is still just a man attempting to cope with the loss of the woman he loved. This is one of the biggest differences between the new and old Bond, and it’s a welcome one that makes him more three-dimensional.
Conversely, old habits die hard when it comes to the treatment of women. Camille (Olga Kurylenko) is one hell of a bad ass Bond girl with a vendetta who proves that she is capable of acting independently from Bond. That is, until the final moments when she breaks down into a blubbering mess and needs Bond to rescue her.
Cindy: Yes, it’s understandable why she loses her ferocity, but was it really necessary to show yet another damsel in distress? Not quite. And don’t even get me started on the unnecessary crotch shot of a rape victim. That was uncalled for and horribly distasteful. It says something when the only strong female figure in the film is M, and the agents call her “mum” for Pete’s sake.
Zak: To me, Camille’s breakdown works very well given the recurring theme of emotionally damaged characters. It also makes sense seeing as she is placed in a position where she must relive a traumatic childhood experience.
Despite all the praise for storyline and acting, the editing in the Bond series distinguishes the movie by setting a tempo and a mood. The editing is supposed to be like Bond himself – quick and suspenseful – but the cuts in Quantum of Solace end up looking confusing and choppy. The editing sacrificed clarity and conciseness for frenetic intensity – a lazy method exercised recently to substitute for real action. In any case, the pacing of the film was straightforward and easy to watch.
Cindy: I’m a fan of this new Bond – one without any of the superfluous glitz. Quantum of Solace is enjoyable and easy to follow despite the distasteful treatment of women and the poor editing techniques. 3/5 Stars
Zak: Quantum of Solace may not be my favorite James Bond movie, but I truly believe that it’s one of the best. It’s well made, the characters are believable and on balance, and the action is a compliment to the story as opposed to a substitute for it. 4/5 Stars
Final Verdict: It is highly recommended that you view Casino Royale before watching Quantum as a preface or a refresher. Overall, Quantum of Solace may not be the Bond film you’re used to, but it’s a Bond film worth watching. The plot can get complicated at times, but if you pay attention, you’ll be just fine.
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