007: Quantum of Solace
First things first: What the hell does Quantum of Solace even mean? I just finished watching the movie, and I still have no idea. “Quantum” is mentioned once, I believe as the name of a company or something, but… what? It doesn’t make sense. And that’s a good introduction to my review, because there is a lot about this film that makes very little sense.
One of the primary things that I am curious about is the mind of M (who everyone is now suddenly calling Mum for some reason). She is constantly at odds with her own motivations, passionately denouncing Bond in one scene, and suddenly trusting him fully, for very little reason, in the next. Bond, too, is difficult to keep track of. Friends, enemies, women, all seem to mean very little to him. He’s perhaps too much of a bloodthirsty bastard this time around, which makes him difficult to care for. Personally, I’d prefer having my suave old buddy James back. I feel they took Mr. Craig’s badass Bond too far. He rarely seems to care about anything other than winning. There is a lot of talk revolving around the woman he lost at the end of Casino Royale, and some story moments claim to have something to do with her, but I had some trouble connecting some things (her ex-boyfriend? How does he fit in again? Wha?). Oh yeah, and everyone in this movie is an agent or a traitor. There are no normies, er, “civilians.” It all gets much more complicated than it needs to be, and the plot isn’t nearly interesting enough to keep me following everything.
There are a number of really intense action sequences, though, so even when you find yourself checking the clock during some of the so-called “drama,” chances are that there is a chase/fight/kill scene just around the corner. These are, in Bond tradition, tense and engaging, though the modern trend of over-editing has unfortunately infected 007 quite thoroughly by now. While not to the level of The Bourne Supremacy or Batman Begins, the frantic cuts and over-caffeinated cameraman certainly do come out to play a bit too often. I think it’s possible to remember how a car is driven without constantly being reminded by twenty different quarter-second shots of a pedal being slammed throughout a chase scene. Speaking of chase scenes, a friend noted that the chases covered pretty much all the bases. There was a chase scene in a car, a chase on foot, an aerial chase, and a boat chase. The only thing missing is the underwater submarine-chase, or perhaps one in outer space. Perhaps next time, Mr. Bond.
The acting is mostly strong, though a few of the less-important characters fell a bit short. Some of Bond’s lesser enemies, for example, just don’t feel authentic at all. They don’t really detract from the experience much, though, as the main characters all put on their best angry face and go to town.
Quantum of Solace isn’t going to dethrone your favorite Bond movie, but if it’s action you’re looking for, it does bring the thunder. I can’t really recommend paying full price to see it at the theatre unless you really like ass-kicking. However, if you just want to see some high-budget explosions and chase scenes, and you have no interest in a dynamic plot that makes sense and keeps you engaged, this is your Bond.
