Favorite New Films: Quantum of Solace
posted by The Joe
There’s little more exciting in cinema than a James Bond film done right. And while the series may still be trying a bit too hard to live up to the Bourne trilogy, this sequel to the overrated Casino Royale bests its predecessor at every turn by continuing to mold the character into the legend without a complete lack of subtlety this time around.
Bond fans will recognize a mixing of elements from For Your Eyes Only, License to Kill, and Diamonds are Forever, all fused together to create a lean, brutal tale of revenge where the stakes feel higher than ever. While it’s sad to not have the evil organization S.P.E.C.T.R.E. around anymore (another production company owns the name rights), QUANTUM is set up rather nicely and their featured ‘opera’ scene goes down as one of the greatest sequences in the series’ history.
The sole lacking element in is a truly memorable villain (the last classic Bond baddies were in Goldeneye, and even that was helped by the video game), but it takes little away from one of the best action films of the year and one of the best post-Connery Bond entries.
SORT-OF UPDATE: Seeing as how this has become comparable to my Kings of Leon review in terms of its merits being argued, I went back and watched Casino Royale to see if maybe I would have second thoughts about deeming Quantum better . . . and I don’t. What seals the deal is THIS painfully awful and obvious 9+ minute James-Bond-is-happy-oh-wait swerve. Also, THIS laughably-directed poison scene, THIS poor attempt to be edgy and modern, and the fact that THIS fight scene, while cool, doesn’t remotely fit in with the rest of the film.
Quantum of Solace – Trailer