QUANTUM OF SOLACE (2008)

Director
Marc Forster
Screenwriter
Paul Haggis
Starring
Daniel Craig, Mathieu Amalric, Olga Kurylenko, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright, Giancarlo Giannini, Gemma Arterton
Studio
Columbia Pictures (Sony), MGM
Release Date
5 November 2008 (Indonesia)
Official website
007.com

Direct Sequel of the Adventure of James Bond "Casino Royale"

Synopsis: Following the betrayal and death of Vesper Lynd, James Bond (Daniel Craig) makes his next mission personal. The search for those who blackmailed his lover takes Bond to ruthless businessman Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), a key player in the organization of coerced Vesper. Bond discovers that Greene is conspiring to gain total control of a vital natural resource, and must navigate a minefield of danger and treachery to foil Greene's plan.

Review: Quantum of Solace, Bond's newest adventure, for the first time ever in the typically formulaic franchise is a direct continuation of its predecessor, Casino Royale. With an intriguingly internalised central plot and outrageously exhilarating action, the new Bond movie is grittier and faster than we expect. And that much more engaging as a result. The new film starts uncharacteristically without the usual gun- barrel and blood logo but the trademark logo has been relocated to the end of the film. A quantum is something very miniscule. Solace is another word for comfort. Thus, the enigmatically titled Quantum Of Solace refers to the modicum of peace that our central character is searching for.

"Quantum of Solace" picks up from the previous film with Bond looking to avenge the death of his lover. It picks up a few minutes after the last one. Big car chase as Bond, barely recovered from the death of his lady love Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), burns rubber all over Italy with the wiggling body of Mr. White (Jesper Christensen) in the trunk of his Aston Martin. While still on the hunt for the people responsible for the death of his gal pal Vesper, James Bond (Craig) discovers a plot by energy tycoon Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric) to corner the market on the world's most precious natural resource. It is part of a much bigger scheme by Quantum, a notorious criminal syndicate, to influence events in the world. They include the overthrow of the current Bolivian government and the installation of former military dictator General Medrano (Joaquin Cosio) there, and a continued stranglehold on world intelligence. Clues lead Bond to the sexy but dangerous Camille (Olga Kurylenko) who also harbors a wish to avenge the death of her father. She in turn, brings him to Greene who is, of course, happy to finally make Mr. Bond's acquaintance. Meanwhile, M is getting pressure from her superior to rein in 007. She finds herself surrounded by traitorous MI6 agents now working for Quantum, an agency bent on world domination. Under the suspicious eye of MI6 director M (Judi Dench), Bond sets out to uncover the plot, determine the purpose of Quantum, and get revenge.


This is a story about James Bond exorcising his personal demons, and Craig clearly relishes the double challenge of introspective drama and high action. Although he doesn’t brings nothing new to the role than his first outing, but he remains a charismatic and tough bond, even more relaxed and also sexier. Beside all its fine-tuned precision and expertly timed twists, sexy style, and jaw-dropping action sequences, it's Daniel Craig's blue-eyed Bond that steals Quantum's show. His ability to play a remorseless assassin one moment and a suave, tongue-in-cheek British agent the next is what makes him the best 007. Meanwhile, Kurylenko is given a much more robust role than we usually get with Bond girls, including a personal quest all her own. She is fiery hot as the vengeful Camille, a former Bolivian agent who acts more as Bond's accomplice than his bedroom partner. Although Kurylenko has a few more auspicious moments that border on great, Amalric, who is a tremendously talented actor in the French language, manages to deliver a toothless performance that pales in comparison to all that came before him, even many of the late Bond villains. He tends to let his character's madness show too much with bulging eyes, one of which threatens to start blinking at any moment.

In general, Quantum of Solace has one of the more complex and satisfying of the Bond film plots. The character of Bond has more depth than he does in some of the more pulpy entries in the series. It is one of the rare Bond films that can be appreciated on an adult level. Craig might not take all of Casino Royale's crossover audience with him for Quantum Of Solace but thanks to a strong cast - including Judi Dench, who reprises her role as M and Mathieu Amalric's oily villain - this is a solid sequel for the reinvented franchise.

Did you know?

* The character of MI6 Agent Fields (Gemma Arterton) is a tribute to the Bond girls of the 1960s, notably Tracy Bond from On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) and Goldfinger (1964)'s Pussy Galore, both of which are Atherton's favourite performances. Gemma Arterton described Fields as "not as frolicsome or femme-fatale as other Bond girls, but is instead fresh and young."

more...