13 November 2009

Film review: Quantum of Solace (2008), by Marc Forster, ***

Synopsis

Daniel Craig returns as Ian Fleming's most famous creation in Quantum of Solace, the first film in the James Bond series to follow directly on from the previous entry. Continuing where Casino Royale concluded, Quantum of Solace finds Bond on a perilous mission to uncover the truth behind the betrayal of his beloved Vesper, while keeping one step ahead of M (Judi Dench – Mrs Henderson Presents, Shakespeare In Love), the CIA and a shadowy organisation fronted by the diabolical Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric – The Diving Bell And The Butterfly, Marie Antoinette).

Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright – Basquiat, Oliver Stone's W) and the dubious Rene Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini – Black Belly of the Tarantula, Seven Beauties) also return for this high octane sequel directed by internationally-renowned German filmmaker Marc Forster (The Kite Runner, Finding Neverland). Though Quantum of Solace takes its gritty and uncompromising lead from Casino Royale, many of the series' hallmark ingredients are present, including a bevy of beautiful women which includes Gemma Arterton (St Trinians, Rocknrolla) and Olga Kurylenko (Le Serpent, Hitman), and a post-modern music score from series veteran David Arnold


Review

Fast paced (too fast, frenetic?) Agent 007 movie, with the usual mix of action, car chases, hard but never repulsive violence and tremendous explosions. Call me nostalgic, but I preferred the more deliberate pace of Connery and Moore. In this movie I often found myself having to make an effort to follow the action. It looked more like a film preview, where they try to pack everything is a 2-minute extract, or a Music TV show.

Acting is very good all around, and this is the major strength of the movie. The flying scenes are superb if a bit too incredible. Bond's witty humour comes out regularly, as usual, and Craig is almost as good as Connery.

The BD contains interesting bonus scenes and backstage material.



In the US and worldwide

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