Quantum of Solace

The arrival of Quantum of Solace has brought with it a whole host of questions. Once you have attempted, and probably failed, to decipher the meaning of the title, minds are cast to answering just how the producers would go about bettering the most successful Bond film in the history of the long running franchise. The answer is clear - with action, action and more action!

The muscular, weighty performance of Craig in Casino Royale has been superseded by a rip-roaring, action packed jaunt which simply ignites. It’s blink and you’ll miss it stuff. A careering mountain-top car chase teetering on the precipice of humanity, a Haitian boat chase, and even a retro dogfight between a DC3 and a jet fighter played against the backdrop of the desolate Bolivian desert plains; Marc Forster (Monsters Ball, Finding Neverland) has made full use of the cinematic frame. Throw in a hotel fist fight and some roof top chases and the result for the viewer is exhaustative. We feel every landed punch, window smash and flying bullet, but there is little time to stop and contemplate which is perhaps the main failing of the film.

One of the main criticisms of Casino Royale was that the pace was too slow in places, with too much meandering exposition and moments of inactivity. This tone granted Craig the means to begin to form the intricate character of Bond, in Quantum of Solace perhaps the hard work of establishing the character has already been achieved. The result is a distancing from the plight of our main protagonists and the antagonists do not even come close to being a viable threat.

Daniel Craig however is exceptional in his second outing as the spy everyone knows and loves, and is clearly growing into the tuxedo vacated by Pierce Brosnan, nipping and contorting the fabric to make the role his very own. By the end of the film, Bond’s transition from blunt instrument to foot soldier of her Majesty’s Government is nearing completion. No longer is Bond a petulant school child, driven by ego and revenge, he is growing in poise, composure and responsibility, and in this respect the film works very well as the second part of a possible trilogy.

The pieces are falling into place. Bond is becoming clinical and emotionally detached, and M and Felix Lighter are growing in prominence as key characters rather than just serving to forward the plot. While the film fails to offer as rewarding an emotional insight into the development of our favourite characters, it could be argued that the hard work was done in the first film, and with as many action sequences, locations and chases as can be remembered for a long time, Marc Foster has to be credited for creating a frenetic film which will keep audiences on the edge of their seats. While at times it feels like there is an action scene too many, he has managed to put his unique spin on this much loved franchise, further legitimising Daniel Craig as the best Bond since Connery.