A Re-evaluation of a Favourite

Quantum of Solace DVD Review

I was a bloody idiot to doubt this film, but on the third watch, and my first on dvd, it finally clicked, and I realized that not only was this a worthy successor to Casino Royale but one of the best Bond films in its own right. So what changed? Well, like most people, I was expecting so much after Casino Royale that whatever I got, I think I would have been disappointed. Also, more than Casino, Quantum is a grower-(more On Her Majesty's or License to Kill, than the quick buzz of Die Another Day or Diamonds are Forever which fades to slight embarrassment), and has both a bittersweet ending, no love interest and a plot that almost sidetracks Bond, more than helps him stop Quantum who are very much still untouched by the film’s end. In the film’s favour is a fantastically brutal opening car chase with Bond receiving almost as much punishment as he dishes out. No Sean or Roger smoothly pushing a button here as a solution, the later rooftop chase, Opera scene and a great plane escape(touches of Moonraker, but stripped of the comedy). Against this is the really annoying editing which deflates the boat chase and damages the Opera and rooftop sequences. Note to filmmakers, stop doing this, it spoilt the Bourne sequels, and one of the saving graces of Indiana Jones last year was its old fashioned action scenes. The cast are great, with Craig and Dench once again excelling, Olga Kurylenko makes a good heroine(shades of For Your Eyes Only), and is this the first time a Bond girl is not bedded in the film. Dominic Green is a good, realistic villain with a few great lines-‘piano teacher, damaged goods,’ and a richly deserved fate. There is actually a secondary villain in General Medrano, again, a nastily believable dictator with a penchant for rape and genocide. It’s a sign of how far the series has come that he, and not Bond, gets the almost Roger Moore line of ‘perhaps later,’ when asked by a beautiful waitress if she can get him anything else. We cringe at the perceived sexual abuse the character is pertaining to, rather than laugh at a harmless cuddly innuendo. The scenes with Rene Mathis pack an emotional punch and I’m not ashamed to say I welled up. So while people can niggle at the minuses- editing, possibly the least intimidating henchman in the Bond series- what’s with the comedy wig, Agent Fields totally unnecessary character- are the producers of the Bond movies content to remove Q, gadgets and many established traits, but scared of a film where Bond doesn’t have sex at least once. All in all though an unqualified continuation in the right direction. Even the song is growing on me. 8/10