'Quantum of Solace' - Film review

7 out of 10

Not bad, but not really good enough post-Bourne. Not as good as Casino Royale.

I've heard people say this is film is hard to follow or makes no sense. I think part of the problem is that it is the first Bond film ever to follow on directly from the previous one. If you haven't seen Casino Royale or don't remember the details, you probably will be lost. There are also some plot threads that seem to have ended up mostly on the cutting room floor but enough has been left in to be confusing (most notably involving a secondary Bond girl). These scenes just don't work. As usual, product placement is irritating, especially when it ties in with a rather ham-fisted eco plot about the evilness of oil (Bond driving a fuel cell-powered Ford???).

However, I found the rest of it to be very agreeable. Daniel Craig again plays the literary Bond, all grit and ruthlessness. There are few gadgets and fewer smiles. People who haven't read the books will struggle with this but I loved it.

So, not a smash hit but certainly not as bad as some reviewers seem to claim. I was pleasantly surprised. I especially liked the bits in Italy (the first part of the film). It's exciting and brutal and ties off most of the plot threads from the last film. However, if you haven't seen Casino Royale then I would definitely recommend watching it first.