Quantum of Solace

Hubby and I made it to the movies Saturday afternoon. I read movie reviews all the time (and wish someone would pay me to see movies and critique them), but it is oh so rare that I can actually see most of the movies about which I read. Daniel Craig has been a fave since Layer Cake, and Casino Royale was a truly engaging movie, Bond movie or not.

Quantum of Solace picks up just a few minutes after the ending of CR, where Bond's true love has betrayed him and then died. Bond discovers the betrayal is not so cut and dry as he might hope. His pursuit of justice initially lines up with Britain's, but it soon diverges and he is at a loss to find allies. Bond is a complete ball of rage, driven by an obsession to uncover the truth about his love's death and the forces behind it. His fury propells his body to move faster than his mind and heart. Hubby said the movie had too much action and he would have liked more character development (yes, I am actually from Mars and he is from Venus). The action was the character development (unlike the vast majority of movies where action is there simply because it sells, regardless of any plot development at all).

The storyline did feel like a conclusion to CR, but I'm fine with that. I know more will come and we will see this interesting character and his world continue to evolve. It was a limited scope as a movie, but as part of a franchise, it was still a good, solid movie. The surrounding characters were interesting, especially as counterparts for Bond and his vengeance. And has anyone ever imagined M as standing for Mother? Judi Dench is always brilliant.

Couple things I wish they would change. The theme song was absolutely awful - and I am a huge Jack White fan and like Alicia Keys as well. I would never have imagined that collaboration would turn out so poorly. And can we please get rid of the opening credits with Bond superimposed over female bodies? I felt like Roger Moore was about to make a cameo. This Bond incarnation is not just about the women, and the opening credits need to move beyond that.

Overall, good movie. My grade B.