Quantum of Solace review

We know your Bond fans, so let’s get down to it. What did you think of the theme song and title credits?

Donny:  I totally dug the credits and theme song.  Like Jon I’m not a fan of the White Stripes (like at all), but I really enjoyed this song.  I am however a fan of Alicia Keys, who besides being an awesome musician and songwriter, also happens to be a smoking hot babe. 

The retro feel of the opening credit sequence reminded me of the Bond flicks of old and the sexy ladies buried in desert sand were a nice touch as well.  Welcome to the new Bond.

Jon: I will talk more about this in my review of the soundtrack, but I found the first collaboration in a Bond song to be rocking. I’m not a fan of the White Stripes, but Jack White’s distorted guitars against Alicia Keys piano, formed a pretty memorable them song. As such, her voice captures what I like in a Bond song: classical sounding voice. “Another Way to Die” is a new favorite Bond song to me.

Bond films are known for their inventive title credit sequences and I love this one. It had a retro look to it, maybe something out of a Roger Moore Bond film from the seventies. It wasn’t flashy but it was stylized and cool, featuring bullets, women, and Bond walking against the cold night desert. In hindsight, it sets us up for the film perfectly.

How were the Bond Girls this time?

Jon: Um, Olga Kurylenko is smoking hot. She captures what is the perfect Bond girl type, which is sexy, dangerous, but her own woman in no need of a man. Olga has been in other films, all of which feature her sex appeal (and she has it in spades) but here in Quantum of Solace, she is capable of acting and covering a range of emotions.

Gemma Arterton plays Strawberry Fields, a great name for a Bond Girl. She’s more of a device than a full character, never really doing much than looking sexy and perplexed. I won’t spoil it, but there’s a scene with her that is a fun, modern twist on Pussy Galore. Finally, while Judi Dench is M and not a Bond Girl per se, they need her forever as M. she’s the sexy old lady, with spice and smarts that works well in these new Bond adventures.

Donny:  Olga is stupid hot, and Gemma Arterton was sexy as well.  I’ve never been disappointed in the Bond franchise when it comes to the Bond Girls.  While this installment in the series had fewer women than some of the previous flicks they made up for lack of quantity with quality. 

How was Quantum of Solace?

Donny:  I am completely pleased with the direction that the franchise has taken.  I know that lots of critics are upset at the tone of the new flick.  I can understand that some people can’t let go of the crazy super-villains, suave ladies man with tons of gadgets Bond that populated the previous flicks.  But in my opinion because the franchise was completely rebooted I don’t have a problem with taking Bond into another direction. 

This new Bond is pissed, he’s dealing with his demons, and because he only recently received his license to kill he’s still dealing with the emotional strain leaving a pile of bodies in your wake can bring with it.  He loves the ladies, but is struggling with the loss of his beloved.   I’m looking forward to watching him grow into the Bond that we all know and love.  I want to watch him figure out exactly what kind of agent he wants to be, while choosing the battles he wants to fight. 

Basically all I’m trying to say in a really long winded fashion is that I really dug Quantum of Solace.  The opening credits rocked, the car chase gave me wood, the girls gave me wood, and Bond was a complete bad-ass!  I also really enjoyed Judi Dench as M.  She’s perfect for the role, adding a touch of class to every scene she’s in.  Jeffery Wright was also impressive as Felix, the CIA agent with his heart in the right place.  Overall I think Mark Forster rocked the hell out of the Bond mythos, 007 is back with a vengeance! 

Jon: I’ll freely admit it took me a couple of viewings to really like Casino Royale and now that I’m soaked up into this reboot, I thought Quantum of Solace was a prefect continuation of ideas, themes, and style from where they started from. Do yourself a favor and revisit Casino Royale because this literally takes place very soon after, with no recap of any kind. Bond is like a raging bull inside of a glass cage-something bad is going to happen.

Despite that, he still works within his MI6 terms and while he’s leaving a pile of dead bodies everywhere, he still has the mission as his top priority. Really, this film is a classic Bond story: you got Bond going rogue against MI6 because he knows something they don’t, a villain with sort of world domination plot, sexy vixens that will either help or kill Bond, and of course action 007 can only deliver. What I like about this film is how it feels like yang to Casino Royale’s ying. Both can be viewed as separate stories but are better viewed as one movie, two-parts. With an ending that could hint at a new psychological direction for our favorite double-o, it fits into what they are re-establishing.

If the film does have any flaws, it’s that the action is almost undone by over-editing, an irritating practice that has been in all action films since Michael Bay came about. But really that was the only thing I disliked about it. Overall, this Bond isn’t the one-step ahead, suave, fast quipping agent we’ve seen for 40 years. He’s learning as he goes, more emotional and reactionary that in the past. This was the Bond critics praised in Casino Royale. What are they bitching about in this is the exact opposite of what they praised. Dumb. Listen to us, this Bond is awesome and I pray we get a couple more of these types before Daniel Craig retires from the character.

Grade?

Donny: ***1/2

Jon: *** 1/2

Rating: