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Quantum of Solace

I've never been a fan of action movies. I don't love violence in films. I'm more of a 'it's-all-about-the-story' kinda gal.

But, with all my heart, I love Bond films.

From Goldfinger to Goldeneye to Casino Royale, I've loved them all. I love them for the James Bond, the Bond girls and the overwhelming chase scenes. I love them for the amazing, exotic locations and the hard-hitting fights.

So of course, I was pumped to see Quantum of Solace, the follow-up to Casino Royale starring Daniel Craig as James Bond.

And it did not disappoint, mostly.

Quantum is beautiful, exciting and fun. But it does lack the presence of past Bond movies.

In case you forgot, in Royale James Bond loses the love of his life, Vesper. So now, he's out to find the man who did it, and stop an environmentalist from terrorizing South America.

The film opens with a car chase (Aston Martin, of course) which quickly reminds you of why Bond films rock. The heavy-hitting action and quick cuts can get anyone's heart racing.

And chase scenes abound. Almost every kind of chase scene imaginable, really: by car, by boat, by foot, by motorcycle and even by plane. Each time it's great fun, but can a whole movie really survive on the success of it's chase scenes? I say yes.

What was lacking in this film was character. It is very clear that Bond is darker now, scarred from his loss. And that could have been a great character change for him, if the filmmakers had really run with it. But a sense of restraint seems to hold him back from really going over that edge.

Yet, Quantum is a beautiful film. It takes us to Italy, Austria, Russia, the United Kingdom and Bolivia. And Swiss director Marc Forster, whose past films (Finding Neverland, The Kite Runner) are known for their beauty, continues that trend with breathtaking shots of tranquil seascapes and desolate deserts. In one of the most intriguing scenes, hundreds of people gather for a viewing of an opera over the water in Bregenz, Austria.

Forster also succeeds in his intermeshing of two contrasting scenes. In that same moment in Austria, he seamlessly cuts from the violent opera onstage to the fight between Bond and some bad guys going on backstage. Likewise, in the beginning of the film, a horse race in an Italian stadium is spliced with a rooftop chase scene, pushing the tension to the max.

Of course, what's a Bond film without a Bond girl? And this one comes with baggage. Camille, played by Ukranian model Olga Kurylenko, is"”like Bond himself"”out for revenge for the death of a loved one. She is, of course, stunningly

beautiful, but the necessary sexual tension between her and Bond which we loved so much with past women seems to be missing.

Judi Dench is back as M, with the same snappy sarcasm we've come expect. She's captures the strong, steadfast female role that would be missing without her. And I thank her for that.

But really, none of the other characters matter. Because these movies are all about Bond. Villains and women come and go, but Bond remains. Daniel Craig is strong, seductive and untouchable"”a perfect Bond reminiscent of Heston's days. And who could resist those ocean-blue eyes?

There's no doubt that Quantum will do great in theaters when it opens on Friday. It is pleasure for the masses: beautiful, exciting and thrilling. It delivers exactly what we expect from a 007 film. And in this day and age, when so many films tend to disappoint, what more can we really ask for? So thanks, James Bond. I raise my shaken-not-stirred martini to you.

Movie Grade: A-

Synopsis:

Betrayed by Vesper, the woman he loved, 007 fights the urge to make his latest mission personal. Pursuing his determination to uncover the truth, Bond and M (JUDI DENCH) interrogate Mr White (JESPER CHRISTENSEN) who reveals the organisation which blackmailed Vesper is far more complex and dangerous than anyone had imagined.

Forensic intelligence links an Mi6 traitor to a bank account in Haiti where a case of mistaken identity introduces Bond to the beautiful but feisty Camille (OLGA KURYLENKO), a woman who has her own vendetta. Camille leads Bond straight to Dominic Greene (MATHIEU AMALRIC), a ruthless business man and major force within the mysterious organisation.

On a mission that leads him to Austria, Italy and South America, Bond discovers that Greene, conspiring to take total control of one of the world's most important natural resources, is forging a deal with the exiled General Medrano (JOAQUIN COSIO). Using his associates in the organisation, and manipulating his powerful contacts within the CIA and the British government, Greene promises to overthrow the existing regime in a Latin American country, giving the General control of the country in exchange for a seemingly barren piece of land.

In a minefield of treachery, murder and deceit, Bond allies with old friends in a battle to uncover the truth. As he gets closer to finding the man responsible for the betrayal of Vesper, 007 must keep one step ahead of the CIA, the terrorists and even M, to unravel Greene's sinister plan and stop his organisation.