'Quantum of Solace' fast-paced, less interlligent sequel

by Daniel Clayton, online editor

If you like violent movies, then “Quantum of Solace” is the movie for you.

Daniel Craig returns again as James Bond from “Casino Royale” to make a fast-paced, less intelligent sequel.

The name for this sequel barely has anything to do with the movie. “Quantum” is the name of a secret organization that has infiltrated deep within British intelligence, while “Solace” might represent 007’s need to be alone.

The new batch of Bond movies do not hold true to their spy spoof roots. They rely heavily on the novels upon which the spoofs were loosely based. Fans of the previous 21 Bond movies might find “Quantum of Solace” lacking in some respects.

To be honest, “Quantum of Solace” is not a good movie.

 “Another Way to Die,” the theme song for “Quantum of Solace,” performed by Jack White and Alicia Keys, begins the movie. There are many students in South Plains College’s commercial music program who could write a better song. “Another Way to Die” has absolutely nothing to do with the movie. As far as Bond themes are concerned, this one is the absolute worst.

The first 12 minutes of the film are a rollercoaster ride of superhuman strength, guns, car chases and ultra-violence. It seemed more like a Bourne film than a Bond film. When there wasn’t an unimaginable battle scenario, I was asleep.

It was confusing the whole time and very difficult to follow. Of course, there were the amazing gadgets and enormously beautiful women, but aside from that, “Quantum of Solace” was lacking in narrative.

“Casino Royale” was a great movie because it didn’t stray from the novel of the same name, written by Ian Fleming. “Quantum of Solace” is loosely based on a short story of the same name in Ian Fleming’s book, “For Your Eyes Only.” The only element taken from the short story is the title. Maybe this is why the sequel was so disappointing.

It seemed like everyone who 007 touched either dropped dead or was maimed for life. For a while, I began to believe that Daniel Craig was the grim reaper. On a positive note, Bond grew in strength from the last film, while the sequel regrettably shrank in length. At the end of the film, while I was leaving the theater, I overheard many people saying, “Is that it?”

Any old brute can kill. It was Bond’s intelligence in the first film that garnered my attention. I feel that 007’s brains were left at the bottom of the sea to rot with Vespa, the Bond girl of the last film. Speaking of, I thought the plot of “Quantum of Solace” was supposed to be about Bond avenging her death?

MGM made a mistake. “Casino Royale” left me wanting more. Its sequel left me wanting less.

I give “Quantum of Solace” two out of five starts.