Movie Review: Craig Shines, Plot Does Not in Latest 007 Adventure

By Nolan Caldwell
Staff Writer

Like many of my mid-20’s male counterparts, I have grown up on James Bond. I have seen every Bond movie at least four times, desperately wished to exchange my life with his, and prided myself at 007 trivia during pub quiz nights.

Therefore, when the reel for Quantum of Solace began rolling promptly at 12:01 a.m., I thought I knew exactly what to expect. My mental checklist for quips, near-naked, steaming-hot women, and finely tuned action sequences were all lined up. However, despite the mold of previous Bond movies before him, the director Marc Foster along with the supporting cast of writers created quite a different take on 007: A developing plot.

This continuing story line with Quantum of Solace from Casino Royale, while positive in its ability to further develop Bond’s character during his youth, is overall the weakest part of this movie. Too much time is spent either clarifying the plot from Casino Royale or setting up the plot from the next movie, leaving this one without much consistency. My wife commented that it “felt more like a dull second movie in a three-part trilogy.”

While I’m sure the sacrifice of this movie will pay off in the next installment, I was definitely left wondering if I should have paid to see this in theaters at all. When the movie began winding down and the credits were about to roll, I glanced at my watch, because I was positive it could not be over. This disbelief stemmed from no giant climax, no super-evil villain, and not even an identifiable Bond girl! Yes, I said that correctly: in Quantum of Solace there is no famous Bond girl. There are a few shaggings, but no one as memorable as Pussy Galore, Plenty O’Toole, or Holly Goodhead. While there were these grossly unforgivable errors made in this movie there was a positive carried over from Casino Royale: Daniel Craig.

Over the years 007 movies have taken on a new obsession with geeky high tech equipment and more of a metrosexual-esque Bond. This was all rectified and even restored beyond its original glory with Daniel Craig. He has the charm and blue eyes to make women swoon and tear off their pants in an effort to satisfy him… yet he has attitude to get in a bar fist fight. While the Bonds of Moore and Brosnan carefully combed their chest hair, Craig is not afraid to get dirty. Throughout Quantum of Solace he exudes everything young men should aspire to in his complete disregard for authority, unmatched arrogance and rugged “bad ass” appeal. I don’t know if Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace are more gritty because Craig is Bond, or if they chose him because that is the direction the Bond creators wished to take the character. Whichever the causality…. Daniel Craig was born to be Bond, and Bond has never been this alive as when embodied in Daniel Craig.

Overall, while this movie definitely has story drawbacks, it is a must-see for Bond fanatics. If you are not versed in the Bond culture it is still a great action movie to watch when the adrenalin needs to be pumping. However if you are like me and were expecting it to live up to Casino Royale, you might want to drink one more Heineken before the opening scene.

Nolan Caldwell is a second-year medical student.