Rated PG13

Directed by Marc Forster

Starring Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Giancarlo Giannini, Jesper Christensen, Mathieu Amalric, Olga Kurylenko

Heidi’s Illustrious Rating: 2.5

Word of Warning: I’d advise watching the last Bond movie prior to viewing this one, or you could end up as confused as I was during this movie.

The first Bond film to star Daniel Craig as James Bond, “Casino Royale” released in 2006, received high praise from the critics and public alike. It was darker and edgier than previous Bond movies and many thought “Casino Royale” was the best Bond movie since the movies starred Sean Connery. I strongly concur with those reviews and highly anticipated the next installment in the Bond franchise. 

Unfortunately, “Quantum of Solace” does not merit such high praise. It represents a true and unpleasant departure from classic Bond movies. Employing Marc Forster as director may have been the first blunder. Forster has admitted he was never a Bond film fan until “Casino Royale,” and I think his lack of enthusiasm for the character shows through in his directing. Forster has a varied background in filmmaking and has directed such films as “The Kite Runner” (2007), “Stranger than Fiction” (2006) and “Finding Neverland” (2004). Though I enjoyed all three films, none of them are remotely similar to a Bond movie.

Secondly, the plot in “Quantum of Solace” starts up immediately where the storyline in “Casino Royale” left off, creating confusion for the audience since most of us hadn’t seen the last movie since it was in theaters two years ago. I remembered very little of “Casino Royale,” except that I liked it, and this movie expects the audience to recall the plotline and individual characters. In addition, the carry-over of the plot isn’t a seamless transition, because the directing and general ambiance of this movie is different from the first. 

Thirdly, Daniel Craig’s Bond has turned into a Jason Bourne type of character – this Bond is less of a suave ladies man and more of an exceptionally skilled killer. In one scene Bond easily takes down a handful of British Secret Servicemen in an elevator, a scene more reminiscent of the multi-talented Jason Bourne than the calm and cool, martini-sipping Bond.

In fact, Bond doesn’t even order a martini in this movie (blasphemy). There is a scene where he is drinking a martini, but that is a poor substitute when a true Bond fan is expecting to hear the words, “shaken, but not stirred.” 

This storyline has Bond is on the trail of mysterious organization that may be responsible for the blackmail of his former and now dead lover, Vesper (from “Casino Royale”). The trail leads to Dominic Greene, a businessman who appears to be in collusion with the mysterious organization (think, the Illuminate).

Bond travels to Austria, Italy and South America in his attempt to stop a sinister plan by Greene and the clandestine organization. There are enough car chases, boat chases and things blowing up in “Quantum of Solace” to make the average 13-year-old boy swoon with delight. However, the nonstop action is a cover for the convoluted and weak storyline. 

From the opening song to the last scene, “Quantum of Solace” disappoints. If there are plans for another Daniel Craig Bond movie, I say, more martinis and bikinis and less unnecessary complexity. I also propose they start with a clean and fresh storyline as well as re-enlist, Martin Campbell, the director from “Casino Royale.” I cannot recommend seeing this one in the theater unless you hit a matinee.

***Also appearing in the Berthoud Weekly Surveyor.