Quantum of Solace (2008)

Review: written May 2025

Less shaken and stirred, more on the rocks.

The second in the Daniel Craig era of Bond movies has a tough act to follow, with its predecessor Casino Royale working well for both critics and audiences. Sadly, this movie squanders much of that goodwill and feels overall like a scrappy mess despite some moments of inspiration. While the story, cast and action scenes all show promise and hint at great ideas, the umambitious storyline (the bad guy wants control of a utility contract..?), the action scenes so cut and frenetic that it’s hard to tell what is going on, and moments of inspiration so infrequent, that it feels, as Roger Moore pointed out in interviews, like an advertisement for a great movie rather than a great movie itself.

The story picks up directly from the end of Casino Royale, and so is the first Bond movie to act as a direct sequel, with Bond taking Mr White for interrogation. The car chase we are flung into acts as a shorthand for the problems with the movie to come – amazing cars, spectacular stunts, beautiful scenery.. and yet, none of this can be relished, due to the hyper fast editing and close-in shots. That style may work to make you feel as disoriented and jarred as the characters, but it robs you of the thing that has been a hallmark of the best Bond movies – a sense of geography to the action, and a sense of revelling in the exotic cars and locations. In any case, Bonds investigations uncover a shadowy organisation Quantum, with the villain, Dominic Greene intent in a dastardly plot to .. well, yes make money by controlling natural resources.

When it comes to casting, Bond movies are often inspired and Olga Kurylenko should have been a great Bond girl, and yet while its admirable she doesn’t fall into the usual mould of casual love interest, somehow her story fails to become particularly memorable. Gemma Arterton is more conventional in her role as Bonds contact in South America, succumbing eventually to Bonds charms. On the plus side, its Daniel Craig who almost holds the movie together – his Bond is laser focussed on his mission, believably tough as nails and the best thing about the movie, as he shows Bond take his next emotional steps as 007. It’s a sure footed and confident rendition of Bond, the logical portrayal between the damaged man at the end of Casino Royale, and the cold hearted and ineffably cool spy he will become.

There’s style and beauty in the locations and accoutrements, but never enough to overcome a plot and script that feels half baked. With an ending which lacks emotional punch, this movie just does enough to get you to the next movie, which turns out to be one of the best. This one however, was a rather slippery stepping stone along the way.