Quantum of Solace

I wish people would stop comparing these last two Bond films with their oh-so-camp predecessors. This is NOT the Bond of gadgets. This isn't the Bond who was his own caricature. This is a much grittier, more human Bond, with emotional outbursts and powerful obsessions. This Bond is much closer to the Bond of Ian Fleming's novels, and I like that. That being said, this movie is not nearly as good as Casino Royale. My biggest problem with that movie was the patent silliness of finding an automatic electronic defibrillator in the glovebox of Bond's Vanquish. Aside from that, this new Bond is a deeper character with interesting and quirky foibles. In Quantum of Solace, however, they seem to have run a bit dry when it came to actually writing Bond's part. They appear to have wanted to neatly tie off the whole 'Vesper thing, ' and they did, but then they forgot to include some actual dialogue. Craig hardly speaks 3 contiguous sentences in the entire film. Instead, we are treated to abundant stunning pyrotechnic special effects and an excellent chase sequence or two, all of which go on, frankly, for far too long. Additionally, the hand-held, jumpy camera movements make sitting anywhere but in the rear third of the theatre an uncomfortable experience. Do not sit close to the screen, people. You'll get a headache. Really. The bottom line is this: Quantum serves to resolve the question of Vesper's loyalty and treachery quite satisfactorily, but then there's an awful lot of superfluous blowing up of sets and wrecking of cars and very little dialogue. This time, Bond is a cross between Ian Fleming's 007 and a mute action hero. Still, there is a great deal of promise for this new series. As fond as I am of the ultra-suave Connery Bond, and even the playfully naughty Moore Bond, I appreciate the literary qualities of the Craig Bond very much. I sincerely hope that the writers do not turn this new bond into a blond British Bruce Willis. Fight scenes and explosions, while visually engaging, are not as satisfying as a Bond who can talk.