Out of all the Bond films, only Quantum of Solace is a direct follow up to the film that came before it, Casino Royale. In terms of a follow-up to that particular film, this outing is certainly found wanting. However, judged on it's own terms, it's a lean, mean freight train of an action movie with a strong second outing for Daniel Craig and a rather unique villain as well.
This film picks up more or less where we left off with Casino Royale, as Bond (played by Daniel Craig) is tracking down the men responsible for the death of Vesper Lynd. The train leads to enviromentalist Dominic Greene (played by Mathieu Amalric), who is using his business as a cover as a leading member of a criminal organization named Quantum. Meanwhile, M (played by Judi Dench) is concerned that Bond's actions are clouded by the rage he feels over Vesper's death. Meanwhile, Bond crosses paths with Camille Montes (played by Olga Kurylenko), who has been romancing Greene to meet her own ends. The two decide to team up to take down Greene and his organization after realizing each can help the other reach their own goals.
My only complaint with Casino Royale is that it was a bit too long. The same can not be said here. There is a sort of slam, blam, thank you ma'm sensibility to this one. It doesn't pause for much characterization, but makes up for it in a dazzling array of action set pieces, stylish direction and straight forward plotting that is nonetheless hard to resist. It does however lack some of the finesse, characterization and classiness that made the two films that bookend this one stand out. Some of this could be attributed to the unexpected production troubles that impacted the film, primarily a writers strike that left the production with beginning filming with an unfinished script.
Still, the filmmakers do make a game attempt at keeping the ship afloat, and for the most part it works. Daniel Craig is a bit more relaxed in the role of James Bond, adding a bit of simmering rage to the role and giving Bond a level of unpredictability. We again find Bond on a personal vendetta of sorts, not unlike Dalton's second outing Licence to Kill. Olga Kurylenko does a good job as well, portraying a character that isn't quite what she seems. Mathieu Amalric makes for an interesting Bond villain. There is something curiously pitiable and slight about him, yet behind that lies a rather devious, if rather insecure mind. It's not something I've seen in a Bond villain before and I kinda dug it. Director Marc Forster keeps the film moving at a brisk pace so while the film doesn't have the same emotional weight as the two films that bookend it, you can at least say it's never boring.
In the end, there probably isn't a whole lot that is particularly memorable about Quantum of Solace. It doesn't reach the substance or emotional heights of either Casino Royale or Skyfall, but it has it's own charms and it content to just be a full force action extravaganza, and I can't help but appreciate that.
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