Firstly, let me just say that I have never been to a press screening for a movie that was so packed. I even saw faces and met people I had never seen before at these screenings. That's just testimony that the new James Bond movie has been widely and greatly anticipated. Those that have seen it have pointed many fallacies, some even concluding it's the worst Bond movie they have ever seen. I beg to differ though as I felt very entertained when I watched Quantum Of Solace this morning. Earlier this week I watched Flashbacks Of A Fool, another Daniel Craig film that releases in Cape Town this coming Friday, and was immensely amused by his performance and the feature in general. My review of that movie praised Daniel Craig for his display of flexibility, noting his vast contrast to his James Bond role in Casino Royale. Well, Quantum Of Solace proved that point again as his hardness, wit, charm, confidence (which can be construed as arrogance to many) and cander came across vividly.
Quantum Of Solace continues from where Casino Royale left off, but you won't lose the plot even if you didn't see the last instalment of the franchise. In an attempt not to give too much away here, I'll sum up Quantum Of Solace as a minefield of treachery, murder and deceit, as Bond gathers old friends to uncover the truth to Vesper's backstabbers and ultmately the death of his love. In his quest for the truth, he has to outwit the CIA, the terrorists in his midst, and even his advisor M. And, he does this in old Bond fashion with the help of the latest technology.
Speaking of technology, I've always been fascinated with spycraft and espionage stories, so maybe that's another contributing factor to my enjoyment of the movie. And of course action junkies get loads of thrills as Bond does what he does best; the car chases, the fight sequences, all the nitty gritties. I could also sense that his character possessed some sensitivity and a bit softness, maybe because he was fighting for a more personal cause this time.
Overall, I liked Quantum Of Solace a great deal. Marc Forster did a great job with the directing. The clever humour will also get the better of you. Not to mention Mathieu Amalric's sterling portrayal of the villain. It also made me appreciate his own flexibility in his roles, remembering his excellent performance on The Diving Bell And The Butterfly as Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby. He played it with such precision and flair, but I digress.
Oh, and also, when I first listened to the theme song, sung by Alicia Keys and Jack White of The White Stripes, I didn't really feel it. However, when I listened to it in the context of the opening credits, it fell right into place. I really enjoyed it.
Quantum of Solace hits cinemas nationwide next week Wednesday, 19 November 2008.
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