Quantum of Solace: Starring Daniel Craig
Movie Review
Ian Fleming, the British author of the James Bond book series, when he began writing his MI6 agent 007 books probably did not have a clue that some day his sexy fabulous main character James Bond would once again thrill viewers in the action packed movie Quantum of Solace , the 22nd James Bond film. EON Productions, director Marc Forster, cast, and crew expertly return its viewers to the wonderful world of espionage where the character James Bond is suave, debonair, and always saves the day!
This time, in the sequel to Casino Royale (released in 2006 also starring Daniel Craig), Quantum of Solace begins with high impact action as James Bond (Daniel Craig) is a participant in a high speed auto chase with the bad guys chasing him while Mr. White (Jesper Christensen) is hiding in James Bond's car's trunk. They narrowly escape those in hot pursuit which leads to Bond's car becoming practically totalled.
M (Judi Dench), James Bond's boss, rendezvous underground with James and Mr. White with her bodyguard in tow. They try to interrogate Mr. White about the organization known as Quantum that has been caught infiltrating into the espionage world that MI6 operates side by side other countries secret intelligence services. Little is known about Quantum, including this organization's agendas which concerns Her Majesties Secret Intelligence Service immensely. Why Mr. White had been brought in for interrogation. Mr. White uncooperatively tells them "Quantum is every where." M's bodyguard Craig Mitchell (Glenn Foster) immediately murders Mr. White before he can say anything else in front of James and Q. Mitchell tries to escape by running away through a secret passage that leads to a Bull Fighting arena where a Bull Fight is in full swing. James Bond does chase after Craig Mitchell, who was an MI6 operative that M trusted and had passed all of MI6's tests in order to become M's bodyguard. His murdering Mr. White makes Mitchell a suspect for being a Quantum mole, a double agent. James Bond cannot let him to get away. James cannot allow Mitchell to return to Quantum because of the sensitive MI6 information Craig Mitchell knows from being M's bodyguard. This makes Mitchell's defection a matter of British national security. James Bond determinedly pursues Mitchell, catches up with him, and then is forced to shoot him while Mitchell refuses to allow Bond to take him back to MI6 alive by attempting to murder Bond.
These chain of events precipitates James Bond becoming employed to get to the bottom of Quantum. His mission is to find out exactly how and why Quantum has infiltrated MI6 as well as search out those who are at the top of the Quantum organization in order to stop Quantum from what ever dastardly thing it is planning. This mission filled with espionage, danger and intrigue takes James Bond to Haiti where he works almost side by side with the American CIA. Unfortunately for Bond, it is not easy to tell who is trustable (reliable) and who is not. Quantum has infiltrated all nations' secret intelligence services. James Bond finds himself not knowing who he can trust or turn for assistance. He recruits his old ally Rene Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini) who reluctantly agrees to join James in his mission against the insidious Quantum. The two of them then join Strawberry Fields (Gemma Arterton), an MI6 field operative residing in Haiti that M has chosen "to keep an eye on" James. Rene and James begin searching Haiti for clues (hot leads) which lead Bond to the seductive Camille Montes (Olga Kurylenko) who is a Bolivian agent seeking revenge upon the Bolivian General Medrano (Joaquin Cosio). General Medrano is a close business associate of Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), Chairman of the ecological organization called Green Planet which in actuality is a front for Quantum. Again, James Bond is forced to save a very sexy lady as well as the day. This time, it's a volatile matter of crude oil and underhanded water deals; yes, they do not mix (shaken or stirred).
Other primary characters included (in order listed by credits): Jeffrey Wright (CIA agent Felix Leiter), David Harbour (CIA agent Gregg Beam, in cahoots with Dominic Greene), Anatole Taubman (Elvis, Dominic Greene's second-in-command), Eva Green (Vesper Lynd, James Bond's deceased lover and a Quantum agent) and Rory Kinnear (Bill Tanner, M's trusted aide).
Quantum of Solace is available on DVD and rated PG-13. This film is 1 hour and 47 minutes in length which turned out to be the perfect amount of time to wrap up the plot without getting dragged out or dull. Highly recommend watching, especially if you have seen Casino Royale which was as good as Quantum of Solace and all earlier Bond movies.
Enjoy!
