As you may have noticed, I’ve been trying to put off writing my thoughts about Quantum of Solace for quite some time. There’s one extremely simple reason for this: I honestly don’t know if I’m alone when I say it really wasn’t that good.
It’s certainly not the action scenes that make this film average though. QOS is absolutely busting with some of the best (and most painful-looking) action sequences I’ve seen in any recent film, and when you throw in the fact that a lot of the stunts were done by Daniel Craig (and thus meaning there’s less long shots to hide the stuntman’s face), the action bits of QOS are gritty, real, and downright stunning. In fact, they’ve spent so much time making all these amazing action scenes that they seemed to forgot to write a story.
QOS started production in January without a story, and it most definitely shows. Although Bond films are almost notorious for their lack of any real story meat to their action pie, Casino Royale showed the world that a Bond film can have a good, solid story alongside amazing action sequences. Unfortunately, that skill isn’t on display here, and it’s ultimately the almost complete and utter lack of a story that lets it down.
Some people have spoken about how the story is confusing in QOS, but with a story about as complex as a Spot The Dog book and of similar length to boot (this is apparently the shortest Bond film ever made), you could be forgiven for using the “I don’t understand it” excuse because it must be you that’s wrong. There really must be something more to this film.
That’s what I said after sitting through Quantum Of Solace too. But then I sat back for a few minutes, thought, and then said:
“That really didn’t have a story did it?”
Maybe I was expecting too much. Don’t get me wrong though – Quantum of Solace is still an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride with very few boring bits. It just feels a bit too much like someone made a series of fancy action sequences, then forgot to put the story bits in.
Close, but no Casino Royale.
You’re not alone in your thinkings. I haven’t seen it yet but people i know who have say there could have done to be a bit more plot.
Bond has had many different accents. Connery, Moore, Dalton all gave varying performances, so maybe this is Danny Craigs answer to the problem; Just don’t speak.