Quantum of Solace...

[fajrdrako]

I had feared that Quantum of Solace might disappoint me after the quality of Casino Royale. Not in the least. I loved the movie, if anything, even more.

Want to see it again.

I had feared it might be all car chases, but it isn't. There's plenty of plot, and most of the chasing is the kind I like - on foot - though there's a chase (one might even call it a battle) by boat that I enjoyed. And it had some wonderful emotion in it. Bond is the kind of hero who never makes excuses and never explains - I love the type. So possibly my favourite moment in the movie is when M, against all rational sense, says of Bond, "He is my agent. I trust him."

1. M is wonderful in every scene. I am not the world's greatest fan of Judi Dench, but in this, she's magnificent. I think her playing of M has made me a fan.
   
   
2. In one scene near the beginning, M and her agents, including Bond, are trying to get information out of an enemy about his organization. "We are everywhere," he says, and one of M's bodyguards turns on her. This reminded me of the famous story of Sultan Saladin having Assassins in his bodyguard in the 12th century. It's a ploy I love.
   
   
3. A lot of the story is about trust - knowing or guessing who to trust and who to distrust.
   
   
4. Which makes for great suspense.
   
   
5. I loved it that all the women in the movie with major roles are agents themselves. Olga Kurylenko, the female lead, reminded me of one of my favourite actresses of all time, Sophie Marceau - but I didn't find her nearly as attractive. That's okay: she's interesting enough to make up for it.
   
   
6. The villains were suitably horrible. The main baddie, Dominic Greene, played with style by Mathieu Amalric, reminded me of James Callas playing Gaius Baltar in Battlestar Galactica. But while I like Baltar, Greene had a revolting edge. Well played.
   
   
7. Interesting that the villains were not just trying to take over countries, but trying to destroy the environment.
   
   
8. I had thought from the set-up (and the trailers) that Bond was out to avenge the death of Vesper. I suppose M thought so, too. But no: he resented her betrayal of him, and it really was about duty.
   
   
9. During the course of the adventure, Bond encounters (read: has sex with) a beautiful British woman named Agent Fields. Her Christian name is not given in the movie. I saw it in the credits, though: her first name is "Strawberry".
   
   That is brilliant: not just the name, but the fact that they didn't say it in the movie. In the movie, she won't tell Bond her first name. Class act.
   
   
10. I loved the role and character of Mathis. Especially his death in Bond's arms. Especially the way he fits into the whole "trust and betrayal" theme.
    
    
11. Great settings.
    
    
12. I liked the assortment of exotic places in which Bond finds himself. Haiti, Bolivia, Italy.
    
    
13. Canadian Paul Haggis was one of the writers. I always liked his work on Due South, but was appalled by Crash, which I thought badly (and boringly) written. Here, he redeems himself. It's a beautiful script with all the right touches, and just the right kind of excess.
    
    
14. At the end, a certain character turns out to be an undercover Canadian spy. Canadian! I think Paul Haggis snuck that one in.
    
    
15. Though I suppose what really makes the movie is the presence of Daniel Craig. Whoever cast that man is a genius.
    
    
16. More, please.