Quantum of Solace

SPOILERS.

James Bond's latest film Quantum of Solace has arrived in theaters.  Except for a few trailers that were released I hadn't heard much buzz about the film.  Whether this was a good sign or a bad one I don't know.  When Casino Royale opened everyone was talking about it, about how it was revolutionizing the Bond films (again) and putting a new, completely different take on the character.  That theme of revolutionizing the Bond series was continued through Quantum, although not to the effect some people were looking for.

One of the main things that they were looking to change was to make the character far more brooding.  By introducing his love Vesper Lynd (a phonetic take of West Berlin, a city with dual personalities and interests) the filmmakers hoped to create more of a backstory on Bond and give his character more depth.  Unfortunately, except for his skills at poker and preference of alcohol, we know little else of our beloved James Bond.  The filmmakers then are left to focus solely on this development of his character if they want to go for very much emotional depth.  It's not much to work with and as a result Quantum suffers for it.

Bond, then, spends the film attempting to replace the intimacy and trust that he lost when he lost Lynd.  The film revolves around his relationships with three women, particularly two of them- Strawberry Fields (in the dialogue in the film she refers to herself only as Fields), M and Camille.  M is assigned to be his mother figure (even Bond calls her that at one point) and Camille is supposed to be his replacement for Vesper.  Fields fills in as the typical Bond girl, although in this modern age she's also given the chance to kick some butt of her own.  The most important thing about her death: it pays an homage to an earlier Bond film at the same time that it develops Bond's continuing conflict of intimacy and the consequences of his actions.  M spends the movie trying to decide if Bond is loyal to M6 or not, supporting or blocking his actions as the plot calls for it.  Her wardrobe is matronly rather than clean-cut and professional as the rest of her crew is, although her demeanor and black-and-white palette is meant to give an icy feel to her scenes.  Although she is meant to serve as Bond's conscience she serves more to make up excuses for Bond's behavior.

Camille is the character that has the most interaction with Bond throughout the film.  She, like Vesper Lynd, is a strong woman that is "damaged goods."  Although there is very little chemistry between the two, I suppose there is a "bond" there.  Just like Bond rescues Vesper Lynd during her emotional crisis after killing a man, Bond rescues Camille, only Bond washed Lynd of her sins while he pulls Camille from a fire.  She serves as a mirror for Bond- she, too, uses sex to get what she wants, worked for a larger government organization to get where she needed to go and seeks revenge.  It works to help absolve Bond of his sins.  Her story feels almost forced and more time is spent learning her plotline than any time on Bond's.  

All in all, the story felt very short.  Because of Bond's emotional vacancy there wasn't much room for much plot development, which made it difficult to build up tension.  The fight scenes didn't help at all.  The opening scene was juxtaposed with a horse race.  There were no contextual clues given to connect the horse race to the interrogation scene, and it wasn't until later on in the scene that we realize the two are even close to each other.  There is no reason for a horse race to happen, as it doesn't develop the plot any except to give the film the kind of exotic taste required of any Bond movie.  Many plot elements happen the same way- the horse race, M blocking Bond's cards and passports, etc.  They are all there to take up time and move the plot.  It would be nice if the directors could decide if this was a plot driven story (and drop the Vesper Lynd subplot) or an emotional and character driven story (and stop that Bolivia nonsense.)  

I would recommend this film to any Bond or action movie fan.  However, if it wasn't a Bond movie, I doubt this movie would be well received or get any kind of box office.  It seems the producers are trying to hard to make a Bond movie and not make a solid movie.  Let's hope they get it the next time.