The name's Bond, James Bond - is it?

It’s been a while since my last movie review. Perhaps, a movie “worth” reviewing was not on the cards. Good that I watched Quantum of Solace today. Here’s a follow-up…

First things first… The new Bond, Daniel Craig is just the diametrical opposite of his predecessor, Pierce Brosnan. Brosnan’s Bond has chauvinistic, cool approach. He does the job assigned to him, without even soiling his attire. He walks out of a total wreck adjusting his tie. But the new Bond, as said, is just the opposite. He carries out all his assignments as an ordinary spy, but with expertise. The old Bond depends mostly on technology and gadgets. On the contrary, the new one depends on himself.

The movie review…

The movie is essentially, a sequel to the previous movie, Casino Royale. The movie opens up with an awesome car chase. Then on, it’s Bond seeking revenge, for the death of his love, Vesper Lynd. Bond is merciless on the leads and kills them once he finds what he’s looking for. There are a couple of foot chases, hand to hand combats, gun fights and all the action required in a Bond movie.

Without going into the plot, let me tell you what this movie lacks. The signature, “The name’s Bond, James Bond” and “Vodka, Martini, shaken, not stirred” miss out. The gadgets are nowhere to be seen. The character of Bond in itself will leave you a bit in disarray, especially if you had been a fan of Pierce Brosnan. The new bond is raw, untamed. The story too, is not a stand out. The plot is not well drafted.

Even as I say all these stuff, I managed to walk out of the theater smiling. Having watched Casino Royale, Bond’s character was not an issue. Even as I liked Brosnan, I felt Casino Royale was the best amongst the Bond movies (I’m talking only about Bond movies of Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig. I couldn’t watch the older Bond movies – they were boring.) The plot, even if it is not that great, it doesn’t have any loose ends. The action sequences were damn good. Bond’s boss, M has a greater role this time and this movie was refreshing as it portrayed the mutual respect Bond and M share for each other. The Bond girls were OK. Camille (Olga Kurylenko of Hitman fame) is Bond’s companion in this movie. Strawberry Fields (Gemma Arterton) is the field agent. The villain, Dominique Greene (Mathieu Amalric) surprisingly, unlike other Bond villains, is dependent only on his guards. He doesn’t fight.

Conclusion: Don’t watch this movie with a preconceived notion that this would be similar to the previous Bond movies. Watch it like an action flick; you’re going to love it. Although you may miss the style, the charm and the witticism, you’ll enjoy this barely 105 minute movie.

Rating: **** (4) out of ***** (5)