She Treads Softly: Quantum of Solace

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Quantum of Solace

Bond film # 22; PG-13
Director: Marc Forster Cast: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric, Judi Dench

Daniel Craig is a new kind of James Bond. He's not as smooth and upper-class as previous Bonds, but we like him. Most of the traditional Bond gadgets are gone and we are left with James Bond as a ruthless killing-machine, sort of like a British Jack Bauer. We like him and Jack. Quatum of Solace is a continuation of the story line in Casino Royale and moves at a break-neck pace. Bond is considered a rogue agent bent on revenge by M (Judi Dench) and she is trying to get him out of the field. Our only complaint is perhaps too great a role for M, although I guess if you have Dame Judi Dench playing M you are obligated to give her a larger role. Another great addition to the James Bond collection.

No comments:

Post a Comment

John Updike's six rules for reviewing:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation--at least one extended passage--of the book's prose so the review's reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy precis.

4. Go easy on plot summary, and do not give away the ending.

5. If the book is judged deficient, cite a successful example along the same lines, from the author's oeuvre or elsewhere. Try to understand the failure. Sure it's his and not yours?

To these concrete five might be added a vaguer sixth, having to do with maintaining a chemical purity in the reaction between product and appraiser.....Review the book, not the reputation.... Better to praise and share than blame and ban. The communion between reviewer and his public is based upon the presumption of certain possible joys in reading, and all our discriminations should curve toward that end.