Revenge is bitter sweet for Bond. In the latest 007 flick Quantum of Solace, Bond is heartbroken and haggard, as he tirelessly pursues the evil villain who killed his recent lover, Vesper Lynd.
Instead of dealing with these complex emotions in therapy, Bond blows off some steam by chasing down evil villains in cars, boats, planes, motorbikes, and on foot, all the while maintaining an unflappable charm that makes the ladies swoon. But this time Bond isn’t interested in romance. Well, maybe a quickie just for good measure, but love is not in the cards this time out. Even the smoldering Russian-Bolivian temptress, Camille, might have a tricky time peeling Bond out of those skintight, dirty, bloodstained white slacks. Poor fashion choice Bond. If you know you’re going to get in a bloody battle, wear something darker, a deep mahogany perhaps.
Alas, Bond has less time for such sartorial considerations in this dark and gritty installment to the series. Not even a sixth martini at the bar is able to dispel the dark clouds gathered over our favourite super-spy, and that’s saying something. The Big Bad, a mysterious organization known as Quantum, is causing major problems for MI6, and at the heart of it is Dominic Greene, an evil rich guy posing as a philanthropic environmentalist. Let’s just say that Dr. Greene is the type of guy who might take his social responsibility to an extreme – actively recycling paper, plastics, and people parts on a daily basis.
Like Bond’s various nemeses throughout the history of the franchise, Greene takes his plot cues from the top headlines of today. This time, the global threat of peak oil takes centre stage over previous Bondian concerns such as Communist-controlled nuclear missiles, terrorist plots, the dealing of weapons/diamonds/drugs, or weapons that shoot diamonds with drugs in them. Okay, maybe they haven’t made a movie about that last one (yet), but this time the villain is an evil tree-hugger that is green-thumbing his nose at all things good and true with a plot that would leave the whole world at his mercy.
Any outing with 007 is sure to provide thrills, and this film doesn’t waste any time in packing a major punch of adrenalin. The action is fast, furious, and fantastic. Anything a person could drive and blow up was driven and then blown up at some point by our hero. Vroom, vroom, kaboom.
This is definitely the best movie I have seen all year. For my tastes it had a perfect balance of 90% action and 10% showing-off of sleek, fancy gadgets. Also, Daniel Craig is stunning in this movie and his unique physicality, brutish and elegant in turns, makes him the best Bond yet.
What do you think? Who is your favourite Bond?
PS. I still don’t know why they didn’t cast me as evil Bond Girl Irina Secsibuti. What a mystery. I mean they even had a Canadian Bond Girl in Quantum of Solace. I bet her nun-chuck skills are rubbish.
On the eve of Madonna’s very first appearance in Vancouver, I sit here, wrapped up in a snuggly blanket, wondering how Madge is braving the wet and nippy West Coast weather without pants.
