Directed By: Marc Forster
Starring: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Olga Kurylenko, Jesper Christensen, Mathieu Amalric, Giancarlo Giannini, Jeffrey Wright
Rated: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and some sexual content
Runtime: 106 min
Studio: Columbia Pictures

Bond is Back! Quantum of Solace, a sequel to the 2006, Casino Royale is action on overload, as Bond battles the throes of evil in Austria, Italy and South America.

A secret society has infiltrated Mi6 and the agency is in turmoil. A clue leads to Camille, Olga Kurylenko, a woman with a revenge mission of her own. Unknowingly, Camille guides Bond to Dominic Greene, a crafty and cruel businessman who knows that the most valuable resource in the world isn’t gold or money, it is water. Greene plots to deprive a poor country of it’s water resources.

Through all of this, Bond is a bad boy in mourning, someone has murdered the love of his life, Vesper. Brokenhearted Bond was willing to leave the spy game for the woman who had captured his heart, and then she was violently taken from him he needed to understand why. Bond also needs justice and his boss M, Dame Judi Dench, prefers that agent 007 not mix revenge plots with his agency work. Well one can always wish.

Craig’s Bond is not such a hound for the ladies, though his does not miss an opportunity to sexually service a beautiful woman. A master of the many fine distinctions, mainly combat, tough, sultry, and compassionate when need be, Craig’s Bond is not asked if it is shaken or stirred, he is a mission oriented Bond. Agent 007, the 2008 version, is a battle axe, a machine. And he needs little help from spy toys.

So where are the gadgets? Maybe in this time of Homeland Security, Hollywood couldn’t afford, even in jest, to give our foes any ideas. Whatever the reason, there were few gadgets and no one to show us those gadgets. The promoters of Quantam claim that Bond’s greatest gadget is his mind, and he needs little else.

Bond does not go it alone, he is aided by a solid, and familiar supporting cast with Jeffrey Wright as the suspicious American agent Felix Leiter, Gemma Arterton as sexy enforcer Strawberry Fields (give me a break) and Giancarlo Giannini as Bond’s “frienemy” Mathis.

Kurylenko, the latest “She Bond”, is a Soviet Union born model turned steamy actress with a literal rags to riches story. As a child she was raised in poverty by a single mother, and is today in the midst of a very impressive career. The fact that she trained in ballet, speaks fluent French and English and plays the piano most likely has little to do with the attention the actress has harvested. The buzz is many film makers are interested in this starlett because of her sexy, pouty, smoky and striking presence; fans can’t take their eyes off of her.

Every actor who has played Bond has been great! Daniel Craig, however, has a special quality and it translates so beautifully with the legacy of the Bond franchise. For those who fretted because he was a blonde, you are forgiven. Craig’s Bond epitomizes Ian Fleming’s original character and that translates into controversy for die-hards fans of the original franchise.

Other than the title of the film, and the lack of romance we saw in Casino Royale, there is little to dislike about this Bond installment. Quantum of Solace is a phrase that is supposed to represent a time for a state of somber comfort,and reflection.

Full of energy and movement the Quantam action scenes are bound to bolster viewer adrenaline, and box office receipts.