Quantum of Grimace

The latest 007 movie is a major disappointment I wonder whether the Bond franchise can still hold true to the intrinsic character of its main protagonist.

In the latest James Bond movie, Casino Royale 2, oops sorry, Quantum of Solace, Agent 007 continues the high octane action where Casino Royale left off. Betrayed by Vesper, the woman he loved, Bond went out on a mission that is both personal and business. As he uncovers secret after secret about the organization that blackmailed Vesper, he discovered that what he’s dealing with is not only complex and far reaching but highly dangerous too.

In his quest, he played with death on the grounds of Austria, Italy and South America. His mission will lead him to some old friends and most trusted ally. In order to survive, he must keep one step ahead of his enemies, both known and unknown.

Now, my main beef about this movie. Not only is this the shortest Bond film ever, this is also the most “un-Bond-like.” Unlike its predecessors, where finesse and gadgets remain the hallmark of the central character, this movie flexes its muscles and uses brute force in order to make a point. Don’t get me wrong, this makes for a great action movie, but NOT a James Bond movie. I am not a fan of cliché but we all have an idea of who and what James Bond is, which by the way, played very well by Hollywood greats Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan.

In the latest installment, played by Daniel Craig, James Bond came with almost superhuman abilities, what with action scenes that are reminiscent of Spiderman and Incredible Hulk. This movie is not James Bond at all. Maybe if this were entitled Rambo, then I would’ve liked it better.

The plot, although gripping enough, leaves much to be desired. As this is a take off from Casino Royale which was shown 2 years ago, I came in the movie house not armed with enough background info, which is a pre-requisite to make this movie truly engaging. Yes I saw Casino Royale, but come on, who remembers a movie plot that you’ve seen 2 years ago?

I left the movie house asking myself: Did I watch Quantum of Solace or Quantum of Grimace?

Let me know your thoughts.