Quantum of Solace? More like Quantum-of-I-want-to-be-Jason-Bourne-ace.

Movie: Quantum of Solace
Director: Marc Forster
Starring: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Olga Kurylenko
Rating: 5.5/10

“The name’s Bond. James Bond.”

It’s a line eponymous with the suave and debonair Englishman who has a license to kill. In fact, it would feel like something was missing from a Bond film if that line and the actions associated with the man aren’t in it.

And that is exactly what happened with the newest in the franchise, Quantum of Solace.

Bond films have traditionally been a flight of fantasy. The title character was a cool, calm, killer (lady and bad guys alike) with an easy charm and a dry wit. He felt at home amongst the upper class, staying in extravagant hotels, and had the taste and grooming to match.

But now the series is being re-born (or should that be re-Bourne?), making Bond grittier, tougher, more emotional. And it just doesn’t feel right.

Casino Royale had everything necessary for a rejuvenation of the franchise. But its sequel (and Bond films should never have a sequel) felt like it didn’t know where it was going. It was a mix of drama and action, but the editing was hit-and-miss with an obvious lack of tension and suspense.

There were the briefest of glimpses of the Bond that we all know and love – the glib one-liners, the womanizing charm – but they were too few and far between. It does give hope for any future Bond film though, and that helped save this one from crashing and burning.

The performances were uniformly excellent, with Craig playing the craggy Bond to perfection. His co-stars were equally great, but good acting doesn’t make up for more direction and an even worst storyline.

As a standalone action film, it had the goods necessary to rival the Bourne series – quick cut shots (although Forster does have a penchant for cutting between action and a seemingly irrelevant sequence happening at the same time) and amazing hand-to-hand combat – but as a Bond film it was trying too hard to be something it’s not, and it just didn’t work.

Here’s hoping Bond, James Bond is back for the next one.