“American Beauty” director Sam Mendes has just done the impossible; he made a better James Bond movie than “Casino Royale.” That one set the bar for Bond movies so high that it shouldn’t have been a surprise “Quantum of Solace” didn’t fare as well, but “Skyfall” gets my vote for being one of the very best in the long running series. It continues with giving us a darker and more edgy 007 as portrayed by the terrific Daniel Craig, and it also brings back some of the things fans felt were missing from the last two films like the gadgets, the gags and (of all people) Q.

“Skyfall” starts off with a bang as we catch up with Bond in Turkey where he is on the trail of a man who has stolen a hard drive containing the identities of undercover agents. While trying to retrieve the drive, Bond is accidentally shot by fellow agent Eve (Naomie Harris) and presumed dead. But this being the beginning of the movie, we know that isn’t the case as we soon see him in retirement getting drunk off his ass and deeply resentful of the situation M (Judi Dench) has put him in. But when MI6 is suddenly destroyed, Bond forces himself to come back to active  duty, and he soon discovers that his and M’s nemesis has a very personal connection to them both.

The movie does take its time to get going which is the only real beef I had with “Skyfall,” but in retrospect it was worth it. Craig’s Bond has never been a superhuman hero but a vulnerable agent with weaknesses he can’t fully hide. As we watch him retrain, Craig shows us that his Bond is deeply troubled and almost bent on self-destruction. It’s his duty to the country of England which manages to keep him relatively sane. This is Craig’s third outing as 007, and I still think he’s the best thing to happen to this series in a long time.

But this time Craig has a little more fun playing Bond as he gets to crack a joke or two. At the same time, he thankfully never lets 007 descend into camp or turn him into a standup comedian with a gun. For the most part his take on the role has been deadly serious, so seeing him loosen up (if only a little) here has its advantages. I don’t think it’s too much to say that Craig should get an Oscar nomination for his work here.

When it comes to my favorite James Bond movies, they are usually the ones where things get very personal for 007 and those around him. When that happens, they become more emotionally involving and exciting for me to watch as there is more at stake than just defeating the bad guy or gal. That is especially the case with “Skyfall” as it delves into the past of its main characters in a way I don’t think any Bond movie has done before. The script by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan (“Hugo,” “Coriolanus” and “Gladiator”) places most of its emphasis on relationships, especially on the one between Bond and M. It is that emphasis that makes this film all the more riveting to watch.

Dame Judi Dench, who has played M since Pierce Brosnan first played 007 in “Goldeneye,” benefits here especially as her character is given a more severe complexity than what we have seen previously. Dench has always been superb as M, but ever since Craig came into the series she has been a fireball as she starts out with a powerfully brazen attitude which never ever lets up. But here we see the seams in her controlled nature as the past catches up with her in an especially nasty way. Dench nails every moment she has in “Skyfall” perfectly, and she makes M an especially fascinating character to watch this time around.

“Skyfall” also has the advantage of having not just one but two terrific Bond girls: Naomie Harris and Bérénice Marlohe. Harris, best known for her roles in “28 Days Later” and the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, shares a sizzling chemistry and playfulness with Craig especially in the scene where she gives him a very close shave. As for Marlohe, she’s a knockout as she makes her character of Sévérine as enigmatic as she is beautiful. When Bond asks for the name of her employer, that look of utter fear which crosses her face is an unforgettable acting moment as it sets up the grand introduction of the movie’s chief villain.

That chief villain is  Raoul Silva, and he is played by Javier Bardem in such a deliciously evil performance. It should be no surprise that Bardem is so brilliantly unnerving here as this is the same actor who won an Oscar for playing Anton Chigurh in “No Country for Old Men,” but Silva is an especially twisted soul to witness in action. This isn’t a villain bent on world domination but instead on avenging a betrayal which made him what he is today. Bardem actually doesn’t make his first appearance until well into the film, but he has an unforgettable entrance where he tells a story involving rats. The villains in Bond movies always have great stories to tell, and Silva’s proves to be one of the series’ most memorable.

And yes, we do get to see the return of Q to the series as played here by Ben Whishaw (“Cloud Atlas”). Whishaw is splendid in the role as he skillfully underplays the role to where he successfully makes it his own. Unlike the late (and still missed) Desmond Llewellyn, this Q is not quite in a position to admonish Bond on a regular basis. Whishaw however is able to match wits with Craig and hold his own in a way Q has not always been able to do previously, and he is a lot of fun to watch here as a result.

Mendes remains a masterful director, and he manages to balance out the action and the story in “Skyfall” to great effect. I also applaud him for not letting this Bond adventure turn into a clone of a Jason Bourne movie. That proved to be a big problem with “Quantum of Solace” as the shaky cam got to be a bit too much, but Mendes is perfectly aware that while Jason Bourne is Jason Bourne, Bond has been around long enough to where he doesn’t need to copy him. The opening sequence gets the movie off to a thrilling start, and it shows that Mendes has a talent for filming adrenaline pumping action scenes as he does in directing actors to great performances.

The movie also features a terrific score by Thomas Newman and one of the best Bond theme songs in a long time performed by Adele. The song “Skyfall” brings back the classic Bond song sound that singers like Shirley Bassey made famous with “Goldfinger,” and it fits  the movie’s story perfectly. And while I miss David Arnold who has composed the music for the Bond movies since “Tomorrow Never Dies,” Newman’s work here is exceptional as it sounds unlike any score he has done previously. It’s always a thrill to see a composer step outside of their comfort zone to do something a little different.

I don’t think that I have ever seen a James Bond movie I didn’t like, and even the worst of them prove to be very entertaining to watch. But it is such a thrill to see a 007 adventure where all the elements come together in a way that feels so fulfilling. “Skyfall” is not only one of the best Bond movies ever made, but also one of best films of 2012. It took four years to get this 007 adventure to the big screen, but it was well worth the wait.

* * * * out of * * * *

To call David Fincher’s “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” a remake of the excellent 2009 Swedish thriller wouldn’t be fair. Yes, it too is based on the runaway bestseller by the late Stieg Larsson, but Fincher has taken this material and (with the help of ace screenwriter Steve Zaillian) made it his own. His version proves to be one that is neither better nor worse than the original, but one which effectively stands on its own as a brilliant thriller.

Daniel Craig takes on the role of Millennium Magazine writer Mikael Blomkvist who, at the movie’s start, has lost a libel case against wealthy but corrupt businessman Hans-Erik Wennerström which will seriously deplete his savings account. To escape the prying eyes of the press, he accepts the invitation of retired CEO Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) to investigate the mysterious disappearance of his great-niece Harriet. Vanger believes she may have been murdered by a member of his family, one which proves to be far more dysfunctional than any you may know.

Fincher’s film takes its time in establishing the characters of Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander who is played here by Rooney Mara. In fact, they don’t meet face to face until an hour into the movie. While studio executives were probably begging to see these two come together a lot sooner, it gives the actors time to establish their characters to the viewer to where we feel like we understand them and are eager to see them work with one another.

Stepping outside of the James Bond franchise, Craig is terrific in conveying Blomkvist’s single-mindedness in finding answers which need to be uncovered. This is not a heroic character who takes out the bad guys with relative ease, but one who is dedicated to finding out the truth and soon comes to realize just how much danger he is in. But as frightened as he is, Blomkvist is in no position to just give up and go home.

As Rooney Mara, her performance as Lisbeth Salander is nothing short of a revelation. She must have given one hell of an audition for Fincher because very little in her resume (certainly not the bland “Nightmare on Elm Street” remake) could have prepared us for how good she is here. That is, except for her performance as Max Zuckerberg’s girlfriend who dumps him without remorse in “The Social Network.”

Having watched Noomi Rapace inhabit this character previously, it was hard to think of another actress who could be anywhere as good in playing Lisbeth Salander. Mara however is total game, and her commitment in portraying this seemingly anti-social character is utterly complete. I kept trying to find traces of Mara in this film, but I came out of it feeling like I never saw her. I instead felt like was watching Lisbeth Salander and no one else. Now that is a performance worthy of awards consideration!

Not to take away from Rapace’s star making performance, but Mara has the advantage here of dealing with this character’s complexities which were not as deeply explored in the 2009 film. While Mara puts up a tough exterior, she simultaneously allows you to see those cracks of vulnerability hiding just beneath the surface. You fear for Lisbeth even though you know she’s going to eventually kick ass.

There are many other great performances to be found in Fincher’s film, and the actors have the fortune of playing characters that are given more depth in this version. Plummer has had quite the year with this and “Beginners,” and he gives Henrik a biting sense of humor that has aided him in dealing with the emotionally sordid history of his family. Robin Wright pulls off a surprisingly confident Swedish accent as Blomkvist’s

co-worker and lover Erika Berger. Steven Berkoff of “Beverly Hills Cop” and “A Clockwork Orange” fame is a strong presence as Henrik’s lawyer Dirch Frode, Stellan Skarsgård remains one of the most reliable actors in movies with his performance as Martin Vanger, and Joely Richardson is fantastic as Anita.

Director of Photography Jeff Cronenweth does a superb job of capturing the frozen landscapes of Sweden to where you get frigid just looking at the screen. The scene where Blomkvist desperately tries to warm up the cottage Vagner has provided for him pushes that point more than it needs to. I haven’t shivered this much since after I finished swimming the 2011 Los Angeles Marathon. Well actually I ran it, but with the torrential rainstorm hammering down on me, I swam it along with everybody else.

Fincher’s movie also has another mesmerizing score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross who won last year’s Best Original Score Oscar for “The Social Network.” They give the story and its characters a sonic soundscape that is unlike your typical orchestral score, and it brilliantly captures the growing emotions which get stronger and stronger as the movie reaches its brutal climax.

Speaking of brutal, Fincher never sugarcoats or makes this story easy to digest down to a PG-13 rating. In retrospect, I’m not sure there is a way to tone down this story as it deals with serial killers and features a vicious rape perpetrated on the main character. As with the majority of his movies, Fincher’s vision of the world is a dark one where the characters are can be as cold as the snowy weather. But his vision also remains one of cinema’s most powerful in today’s world of movies, and here’s hoping that he stays on board to direct the next two adaptations of Stieg Larsson books which follow this one.

When it comes to looking at the 2009 and 2011 versions, this one has an upper hand in that it’s far more cinematic. The original Swedish movie was actually a television miniseries which got shortened when released theatrically. That one remains a great thriller worth watching, but David Fincher’s version of “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” threatens to be more compelling as it builds on the original without taking away from it. I have yet to see him make a truly bad motion picture, and yes that includes “Alien 3.”

* * * * out of * * * *

For once we have a summer movie that is not a sequel, prequel, or an unnecessary remake of a horror classic with “Cowboys & Aliens.” And yet we come out of it disappointed that it was not all it was cracked up to be. Despite having quite the crew with “Iron Man” director John Favreau, Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig, and it’s based on the popular graphic novel by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg. While it’s not boring, it is not as exciting or thrilling as its numerous trailers led us to believe.

The movie starts off in the wild west of 1873 when Daniel Craig’s character wakes up in a Jason Bourne-like situation not knowing who he is or why he has this metal thing attached to his wrist. But sure enough, he knows how to kick ass when the situation calls for it. I love how you can develop amnesia and yet remember certain reflexes like how to take out an attacker in less than 5 seconds. He is soon discovered to be Jake Lonergan (an appropriate last name for a loner), a wanted man with too many crimes to keep track of. But just as he is about to be taken away by Colonel Woodrow Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford), strange lights appear in the sky… You’ve seen the trailer, so you know what happens next.

Mixing science fiction with the western genre is an inspired move, but Favreau is never able to balance one with the other effectively. It also would have been better if he did not reveal the look of the aliens early on. Not seeing them made them far more threatening to where our imaginations went into overdrive, and this could have worked immensely to the film’s advantage. But when we do see them up close, their design proves to be nothing memorable or particularly original. After “Super 8,” no other monster seems as scary or threatening in its wake.

This is a shame because “Cowboys & Aliens” could have gotten a passable grade on the performances alone. Instead of doing a riff on James Bond, Daniel Craig embodies the classic antihero that is Jake Lonergan without sugar coating him too much. Craig also reveals a strong vulnerability here underneath that rough bravado which looks through you saying:

“Let’s not mess with me today…”

Harrison Ford thankfully looks more alive here than in “Morning Glory” where he resembled a walking corpse. This is not just him doing Indiana Jones or Han Solo (the latter being the furthest thing from his mind I’m sure), and he could have gotten away with doing that. Ford makes Dolarhyde a tough and gruff man who has seen things impossible to wipe away from memory. While his role feels underwritten compared to Craig’s, it’s nice to see him in working in genres where he appears more or less to be having fun.

But the actor that truly blew me away here was Olivia Wilde’s who played the elusive Ella Swenson. This is not just due to her being ravishingly gorgeous (let’s be honest here), but I had to keep pinching myself to remind myself that she is the same person who portrayed the warrior Quorra in “Tron: Legacy.” She looks completely different here, and it’s not simply due to makeup. Along with sharing a palpable chemistry with Craig, she maintains her character’s mysterious nature to the very end, and her acting talent can no longer be easily dismissed.

I also loved all the character actors chosen for “Cowboys & Aliens” as their performances give this film an authenticity to its setting without being held prisoner to it. Clancy Brown, a long way from his “Highlander” and “Pet Sematary 2” days, is excellent as the preacher Meacham. Now this isn’t your fire breathing preacher with flames coming out of his nostrils, but a plain spoken man who speaks of God’s will without shoving it down your throat in condescending fashion.

It’s also great to see Sam Rockwell here as the saloon owner Doc. In many ways, this character could have been the gutless wimp that inhabits you average western, but Rockwell inhabits his character with a subtle humanity, keeping him from turning into a walking cliché. No, his performance doesn’t quite reach the heights of his work in “Moon” or “Choke,” but big deal! Rockwell is a welcome presence here, proving once again he’s one of the best character actors out there right now.

Keith Carradine has been celebrating some anniversaries lately, be it “Trouble In Mind’s” 25th or “Southern Comfort’s” 30th, and its welcome fun to see him here as Sheriff John Taggart. Carradine’s one of the few actors I can think of who can play a sheriff and effectively keep him from becoming a bumbling idiot. Some actors just act the part, but Keith becomes it and makes you believe he’s an officer of the law not easily corrupted.

And there’s Paul Dano, the wonderful actor who memorably played the cowardly characters in “There Will Be Blood” and “Where The Wild Things Are” among other films. For a moment, it looked like he would break typecasting here as Dolarhyde’s son Percy, looking to instill fear in the town’s inhabitants so he can get his way. Of course, Craig’s insertion of his knee into Dano’s “Mr. Happy” area is a quick reminder that he’s still stuck in cowardly territory. But he’s still a wonderful actor who does strong work here.

The actors really do a lot to elevate “Cowboys & Aliens” above the overdone western and sci-fi movie it sadly is. Director Favreau doesn’t do a bad job here, and there are good action scenes to be had. But coming out of this movie, I realized there was nothing about it that exhilarated or enthralled me. There were even times I found myself getting bored, but I didn’t look at my watch though.

Also, there are too many scenes that foreshadow what will happen later on. When Col. Dolarhyde gives the young boy his knife, you know that he will eventually use it to kill at least one alien. When the moment came where he made use of the sharp instrument, I was saying to myself:

“What took you so damn long?!”

Then there’s Sam Rockwell’s character that spends a couple of scenes learning how to shoot a gun. Of course, he’s a horrible shot, but will he get his aim straight and true when it counts? Does a bear shit in the woods?

The money’s certainly up there on the screen in “Cowboys & Aliens,” and it’s clear that the filmmakers did not slack in this production. That it comes up short is frustrating because while the cast keeps it from seeming like an average action movie, the director is unable to do the same. There are far worse movies out there this summer, and this one will still appeal to many. Still, this could have been far better than what ended up on the screen. Darn!

The one big delight I got out of “Cowboys & Aliens” came after the end credits where they had the old advertisement about visiting Universal Studios. You know this one; it was featured at the end of “Animal House” and “The Blues Brothers” among other movies. Seeing it put a smile on my face, but it would have been just perfect if the filmmakers snuck in that one line:

“Ask for Babs.”

* * ½ out of * * * *

Here's some news that I've been personally been waiting for, the return of James Bond. MGM and EON Productions yesterday announced the date that James Bond is returning to the big screen.

Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of EON Productions, together with Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum, Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., today announced that the 23rd James Bond film will commence production in late 2011 for a worldwide release on November 9, 2012.

Daniel Craig will be returning as the legendary British secret agent, with Sam Mendes directing a screenplay written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan.

Photo Source: Sony Pictures

So what’s all this talk about wanting to “old Bond” back? A lot of talk about the latest Bond movie, “Quantum Of Solace,” is that they miss the Bond who had all the gadgets, knew all the best wines, had his shaken not stirred martinis, and always bedded the most beautiful of women. Wait a second, isn’t that what we were all getting sick of after “Die Another Day?” Didn’t we want to see the Bond series revitalized? Isn’t that why “Casino Royale” was so damn good? That it didn’t give us the same old Bond and gave us a tough new one who you could for once say honestly was the best one since Sean Connery. Roger Ebert in his review of this movie said that he wanted the producers that James Bond is not an action hero. Not an action hero? Is that what you see here Roger? Because that’s not what I see here at all. Instead, I see a man who is devastated by loss and betrayal, and who is trying to keep his head on straight to his duty while trying to get his revenge. Maybe when we get the next Bond movie, we can get the Bond we know back, but this one has issues to sort through, and we cannot just see him throw those to the wind just because many of us expect the same old thing even after being sick of it for so long.

“Quantum of Solace,” as I’m sure you all know by now, is not the equal of “Casino Royale.” That previous Bond film was easily the best one in ages, and it did set the bar higher than we had ever expected for the next Bond movie. The early reviews for Daniel Craig’s second go around as 007 had me curbing my expectations before going to the theater, but I probably should stay in the habit of curtailing my expectations in general. It is a flawed Bond movie that has several problems that might derail any other movie, but what keeps it afloat is Daniel Craig’s great work as Bond, and how he gives an MI6 agent who is not just going through the motions. That, and his great interplay with M, played by the always great Dame Judy Dench.

“Quantum Of Solace” is a first in the Bond series in that it is the first direct sequel to the previous Bond movie, starting off just mere moments after Bond nearly shot off Mr. White’s leg in “Casino Royale.” The movie literally starts off with a bang as James Bond is in a high speed chase with minions of Mr. White right on his tail. This brings me to one of my criticisms which I kind of see as a double edged sword. A lot of the action scenes are filmed with a lot of the same shaky camera work we expect from movies like “The Bourne Ultimatum.” Seeing a James Bond movie instantly remind you of a Jason Bourne movie is not a good sign. At the same time, it gives the action sequences here a visceral urgency to where you feel those car crashes instead of just passively watching them. I love that!

The QUANTUM of the main title of the movie refers to the new evil organization that is the SPECTRE of the new millennium. Their goal is (of course) world domination and control over everything they can sell at a high price. As a result, the Bond villain of this movie is a man who wants control the world’s last natural resource, but it’s not the one that you would think. As played by Mathieu Amalric (“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”), Dominic Greene speaks to the public of saving the planet from global warming, but then we see him talk to an Army general about how they managed to talk some sense into the local government about not raising the minimum wage for workers since it would cut into his profits. Basically, he’s like the head of Wal Mart and someone we want to see get a huge bitch slap on a regular basis, perfect for today’s James Bond movie.

As Bond villains go, Dominic Greene is far from being one of the most threatening of the bunch, and he will not go down as one of the most memorable. Still, I love that glint of anger and overconfidence that Mathieu gets in his eyes, and he brilliantly shows to be the mirror to his ever so greedy soul. His work is more great proof of how some of the best screen acting can be done without saying a word. Seeing him getting pissed when Bond spoils his well laid plans is a kick.

The Bond girl this time around is Camille, and she is played by Olga Kurylenko. As Bond girls go, she will also not go down as one of the most memorable, but she is far from being one of the worst. Her performance during the first part of the movie is a little too stiff, and her character is a little underwritten. As the movie goes on though, she does get better when you get at her real motives which involve revenge against those who took her family away from her. The parallel between Camille and Bond are that they are both going after the same thing, vengeance. It makes their relationship towards the end of the movie all the more interesting. Olga may not hold a candle to Eva Green’s Vesper Lynd, but not many could anyway, so holding that against her is not entirely fair.

But the real key relationship of the movie is between Bond and M. The scenes between Craig and Dench are some of the best in the movie, and it is no love affair between these two. It’s a mother and son kind of relationship if you can picture as both being estranged from one another, and then trying to get back on track with each other. M wants to trust Bond but feels as though she cannot, and Bond wants to go after the one who almost had M killed. Talk about tough love.

Dame Judy Dench has been playing M since Pierce Brosnan debuted as Bond in “Goldeneye,” and it should be more than clear now that she has been a huge asset to this series. She has continued to be a strong presence in the long running franchise, and she has gotten even better since Daniel Craig took over the role. M is the kind of person who is not about take any bullshit from anybody no matter what country they come from or what government agency they represent. Dench is a real pleasure to watch in just about anything she does, and I love how she easily intimidates her male assistants who tremble in her presence. Her interplay with Craig is great, and they make for a great couple (albeit an unmarried one) in these films.

The movie also features some other strong performances that need to be noted. Jeffrey Wright returns again as Felix Leiter, the first actor to play the role consecutively in close to 20 years. His cool approach to the role is great, and hopefully we will see him playing Felix again in the next one. Giancarlo Giannini also returns from “Casino Royale” as Mathis. His role here could have been problematic as his character had betrayed Bond in the last film, and having him be the only person Bond can trust at the middle of this one could have been far fetched to say the least. But thanks to Giannini’s performance, the character’s presence is believable and welcome as his sadness over the death of Vesper gets him to team up with Bond. His final moment with Bond is actually quite touching as he encourages Bond to forgive Vesper and himself. These character moments in Bond films never get quite as much credit as the stunts, and “Quantum Of Solace” has them even while it could have used more of them to give us a rest from the action scenes.

Marc Forster, best known for movies like “Monster’s Ball” and “Finding Neverland,” takes on the directing chores this time around. He almost seems as unlikely a choice to direct a Bond movie as was Michael Apted when he came in to direct “The World Is Not Enough.” His handling of the action sequences gets frustratingly confusing at times as the editing is done in a very rapid fire kind of way, but they are still thrilling sequences if you can get past that. Marc doesn’t really bring anything new to the franchise, but he does keep things going at a steady pace. At under 2 hours long, this is the shortest James Bond movie ever made (although it did feel longer than that). Given how stringent the Broccoli family is about keeping the Bond movies confined to a certain formula, I’m not sure how much breathing room Forster was given with this one.

Screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade are back along with Paul Haggis who is doing his usual polish here on the script. Their work here is not as strong as it was on “Casino Royale,” and the characters in that one are what really made the movie so good as it benefited all the other elements of the film like the action sequences. “Quantum Of Solace” seems to exist more for the action sequences than the story which is a little frustrating, but they do still keep the central character of Bond very interesting and complex. They deal with the different layers of Bond and keep him from being simply one-dimensional. There is some good character work here, but a lot of minor characters suffer because of it, and not everything is as fleshed out as it could have been.

I also want to point out that David Arnold has been composing the scores for the Bond movies since “Tomorrow Never Dies.” I love his work in this franchise and how his scores really complement the action scenes in their ferocity. I also admire how he was able to move over seamlessly from the Brosnan Bonds to the Craig Bond movies in that he didn’t simply repeat the same musical themes over and over again. I ended up buying the soundtrack a couple of days before the movie was released, and it is a great listen for my money.

Speaking of music, I should bring up the title song to movie called “Another Way To Die” which is performed by Jack White and Alicia Keys. Everybody is trashing it, but it’s actually not bad. I like the fact that it actually sticks in the mind as opposed to other theme songs that go in one ear and out the other. Can you remember Sheryl Crow’s theme song for “Tomorrow Never Dies?” Off the top of my head, I sure can’t. I can barely remember Tina Turner’s theme for “Goldeneye,” and that was written by Bono and the edge for Christ’s sake!

In the end, “Quantum Of Solace” is not one of the best Bond movies, but it is not one of the worst. It has problems with the script and some of the characters could have been better developed, but the things that did work won me over for the most part. The one element that really made the movie work was Daniel Craig who continues to do great work as Bond. Craig gives the iconic character a rough edge and dimensions that were not as present in the character before. No, he is not the old Bond that we grew up with, but I am fine with that because this one is far more interesting. Stop whining about wanting the old Bond back. He may come back with the next movie now that Bond has moved on from his revenge cycle, but at the same time, I hope Craig doesn’t lose any of the edge he brings to the role.

Whatever happens here will be very interesting even if we have to wait another few years. All the same, JAMES BOND WILL RETURN…

*** out of ****

From ComingSoon.net


Sony Pictures has announced that the official title for the 22nd James Bond installment is Quantum of Solace. The title is taken from one of a collection of short stories published by 007 creator Ian Fleming in 1960.

The new film sees 007 (Daniel Craig) out for revenge on a mission that takes him to Austria, Italy and South America. Bond girl Camille, played by Ukrainian-born Olga Kurylenko, leads the secret agent to Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), member of a mysterious organization and a ruthless businessman, seeking to control huge natural resources.

The plot follows on directly from Casino Royale, as Bond aims to uncover the truth about Vesper, the beauty who betrayed him, and discovers that she had been blackmailed.

"James Bond is after revenge, and Camille is after revenge and they have slightly different goals, but in the end they are going to have to collaborate," Kurylenko said.

At a press conference at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, reporters were shown a minute of footage from the new film, including Bond swinging on a rope after an explosion at an art gallery in Siena, Italy. Another scene showed him meeting M, played by Dame Judi Dench, outside in the snow.

Kurylenko says she will play a very different Bond girl. She has yet to film any scenes, but is working hard preparing for her role.

"I'm doing weapons training and body flight training for aerial scenes and stunt work for fighting," she said. "My days are so long, and it's very physical. She's a fighter. This girl is going to kick ass. She's on her own mission and she's driven by revenge." Actress Gemma Arterton plays an MI6 agent in the film and has already shot her love scenes with 007. She said, "I felt like a giggly girl, and I felt so young and inexperienced - but I kissed James Bond!"

The 21-year-old said her Bond role is "not so frolicksome" and her character "fresh and young, not sultry and a femme fatale".

Quantum of Solace hits theaters on November 7.