Quantum of Solace

As I watched ``Casino Royale’’ last week. I thought I would watch the 2nd of Daniel Craig's’ outings as Bond this week.

I  bought an ex rental copy from Blockbuster Video. Then for some silly reason. I picked up two other films, in an offer. Rather then just choosing Bond, and paying.

I warn you,  there are spoilers in this review

I of SO continues the gritty realism of Casino Royale. It opens with a hi speed car chase in Italy. Bond is being pursued. Bond manages to evade his would be captors through tunnel. Where he brings his prize. A man tied up in his boot,  Mister white to M.

Mister white then brags he is part of an organisation that no one knows exists. That they have people everywhere. At that moment, One of the British agents, fires on his people, helping white to escape.

M points out to Mr White before his escape, that he is not in the UK. Tomorrow he will be somewhere worse. Goodness me, that a reference to rendition ?

There follows an escape through an Italian town, holding a festival

In Casino, the shooting of a person in a third world country. Is transmitted throughout the world. Here British intelligence, is firing shots on Italian soil. There is no reaction to this. No mobile phone pictures, no you tube, and 24 hour news story.

The story then removes to London. The rainy view from an  apartment. Not suburbia, not the mean streets. The home of M’s bodyguard who turned against her. 8 years she had know him.

MI6 use some cute tech. A touch screen desk, with some nifty computerised filing. Information technology is just better forms of filing

Having gained a lead Bond travels to Haiti

Its too clean and neat to be Haiti.

Bond avoids an assassin in his hotel. Despatching the man, with a scissors. The fights are bloodier. Though Connery killed people by throwing electric fires into the bath, and with spear guns. Craig still stays mute

Bond is mistaken for someone else. A beautiful woman, invites him into her car. Thinking him to be a geologist. She asks him, for information about someplace. Bond is discovered when his report, is blank paper. The Girl not blond was the hit

The boat Bond escapes on is called Guardian des Estoiles

In Haiti the villain of the piece is introduced. Dominic Greene He is French. His mother taught piano.  The Bond Girl, Olga and him were in a relationship. Greene is dealing with an exiled South American general. He specialises in destabilising regimes.

Haiti, was one of Greene’s successes. They had made it safe for the multi nationals.Frustrating the plan to raise wages from 30 cents to a dollar.  Greene catches a charter flight to Austria

His fellow passengers include Felix Lighter and the CIA’s section chief in S. America. M realises after asking Langley for Intel.

Felix is not happy the CIA are working with Greene. His boss names James bond, who has been photographed on a phone

Unlike in Italy then

Bond follows Greene to Vienna. There is a nice set piece at the theatre where Greene and his associates have a silent conference. Bond manages to unmask them, by stealing a receiver and talking to them unmasking them. As they get up, to walk away. A school boy error as Mr white observes.

There is another fight. Bond throws his quarry off a roof. Where he lands on Greene’s car Greene’s men dispatch him quickly. However Bond is charged with his death A thorny problem as the man who is killed is a special branch agent

Bond is making waves back in London. M cancels Bonds credit cards and passports in an attempt to put Bond back on his leash

M, makes a crack about the CIA and trumped up evidence

( I will retire now, more tomorrow)