Despite the momentously awful title I really am looking forward to the latest James Bond film. Quantum of Solace looks set to follow on directly from Casino Royale (marking the first time since Diamonds Are Forever that the Bond films had continuity) and the teaser trailer is looking very, very good. Of course it is foolish to try and form an opinion from a teaser trailer such as this, but the snippets of footage shown suggest that new director Marc Forster is attempting to carry on the theme and tone established by Casino Royale.
Download the Teaser Trailer Here
Casino Royale was a real shock to the system when it came out. I will hold my hands up as a fan of the James Bond films, I’ve seen all of them far too many times for my own good, but even I was recognising that Pierce Brosnan’s run despite a good start had brought the franchise perhaps to its lowest artistic point. The sheer hideously dull The World Is Not Enough and brutally misguided Die Another Day were films that not even hardened Bond fans could really enjoy. As such the sudden back to basics approach of Casino Royale coupled with a Bond who was everything that Brosnan wasn’t was something of a welcome surprise. Using Fleming’s first Bond Novel as a guide Casino Royale would showcase a Bond who was just starting out, who was far darker and angrier than we’d ever seen before. Daniel Craig would take these elements and mould a Bond who was at both brutish and oddly human. For the first time since From Russia With Love we had a Bond who was vulnerable and just a little primal.
Marc Forster seems to have capitalised on those aspects and the footage in the trailer suggests that Craig hasn’t lost that edge which put him a cut above his predecessors. What Quantum of Solace seems to be doing is channelling this newly focused and vicious Bond into a far grander and far more vibrant story, the scenes of boat and car chases and acrobatic gunplay suggesting that Marc Forster’s vision will hopefully find a middle ground between the lean and mean brutality of Casino Royale and the exuberance of usual Bond fare. Indeed the story elements I’ve heard suggest that this could be Bond’s most epic adventure as he takes on a multinational terrorist group to avenge dearly departed Vesper.
Whilst almost every major player is back for this sequel the change of director from Martin Campbell to Marc Forster has me concerned. I don’t doubt Fosters talents (Finding Neverland and The Kite Runner are impressive pieces of work) but a change of directors can often mean a change of focus. Of course with Forster behind the lens the implication is that we’ll see more of what made Casino Royale work, namely the stuff in-between the truck chases and torture.
Quantum of Solace is due for release in November.
