by Rianne Hill Soriano

Created on: January 19, 2011

The 22nd official “James Bond” film "Quantum of Solace" evolves with its focus on character development and emotional baggage. It yields into certain characterizations that are quite different from the usual “Bond” movie. This time, it seems to promote more psychological depth within the expected explosions galore and elaborate chase and fight scenes. Considerably darker, the film does this while utilizing its theme on revenge. The evolution of the “James Bond” canon has come accordingly as its story gets updated with today’s culture climate and modernity.

A bleak continuation of the “Casino Royale” storyline, “Quantum of Solace” draws a certain irony to the people’s technological dependence, struggle for power, money, and oil with the more human, emotional, revenge-filled character of Daniel Craig’s James Bond. With the movie being filled with shades-of-gray complexities, it shows a thoughtful rumination on vengeance and what it does to him and the people around him. After the death of his loved one, he sets out to stop a corporate villain masquerading as an environmentalist from taking control of a country's water supply.

The question is: Will "Quantum of Solace" satisfy most “Bond” fans? Spanning generations of followers for decades now, this “007” film can either be something to accept or something to thrash. Given its kind of action and characterization, it kind of overshadows the typical Bond character. For those who are more accepting of change, they would probably appreciate Bond’s new character outside that urbane girl magnet who frequently tosses off kick ass comic one-liners. The “Craig Bond” replaces this by stoic and psychological stares of a man who drinks martini shaken, not stirred. This time, he is more “human” compared to the usual macho charisma of the original Bond character whose action scenes would exercise all the license to thrill through purely escapist stunts.

For those who would rather keep the original testosterone display of elaborately orchestrated “Bond” excitement, humor, and flight of fancy action, they might feel a little disappointed with “Quantum of Solace.” 

The change of pace is not that surprising considering the filmography of director Marc Forster who is known for tearjerking and emotional films such as “Kite Runner,” “Finding Neverland,”

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