Quantum of Solace (Marc Forster, 2008)

Quantum of Solace (Mark Forster, 2008)I don’t know what everyone’s problem is—I like the title. It makes no sense, but at least it grabs you. The tougher, rougher version of Bond as incarnated by Daniel Craig is harder than ever; already a steely and unflappable man of action, now he’s driven by anger and vengeance, which turns Craig’s flinty blue eyes into razor-sharp ice chips and every action sequence into a joyless rage. No doubt, this is the most humorless of the 22 official Bond films, and while it works on its own merits, it makes you wish for a better balance between the franchise’s newfound seriousness and the guilty pleasures that make the best Bond films so memorable. (Hollywood Jewel 16, Waco, TX)