Grade: B+ | Genre: Action/Adventure Summary: In a time when we are battling wars abroad while dealing with the interminable credit crisis that seems to cinch Americans tighter by the day, its nice to check-in to Bond's world for a couple hours where the most dire of situations can be squelched with a swift right hook and a stiff Martini. Isn't it nice to finally have an actor who embodies the essence of James Bond the way Daniel Craig does? He is what Bond was always meant to be. Tough as nails, steely good looks, acting depth deeper than a rain puddle. He just slides on the coat of James Bond so well whereas the others made it look like they were borrowing their older brother's suit. Since Sean Connery abdicated his throne oh so many years ago, we've been assaulted with a guy who perpetually looked like he had a rod stuck up his a$$ (Roger Moore), a Shakespearean actor (Timothy Dalton) and a skin deep pretty boy (Pierce Brosnan). When the Bourne Identity franchise waltzed onto the silver screen, it seemed to be filling the action/adventure void Bond had left like a gapping wound. No more. Bond is back and badder than ever. Quantum of Solace marks the second film staring Daniel Craig (Layer Cake, Casino Royale) that features the reinvention of James Bond. Its a satisfying action picture from the opening wild car chase to closing credits.

We open with Bond in Italy dancing across the mountains in his Aston Martin, dodging a hail of bullets from his fervent pursuers. The slick production and aluminum crushing magnitude set the pace of the film and holds down the throttle until we bleed into Jack White and Alicia Keys ushering in the opening credits. It sets the urgent tone of the film nicely. Usually the producers of the Bond flicks see no problem installing some D-list director shooting from a plot pulled out of a cereal box, but not this time. They pull out all the stops giving us Oscar winning writer Paul Haggis (Crash, Million Dollar Baby) teamed with brilliant director Marc Forester (Monster's Ball, Finding Neverland).

The one thing James Bond has in this film that he's lacked in the past is a soul. The very fiber of Bond's character is defined by his elusiveness and ability to keep the world at arm's length. We never get a glimpse past that hard wired exterior because that vulnerability would cause the character to crumble before our eyes. Craig does the unthinkable by letting us in to see the turmoil that the loss of Vesper (Eva Green) is creating in his life. He does it with the subtlety of a look or the unconscious action. Through Craig's portrayal, James Bond becomes a real person instead of the tired caricature we've come to grudgingly tolerate.

Outside of the stellar performance by Craig, the movie holds up very well to the best maxims of a Bond film. The writing is sharp and pinpoints the new types of enemies Bond faces in the 21st century. The chase and action sequences are heart pounding, jolting you from your seat. Olga Kurylenko is delicious in her exotic sex appeal. The locales featured in Bond's manic globe hopping escapades are lush and ripe for escapism. Quantum also holds firm to the grittier, more realistic Bond feel that Casino Royale introduced us to.

Quantum of Solace is a great escape film. In a time when we are battling wars abroad while dealing with the interminable credit crisis that seems to cinch Americans tighter by the day, its nice to check-in to Bond's world for a couple hours where the most dire of situations can be squelched with a swift right hook and a stiff Martini.

Release Date: November 14, 2008