'Quantum' missing from latest 007

Date Night found me and JP down at the movie theater to watch the latest James Bond flick over the weekend. We seldom go to the movies, let alone right when they come out, but JP was just sooooo excited to see the new Aston Martin and special effects that we splurged for Opening Day Matinee with some friends.

Let's admit, no one expects deep thought-provoking plots from a Bond film. But what makes a great 007 movie different than all the other Action Movies are these key elements:
1. James Bond is Charming. He's a womanizer. He smirks in the face of danger.
2. the Car of every man's dreams
3. Lots of cool "gadgets" turning ordinary objects in deadly killing devices
4. and almost one-too-many quips and one-liners that are so cheesy, so obvious, so laden with innuendos that it's almost distracting

These are what have endeared the promiscuous Bond to all our hearts! haha Unfortunately, Quantum of Solace is missing just about all of them. Yes, there is an impressive Aston Martin that makes a brief car-commercial-type appearance for a fleeting moment in the opening scene, then disappears for the rest of the movie. I couldn't find one gadget, one exploding pen, one "don't touch that, it will kill you!" device in the whole movie! And as for Bond: okay, so we're watching his transformation from being a man in love to a cold, killing machine but c'mon! So, he's mad...so he's lost his true love...so he wants revenge...okay, but let's have at least ONE good "I laugh in the face of danger" moment or one good line! No one wants to see Bitter Bond! We want Bond, James Bond!

As an "action movie" I actually really enjoyed it! :) There was no shortage of explosives and it's even more enthralling to watch when you know the Daniel Craig did ALL of his own stunts! I even like Daniel Craig as the Bond character. I just didn't like how the writers/producers/directors or whomever completely ignored the quintessential James Bond features that set these movies in a classic category of their own.
~Kristi