Quantum of Solace (2008): 22nd Bond Movie
Quantum of Solace is the twenty-second film in the iconic series about British secret agent James Bond, released in 2008. It was directed by Marc Forster and is a direct sequel to the film Casino Royale. The role of MI6 agent James Bond is once again portrayed by Daniel Craig.
Plot
The story follows the events of the film Casino Royale, where James Bond seeks revenge for the betrayal and death of his lover, Vesper Lynd. While investigating the culprits, he uncovers a complex web of lies and corruption associated with the mysterious organization known as Quantum.
In the opening scene, James Bond travels in his Aston Martin from Lake Garda to Siena in Italy with Mr. White in the trunk. After a car chase, he escapes his pursuers and hands Mr. White over to M, who interrogates him about the mysterious organization Quantum. During the interrogation, Mr. White mocks both MI6 and the CIA, stating that they don't even know their organization exists, and the first thing they should know is that they have their people everywhere. M's bodyguard, Craig Mitchell, shoots the guards and also fires at M. Bond pursues Mitchell and kills him, but Mr. White escapes in the chaos.
While searching Mitchell's apartment in London, Bond and M discover that Mitchell had contact with a man named Edmund Slate from Haiti. Slate is a hired assassin who was sent to kill Camille Montes, the mistress of environmentalist Dominic Greene, who hired him for the job himself. Greene is aiding exiled Bolivian General Medrano in murdering Camille's family and orchestrating a coup to become the new president in exchange for seemingly barren desert land, which actually conceals vast underground water reserves.
Figure: Olga Kurylenko as Bond girl Camille Montes (source: Craiyon)
Seeking revenge, Camille boards General Medrano's boat, but Bond attempts to thwart her by saving her. Bond follows Greene to a performance of Tosca in Bregenz, Austria. Meanwhile, CIA South American Section Chief Gregg Beam, along with agent Felix Leiter, strikes a deal with Greene for non-interference in exchange for access to Bolivia's alleged oil reserves, which the CIA believes is the reason for Greene's interest in the land.
Bond infiltrates a Quantum meeting at the opera and eavesdrops on them. After informing them through their earpieces that they might want to find another meeting place, the concerned members rise from their seats, and Bond digitally identifies them. A conflict ensues. Special forces bodyguard working for Quantum member Guy Haines, British Prime Minister's advisor, is thrown off the roof by Bond after refusing to answer his questions. He lands on Greene's car and is shot by one of his men.
M believes that Bond killed the bodyguard and orders him to return to MI6 and file a report. However, when Bond disobeys her, stating that he wants to find those who tried to kill her, M has his passports and credit cards blocked.
Bond heads to Talamone, Italy, and persuades old ally René Mathis to accompany him to Bolivia. There, they are greeted by consulate worker Strawberry Fields, who demands that Bond return to Great Britain immediately. Bond seduces her, and together they attend a charity gala hosted by Greene. At the gala, Bond once again saves Camille from Greene, and they leave together. Bolivian police stop Bond and Camille and discover Mathis unconscious in the trunk of the car. One of the policemen shoots Mathis, and Bond kills them both. Before dying, Mathis asks Bond to forgive Vesper and himself.
The next day, Bond and Camille fly over the land Quantum is interested in. Their plane is damaged by a Bolivian fighter jet, but they manage to escape. They discover that Quantum is secretly withholding Bolivia's water supply to create a monopoly on its delivery. In the Bolivian capital La Paz, Bond meets with M and learns that Quantum drowned Strawberry Fields in crude oil. Bond meets with Leiter, who informs him that Greene and General Medrano are meeting at a hotel in the Atacama Desert to solidify their deal.
Bond and Camille infiltrate the hotel, where Greene is blackmailing Medrano into signing a contract that will make Medrano the leader of Bolivia in exchange for ownership of the land, making Greene the sole water supplier in Bolivia at significantly higher prices. Bond kills the police chief for betraying Mathis and confronts Greene. Meanwhile, Camille kills Medrano in revenge for the rape and murder of her family. The hotel, powered by highly flammable hydrogen fuel cells, is destroyed during the fight.
Bond captures Greene and interrogates him to gain information about the Quantum organization. He then leaves him stranded in the desert with only a can of motor oil. Bond and Camille share a kiss, and she wishes him luck in ridding himself of his demons.
In Kazan, Russia, Bond finds Vesper Lynd's former lover, Yusef Kabir, a Quantum member who lures agents with valuable contacts into their network and is indirectly responsible for her death. After saving Kabir's latest target, Corrine, who works for Canadian intelligence, Bond allows MI6 to arrest him. Outside, M tells Bond that Greene was found dead in the middle of the desert, with two bullets in his head and motor oil in his stomach. Bond admits that M was right about Vesper. M tells Bond that she needs him back, to which Bond replies that he never left. Bond drops Vesper's necklace into the snow.
Cast
| Role | Actor | Role Description |
|---|---|---|
| James Bond | Daniel Craig | British secret agent 007, who seeks to uncover and stop Dominic Greene. |
| Dominic Greene | Mathieu Amalric | Environmental entrepreneur with a dark past, who seeks to control the water market in Bolivia and has connections to criminal organizations. |
| Camille Montes | Olga Kurylenko | An agent who collaborates with Bond to uncover the criminals' plans and has a personal motive for revenge. |
| Strawberry Fields | Gemma Arterton | British official who becomes Bond's lover and ally, but also a victim of intrigues associated with Dominic Greene. |
| M | Judi Dench | Head of the British secret service MI6. |
| Felix Leiter | Jeffrey Wright | CIA agent cooperating with Bond. |
| Rene Mathis | Giancarlo Giannini | Bond's ally with many contacts. |
| Mr. White | Jesper Christensen | Member of the secret criminal organization Quantum, who has connections to Dominic Greene and other criminals. |
| Gregg Beam | David Harbour | CIA agent who tries to obtain information from Bond but eventually becomes part of his plan to stop Dominic Greene. |
Bond Song
The title song Another Way to Die is a dynamic duet performed by Jack White and Alicia Keys. Their collaboration brings together White's edgy rock sensibilities with Keys' soulful vocals, creating a captivating blend of styles. The song's energetic rhythm and powerful instrumentation complement the intense action sequences of the film, adding an extra layer of excitement to the viewing experience. Moreover, the sensitivity in Keys' vocals adds emotional depth to the song, echoing the complexities of the characters and their relationships depicted on screen. Overall, Another Way to Die serves as a fitting accompaniment to the film's themes and tone, enhancing the overall cinematic experience for audiences.
Trivia
- Quantum of Solace is one of the few Bond films that serve as a direct sequel, continuing the story from the film Casino Royale.
- The title Quantum of Solace is taken from an Ian Fleming short story, although the plot of the film itself is unrelated to the original story.
- Daniel Craig performed many of his own stunts in the film in an effort to bring authenticity to the role of James Bond.
- Olga Kurylenko, who portrayed the character Camille Montes, underwent extensive training in martial arts and weapon handling to prepare for her role as a Bond girl.
- The action scenes in Quantum of Solace were well-received for their intensity and realism.
Conclusion
Quantum of Solace offers all the characteristic elements of a classic James Bond film: action-packed sequences, exotic locations, and a charismatic hero who takes on villainous adversaries.
You Might Be Also Interested
- 21st Bond Movie: Casino Royale (2006) ← → 23rd Bond Movie: Skyfall (2012);
- Bond Films: Stories of James Bond, Agent 007;
- All Bond Songs: Iconic Title Songs From Bond Films
- Movies With Casino Themes and Betting.
Based on the original Czech article: Quantum of Solace (2008) – 22. bondovka.