'Quantum of Solace' feels more like Bourne than Bond

This gritty, violent, revenge-driven action flick follows the sign of the times. So much so that Quantum of Solace could have replaced James Bond's name with any other character and the movie would have been the same.

In the first direct Bond sequel, James Bond (Daniel Craig, The Invasion) interrogates a lead who reveals the existence of an organization called Quantum. It's the same organization that blackmailed Vesper to steal Bond's poker winnings in Casino Royale, and seems to be as widespread as it is untraceable.

After following a series of leads, Bond discovers Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) to be a major player in Quantum and is forging deals with CIA and Bolivian dictators to gain control of the world's most precious resource.

Things we liked about the movie:

1. Quantum of Solace definitely packs more action into its 105-minute running time than any other Bond film. There's a dizzying car chase, frantic rooftop chases, terrific hand-to-hand fights and an outstanding aerial battle that is easily the movie's best scene.

2. Craig is in top form in this physically taxing role, Olga Kurylenko (Max Payne) pulls off being both beautiful and dangerous as Bond girl Camille, and Jeffrey Wright (W.) returns as the righteous CIA agent Felix Leiter. Special recognition goes out to Dame Judi Dench (Notes on a Scandal) as a more humanized M, who performs probably the bravest act in the whole movie during a scene in which she removes her makeup. We have nothing but the utmost respect for her.

3. In today's technologically savvy world, there may not be a gadget left for Q to invent for Bond that doesn't already come standard on an iPhone. But the technology at MI6 like touch-screen computer tables were still able to stay ahead of the curve, at least for now.

Things we disliked about the movie:

1. There are many points where Quantum feels like "The Bond Ultimatum," and we definitely don't mean that in a good way. We mean it in that it's meandering, derivative and can't quite muster up a story that isn't completely dependent on what happened in the previous movie. Let's face it: Bond should set the trends, not follow them, and Quantum isn't up to the task with its queasy-cam, hyperfast editing and brutal violence that - for the first time ever in a Bond film - affects innocent bystanders. Her Majesty's Secret Service has been and should be above that, in that peculiar, glossy fantasy realm that it's been for the last 21 movies. Casino Royale was able to find the balance between giving Bond his edge back after the disastrous Die Another Day but without losing the high-class appeal that made 007 so popular to begin with. Quantum is a step in the wrong direction.

2. Speaking of direction, Marc Forster (Finding Neverland) is a truly bizarre choice for a director. He's never helmed an action film before and feels way out of his element. His artistic approach - an avante garde opera, silent action sequences, shaky closeups - seems out of place and will undoubtedly look really dated in five years.

3. The villain is less of a megalomaniacal, world-dominating freak than simply an outlet for Bond's pent-up rage and aggression. He does little more than sneer and buy off police.

Don't get us wrong - we liked the movie. It's exciting, well acted and full of action, with a catchy opening song performed by Jack White and Alicia Keyes. We just wish it had a stronger plot, a better villain and, pretty please, a director who actually makes action movies.

In short, Bond needs to remember why he's been one of the most enduring fictional characters in history. It's the wit, the class and the style. Leave the petty violence to Jason Bourne. That's what he's for.