One of the worst kept secrets in Hollywood prior to the film’s release, the reveal of Blofeld (played by Christoph Waltz) is nowhere near as impactful as it should have been. Unfortunately, Spectre’s story sags at the crucial moment. That’s a shame, too, because it opens with a memorably spectacular sequence set during Mexico City's Día de Muertos celebrations, before picking up some of the previous movies’ loose threads, and ties them together in fairly captivating fashion. Like Quantum of Solace, Spectre fails to live up the lofty heights set by predecessor Skyfall. Sam Mendes’ second Bond flick has some stand-out moments, but there are simply better 007 flicks in Craig’s run. Where to stream it: Fubo (US), rent or buy (UK), Prime Video/Stan (Australia) (Image credit: Sony Pictures/MGM Studios) Spectre should've been better than it is.

Bond movies are supposed to be enjoyable affairs and, this one isn't. Quantum of Solace may have suffered from events outside of its control, as well as being the follow-up to the much lauded Casino Royale, but it loses sight of the series’ ‘license to thrill’ mantra. As the shortest Bond flick ever made, Quantum of Solace also boasts a distinct but welcome lack of filler material and elaborate exposition. Judi Dench’s M delivers a memorable performance, too, as the moral counterpoint to Craig’s 007. Craig does a good job as an emotionally wounded Bond out for revenge after the events of Casino Royale. There are some things to like about Quantum of Solace. The movie’s editing, too, hampers its story and makes for a disjointed entry.

It’s overstuffed with product placement, the film’s villain – Mathieu Amalric’s Dominic Greene – and theme song ('Another Way to Die' by Jack White and Alicia Keys) are largely forgettable, and its plot is messy. Quantum of Solace’s development was hit hard by the 2008 Writers Guild of America strike, which led to some of its biggest scenes being written and shot on the day they were filmed.Įven with those mitigating circumstances, Quantum of Solace isn’t a top tier Bond movie. Where to stream: Prime Video/MGM Plus (US), rent or buy (UK), Prime Video/Stan (Australia)Īn obvious choice for bottom spot, although some may consider that to be unfair. (Image credit: MGM Studios/Sony Pictures) Despite being impacted by the 2008 writers strike, Quantum of Solace is a hot mess.

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