Quantum of Solace

Rapid-fire spy thriller in which iconic British intelligence agent James Bond (Daniel Craig) battles a seemingly respectable businessman (Mathieu Amalric) intent on monopolizing worldwide natural resources. Bond is aided by the executive's girlfriend (Olga Kurylenko) but hampered at times by his own boss (Judi Dench). Director Marc Forster's globe-trotting addition to the franchise features more chases and gunfights than real drama, though a high level of violence and Bond's sexual pleasure-seeking are somewhat offset by a story line contrasting vengeance with forgiveness. Strong action violence, a nongraphic scene of rape, brief nonmarital sexual activity, partial upper female and rear nudity, occasional crude and crass language, a couple of uses of profanity and a few sexual references. A-III -- adults. (PG-13) 2008

Quantum of Solace (Full Review)

Iconic British intelligence agent James Bond (Daniel Craig) pursues his 22nd cinematic mission in the rapid-fire spy thriller "Quantum of Solace" (Columbia).

Director Marc Forster's globe-trotting addition to the franchise features more chases and gunfights than real drama. But a high level of violence and Bond's sexual pleasure-seeking are somewhat offset by a story line contrasting vengeance with forgiveness.

Agent 007's thirst for revenge results from the death of his girlfriend, Vesper. His investigation of the shadowy, far-reaching criminal organization that blackmailed her leads to seemingly respectable international businessman Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric) and to Greene's less-than-loving girlfriend, Camille (Olga Kurylenko).

Victimized as a child by brutal South American militarist Gen. Medrano (Joaquin Cosio), with whom Greene has nefarious dealings, Camille is only using Greene in hopes of exacting retribution, and so easily allies herself to Bond. But Greene has well-placed friends in both the British government and the CIA, leading Bond's pressured boss, M (Judi Dench, as frosty as a well-shaken martini), to become at times more hindrance than help.

In need of creative assistance to thwart Greene's plot to monopolize worldwide natural resources, Bond turns to Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini), a former Italian intelligence officer he had suspected of disloyalty and had been responsible for torturing. Eventually cleared, Mathis has been compensated for his ordeal with a cushy retirement and, after an initially hostile reception, expresses his willingness to forgive Bond.

As the former enemies warm to each other, Bond takes Mathis' example at least partially to heart, though the film, as written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Paul Haggis, never fully rejects vendetta morality.

Bond's trademark hedonism in sexual matters is somewhat downplayed, since his relationship with Camille remains chaste. But his interaction with perky counterintelligence agent Fields (Gemma Arterton) has a different outcome.

The film contains strong action violence, a nongraphic scene of rape, brief nonmarital sexual activity, partial upper female and rear nudity, occasional crude and crass language, a couple of uses of profanity and a few sexual references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Movies have been evaluated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop's Office for Film and Broadcasting according to artistic merit and moral suitability. The reviews include the USCCB rating, the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and a brief synopsis of the movie.

The classifications are as follows:

• A-I -- general patronage;
• A-II -- adults and adolescents;
• A-III -- adults;
• A-IV**
• L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. L replaces the previous classification, A-IV.
• O -- morally offensive.