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(This review contains spoilers. You have been warned.)

I never thought I'd miss narrative in a James Bond film. Neither did I think that I'd get tired of too much action; Quantum Of Solace annoyed me as it destroyed all the thrills that numerous bouts of action normally bring by going over the top of many "over the top" action clichés.

The movie opens with Bond in the middle a reckless car chase going through France and Italy, which barely gives you time to settle into your seat. At first I thought "great, this film is going to a hit with me," but no. The whole scene is ridden with incomprehensible CGI and annoying camera work, which leaves the viewer with their eyes blinking constantly in sheer frustration as they watch on.

The whole direction of the action scenes in Solace feels cheap and clumsy, with the camera work ranging from shaky to the completely unwatchable. The editing is similarly frustrating as the story moves along too quickly from scene to scene, leaving you wondering what the hell is exactly happening for a majority of the film's duration.

If you're also expecting a plot, then you're going to be sorely disappointed By Quantum. The tamely-named villain Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric) has it in his plans to steal Bolivia's water supply, but really, this is just a cheap plot device for Bond to avenge Vesper Lynd’s death from Casino Royale. Even then, the all-gun-and-no-talking the script fails to build upon the emotionally intensity of the character that was established so well in Craig's first outing as Bond.

I am a great admirer of the silliness in '80s action movies, but things get blown up purely for the sake of being blown up way too much in this film, and you become numb to it all very quickly. Craig's interpretation of Bond as the central figure here reminds me of a bully pissed off at the world because he dropped his toy out of the pram too many times as a kid. He is a cocky, virtually dialogue-free hot head, who goes around killing anyone that he so pleases. Gone are his sophisticated stealth abilities: He doesn't have to creep out on the ledge to spy on people anymore, he just walks up to the fence entrance of his enemy's headquarters and peers through, comfortably sat on his motorbike, without a care in the world.

007 is not an action hero and shouldn't ever try to be. He isn't American; he is written as a suave, British secret agent; he is not a ruthless revenge killer nursing a broken heart. Here he feels like a Jason Bourne clone (not a good thing).

In truth, I miss Bond's wit. Craig is a fine actor and made a cracking Bond in the last film, but his talents are wasted in this outing. Also, what happened to Q and Money Penny? Jedi Dench as M has more lines than anyone in this film. This isn't necessarily a bad thing -- for an old bird she can still kick it -- but I just hope the producers learn that Bond is not an action hero for the sake of the character's success. I'm looking at you here, Barbara Broccoli.

(C) Andy Carrington, 2008.