Quantum of Solace

Quantum of Solace picks up minutes after the ending of Casino Royale with a battery of chase scenes that director Marc Forster, who can’t hold a shot for more than 24 frames, stages as a borderline parody of the Bourne films. After the frenetic first half-hour, the movie settles into its international criminal organization story line, at which point it really stops making sense. Like the superior Casino Royale, Quantum was co-written by Crash au-turd Paul Haggis, although I subscribe to my friend Mike’s theory that he only penned the bad parts. Daniel Craig is brutishly effective as James Bond (enough to make you hope he sticks around for better scripts), but for a film with so many exploding fireballs, it’s a real test of patience.