This one is very much like License to Kill in that it is really more of a revenge tale than a Bond flick. Bond is out to discover who is behind Vesper Lynd's betrayal from the previous movie, and on the way uncovers a secret organization called Quantum which, while not responsible for Vesper's death directly, set in motion events that caused her death. At the end of the movie after Bond gets his revenge (seemingly), he realizes that it only offered him-- wait for it-- a QUANTUM OF SOLACE (!), and is not worth the internal torment and distraction from his duty it caused.
A Bond movie is always evaluated on two levels: 1) its artistry, and 2) its adherence to the "canon" of James Bond-- i.e., martinis, sexy women, fast cars, cool gadgets, sly humor, etc. On the former, it seemed to me to be pretty fair without being spectacular. The majority of the complaints from critics and fans are of the latter kind: that it just wasn't a Bond movie. Personally, I think that they just need to look closer.
Casino Royale (the first one) "rebooted" the franchise by introducing Bond as more gritty, brutal, and coarse (and blonde!) than we are used to. Even amongst all the talk over how great a movie Casino Royale was, there was some concern: is the new Bond for the 21st Century going to be too dark? This movie will probably not allay any fears since it goes over the top with the grit and grime, but I think that that is more to wrap up that side of Bond and justify the transition to the devil-may-care cynicism which permeated the traditional Bond. It's catharsis, and nothing shows that more than the ending of the movie.
Bond drops the necklace Vesper wore (the symbol of his continuing love for her) in the snow and walks away without looking back. That part of his life is over: he will never open his heart again, but he will also never let his personal feelings blind him to his duty again. This is all essential to tell the real story of who Bond is and why he is the way he is. He wraps himself in a suave and cynical demeanor because he has learned his lesson the hard way. He indulges in the best wine, women, and toys because he knows every moment might be his last. Like pretty much all "manly" men Bond is afraid of what he can't control, and highest on that list are his feelings and how others respond to them. Mark my words, the next movie will be a transition to the more traditional Bond, which is why the iconic walk-turn-shoot that usually opens every Bond movie is at the END of this one. Everything in a well-made movie has significance and meaning.
Overall, I felt this movie was artistically enjoyable, and was a good deal more enjoyable as a Bond flick than most people give it credit for. If you're trying to understand Bond as a character and not as just a cool guy with cool toys, this movie is a can't-miss.
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