--- title: "Quantum of Solace: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/quantum-of-solace/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/quantum-of-solace" critics_score: 50 critics_reviews: 18 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Quantum of Solace (2008): what the critics said Critics' score 50 from 18 reviews: 5 positive, 5 mixed, 8 negative. Critics split down the middle on Quantum of Solace, with more against than for. The one point of agreement is Daniel Craig: nearly every review, including the harshest, finds him a magnetic, physically committed Bond, ruthless and watchable. The stunt work and the pace draw praise too, along with a gun battle staged during a performance of Tosca, which several critics single out as the film’s best sequence. The reservations gather around what the film leaves out. Most critics miss the wit, charm and gadgets of earlier Bonds and find the tone grim and humourless; several call the plot thin and the villain underpowered. The action divides them: some find it relentless and exciting, others shaky and hard to follow, with more than one comparing it unfavourably to the Bourne films. The spread is wide. Screen Daily stands nearly alone in calling it a remarkable action film, while The Times dismisses it as the most boring Bond ever made. ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 20 October 2008. Craig owns the role with steely magnetism, but the film's relentless pace, art direction and Forster's technical ambition make it one of the most remarkable action films ever made. The plot may be thin and reference-heavy, yet the streamlined execution and muscular reinvigoration of the franchise are strengths. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/quantum-of-solace/4041477.article) ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps Rating B. 13 November 2008. The review finds the film efficient and dark with strong performances but criticizes its lack of novelty, uneven action sequences, and failure to deepen themes or expand scale beyond being a solid but disappointing sequel. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/quantum-of-solace-1798205224) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). A pacy, visually imaginative follow-up to Casino Royale that keeps the story moving urgently as a true sequel. It is exciting but not particularly fun, with a sense that Bond's larger mission is only beginning. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/quantum-solace-review/) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 14 November 2008. The review portrays the film as a grim, downcast evolution of Bond into a tragic, vengeful figure continuing directly from Casino Royale. It praises the strong supporting cast, especially Mathieu Amalric as the villain, while noting the intense but less brutal violence and overall somber mood. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/14/arts/14iht-14quan.17821848.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Ray Bennett Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 24 October 2008. The critic praises the film's relentless high-speed action and technical efficiency but notes it lacks traditional Bond style, character flourishes, and redeeming qualities, risking a portrayal of Bond as a murderous thug. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/film-review-quantum-solace-125068/) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 9 November 2008. The critic sees the film as a savage, masochistic decline into raw desperation and violence with a sketchy plot and stripped-down style. He singles out the strong performance by Daniel Craig for praise and notes a standout Tosca sequence as one of its better elements. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/11/17/soul-survivor) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 2/4. 11 November 2008. The critic finds the film a disappointing, soulless action exercise that strips Bond of wit and charm, reducing him to a grim, violent figure with little personality. He singles out the lack of humor, gadgets, and proper Bondian style for complaint, while noting Daniel Craig remains a strong physical presence. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/quantum-of-solace-2008) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 18 October 2008. The critic admits the film did not excite as much as Casino Royale and finds the villain underpowered, but praises Daniel Craig's coolly ruthless performance as Bond. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/oct/18/jamesbond1) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The film is a grey, not very sexy and rather humourless let-down that pursues a grimly downbeat realistic tone at the expense of Bond's traditional appeal and fun. Craig's physically committed performance cannot compensate for the lack of spark or memorable elements. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/bond-the-broken-man-7438843.html) ## Slant Magazine — Bill Weber Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 13 November 2008. The critic finds the film uneven and disappointing, squandering the reboot's novelty on navel-gazing and pretentious elements while mishandling action sequences despite some credible human drama. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/quantum-of-solace/) ## Radio Times — Jamie Healy Rating 3 out of 5. Troubled production and a writer's strike explain why the film fails to match its predecessor, with a nonsensical paranoid storyline and title. Viewed purely as an action spectacle it delivers excitement through shaky-cam fights and an opera gun battle, and Craig remains watchable despite being ill-served by the material. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-woohlk/quantum-of-solace/) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 31 October 2008. The film delivers mechanical, metronomic action thrills that quickly become fatiguing and leaves the viewer entertained to the point of boredom. Craig's Bond is reduced to one-note, humourless machismo with little wit, charm or fun. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/quantum-of-solace-12a-979856.html) ## Time Out — Wally Hammond Rating 3 out of 5 stars. 20 October 2008. The critic calls it a slightly disappointing, furiously-paced hi-tech sequel that throws the viewer immediately into frenetic globe-trotting action and revenge-driven plotting. While praising the impressive stunt work and new Bond woman, they note scant time for character, story, fun or wit, describing the result as cynical and brutal. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/quantum-of-solace-4) ## The Times — Cosmo Landesman Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 26 October 2008. The critic calls it the most boring Bond film ever, an action film on autopilot with bland crash-bang-wallop that produces instant amnesia and lacks the franchise's traditional appeal. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/quantum-of-solace-the-sunday-times-review-6lkx27b77v7) ## Digital Spy — Stella Papamichael Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 27 October 2008. The plot feels hazy and the film plays like a drawn-out finale, but it delivers gob-smacking stunts and Craig is magnetic as a fallible, rage-driven Bond, the best yet. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a133842/quantum-of-solace/) ## /Film — David Chen Rating 6.5/10. 15 November 2008. The critic finds the film a disappointing follow-up to Casino Royale, criticizing its messy plot, weak villain, and poorly shot action sequences that imitate the Bourne films without success. Craig's performance and a few intense moments are praised, but overall it fails to deliver emotional depth or coherent storytelling. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/501394/movie-review-quantum-of-solace/) ## Den of Geek Rating 3 out of 5. 27 October 2008. The film is dour and heartless without humor or wonder, terminally picaresque and lacking the predecessor's focus, but Craig delivers depth and Judi Dench is a powerhouse. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/quantum-of-solace-review/) ## The Playlist — Rodrigo Perez Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 13 November 2008. The review judges the film harshly as a step backward from Casino Royale, faulting its chaotic, incomprehensible action, thin plot about water rights, and lack of heart or inventiveness. It feels like a generic Bourne rip-off with little character development or memorable elements. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/quantum-of-solace-cant-hope-to-compete-20081113/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/quantum-of-solace.md