James Bond Films: Ranking Best To Worst

11. Quantum of Solace

I€™ve already gone into detail about why I defend this Bond film, so I won€™t start again. But whilst it has gone down a little in my estimation after re-examination, in my mind it stands as a great epilogue, and a travelogue that meditates on the emotion of revenge, even if the action sequences are ruined by Bourne-like editing and it all has to be carried by Craig for fear of falling apart. But I love the idea that QUANTUM is hoarding water, the further adventures of Felix Leiter, Strawberry Fields€™ oily death, and the reintroduction of Universal Exports- it€™s these little touches that are more Bondian than people acknowledge. If you consider this an epilogue, and see its predecessor€™s ranking, you€™ll understand why I love it so much. It owes a lot of credit to For Your Eyes Only, particularly in the motivations of Camille. The film looks beautiful, and there are some standout scenes like the floating opera (from Tuxedo theft to kitchen shootout, it€™s one of my favourite parts to any Bond film) and the finale in the Perlas De Las Dunas. So it€™s actually not a loss, or an incomprehensible mess like so many claim it is. It€™s just a flawed film, but not so flawed it doesn€™t deserve this place in the list.