Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Picking up shortly after the end of Casino Royale, Bond (Daniel Craig) pursues those responsible for killing the woman he loved. The quest leads him to a mysterious criminal organization known as Quantum and one of its members, Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), an environmentalist who brokers the overthrow of a South American country in exchange for the world's most valuable resource. Along the way, he partners with hottie Camille (Olga Kurylenko), who's in search of her own vengeance.

I strongly suggest a revisit to Casino Royale before watching the sequel, since it's essentially a continuation of the story. Character development in the first act is nonexistent, but in exchange are some of the most intense action scenes I've seen in any Bond film to date—a superbly crafted car chase through the winding mountain roads of Italy and a high-adrenaline boat chase in Haiti where Craig and Kurylenko perform their own stunts.

The AVC encode looks outstanding with razor-sharp detail, excellent contrast, and rich color palette. Depending on the locale, the cinematography changes to fit the surroundings. In Italy, the inviting countryside features deep greens and blues with relatively obscured film grain. Yet when Bond travels to Haiti, grain is more prevalent, contrast is heightened, and the color palette is more subdued. My only complaint is some minor instances of moir in what's otherwise a nearly perfect presentation.

The DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack is amazing and hits you right in the chest from the opening scene with deep, impactful LFE and a constant bombardment of discrete effects from every speaker. Dialog takes a backseat to the action in the screenplay, but it is always intelligible and easily understood, and the dynamics are first-rate in one of the best live-action tracks of the year.

Bonus-feature junkies will be disappointed in this offering, and I predict an eventual "collector's edition" and the dreaded double-dip. The modicum of supplements includes a music video, seven brief behind-the-scenes featurettes, and two trailers—all in high definition.

I found Quantum of Solace a hell of a ride with its intense action sequences, beautiful women, and superb presentation. The reboot of the Bond franchise was much needed, and Daniel Craig has solidified himself in the role. Before he's through, he may be considered the best of the bunch—yes, even better than Connery. Highly recommended.

Release Date: March 24, 2009
Studio: MGM

Movie: 8/10
Picture: 9/10
Sound: 10/10

Review System

Source
Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray player

Display
JVC DLA-RS1 projector
Stewart FireHawk screen (76.5" wide, 16:9)

Electronics
Onkyo Pro PR-SC885 pre/pro
Anthem PVA-7 amplifier
Belkin PF60 power conditioner

Speakers
M&K S-150s (L, C, R)
M&K SS-150s (LS, RS, SBL, SBR)
SVS PC-Ultra subwoofer

Cables
Monoprice HDMI cables (source to pre/pro)
Best Deal analog-audio cables
PureLink HDC Fiber Optic HDMI Cable System (15 meters) from pre/pro to projector

Acoustical treatments from GIK Acoustics