Quantum of Solace

Growing up, the Bond films I saw were travelogues packed with girls, gadgets, evil villains and inappropriate quips whenever a bad guy died. Over time the plots became ever more baroque and improbable, taking second place to the increasing array of gagdets and customised vehicles. No more. Those days are gone. Bond was re-booted in the shadow of Bourne. QofS strongly suggests that from now on, the Bond films will be more closely connected to each other. There are plenty of Quantum operatives glimpsed in this film who may yet reappear in subsequent movies, and the events of Casino Royale are referenced frequently.
The gadgets and quips no longer take centre-stage, though the occasional sarcastic remark remains, and girls no longer appear merely to end up in Bond's bed. In fact, on current form that's a sure way to end up dead. A variation on the fate of Jill Masterson happens to one unlucky character. The villains have also changed. They are no longer megalomaniacs holed up in their elaborate (but eminently destructable) lairs while hell-bent on world domination. These men are out in the world, moving in high circles but all the while minions of the mysterious Quantum. Dominic Greene achieves his nefarious aims via his environmentally-aware company, not that the plot is particularly clear. Like the last Bourne film, QofS moves at such a pace that exposition is left well behind, and when it's there, it's often buried beneath an impenetrable accent or is way down in the mix and difficult to hear. Luckily, you're so gripped by the action that it doesn't really matter. Crunching car/boat/foot chases and fights are all present and correct, without losing the emotional element introduced in Casino Royale. I wouldn't describe QofS as "fun" in the manner of the Connery films, but it's an exciting action film with brains as well as brawn.