When Daniel Craig took over the role of 007 the world of Bond became significantly less shiny. His coarse portrayal of the queens greatest spy in Casino Royal (2006) was rougher around the edges than for example Pierce Brosnans previous attempts, a fine character change generally welcomed by the critics and the cinemagoers. But does the new Bond movie also promise gritty with just a side serving of glamour? Well, judging by the trailer and the gossip from the set it certainly does.



Quantum of Solace filming was apparently quite the harsh affair according to reports by the Daily Mail. Craig injured his arm so badly he had to wear it in a sling and another time bled so much from his hand he had to go to hospital, a stuntman also crashed an Alfa Romeo and a mechanic drove another car into a lake. All action on the set hopefully means all action on the screen.

Quantum of Solace begins only an hour after where Casino Royal left off, when Bond sets out to seek revenge for the death of Vespa Lynd. His job at the MI6 however soon takes him on a chase of an environmentalist that plans to take hold of Bolivias water supply. These two stories soon intertwine in the film, which was shot on location in Panama, Chile, Italy and Austria, and in Pinewood studios. The title is taken from an unrelated line in Ian Flemmings For Your Eyes Only.

The Quantum of Solace trailer sees the well-built actor topless and dirty more times than in the traditional suave Bond tux, and there is definitely more rocks, dust and building sites than there is gold, gadgets and Monaco. It all points to some grimy action fun in the cinemas when the film premiers at the end of this month.

It is nevertheless a risky game played by Craig and director Marc Foster, to change some of cornerstones of what makes Bond, well, Bond. Gone are the gadgets and tech wizardry of previous eras and the action carries more dramatic realism and gritty bone popping, stomach churning violence. Daniel Craig portrays a hard, unsympathetic and often cruel James Bond that would think nothing of gouging someone's eye out to get the information he needs.

If the director and writer were one-time lucky or smart twice with the unpolished 007 remains to be seen on the 31st of October when the Quantum of Solace is released in UK cinemas.