It’s nearly a month until Quantum of Solace hits theaters here in the United States and it won’t be screening for American critics until later this week, but over in the UK reviewers are already starting to sing the latest Bond movie’s praise. 007 is after all, a British invention, and so they’re getting an earlier look at his new movie than the rest of us. The consensus, at least among those UK reviewers who’ve seen it, seems to be that while it’s not as good as the last one, this Bond is still good. Assuming of course, you actually liked Casino Royale. Me, I’m still pining for Brosnan.

Here’s a quick look at some of the first reviews, most of which are generally positive, for Casino Royale:

“…for the most part the villainy rightly takes a back seat to Bond's emotional journey.” - Lizo Mzimba, BBC
Wait, didn’t I say these were positive? That doesn’t sound very positive Lizo Mzimba. Maybe you meant it to sound positive, but I don’t go see Bond movies for emotional journeys. That’s why we have Nights in Rodanthe. Come on people, doesn’t he mostly just blow stuff up?

“If anything, the crunching chase sequences in Quantum of Solace are even more magnificently dangerous. And the daredevil leaps and tumbles through glass roofs are just as sensational as the splintering high-speed pyrotechnics.” - James Christopher, Times Online
Thank you James Christopher! Now that sounds like a Bond movie I might like to see.

“Our hero writes off a fleet of cars, blows up a helicopter and military jetfighter, destroys a cargo plane and several boats and, well . . . you get the idea. So this film is not as ground-breaking as Casino Royale. But it will kick the living daylights out of any rival action-hero franchises.” – The Sneak, The Sun
Someone show The Sneak a Bourne movie. He/she/it needs some perspective.

“There are no risque quips or arched eyebrows. This Bond is a soul in torment having lost the love of his life when Vesper Lynd drowned.” – David Edwards, Mirror
More emotional meandering. Forget the guns, Bond needs an analyst. David Edwards, you have successfully made Quantum of Solace sound like Max Payne.

”It’s a hugely enjoyable ride, and Craig continues to be brilliant, but you may still feel more risk-taking is needed before 007 can emerge from the shadow cast by one of his contemporaries.” – Jack Foley, IndieLondon
They’ve thrown out the martinis and all the catch phrases, what risks are left to be taken with this thing? I guess they could still change his name to Austin Powers.

“Quantum of Solace isn't as good as Casino Royale: the smart elegance of Craig's Bond debut has been toned down in favour of conventional action. But the man himself powers this movie; he carries the film…” – Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
Ah yes, but does Bond get hit in the balls? Let’s face it, that’s the real reason people liked Casino Royale. It worked for Bob Saget and it worked for Casino Royale.

”So, if Quantum of Solace lacks Casino Royale's narrative drive, and is less than the sum of its parts, those parts are often terrific. See it for them, and see it for Craig's fully-formed Bond: angry, icily unsentimental, and fleetingly borderline psychotic at the close.” – Mark Monahan, Telegraph
Is the movie actually good, or are the nation of Britain’s film critics collectively asking Daniel Craig out on a date?

“Quantum Of Solace is a crushing disappointment. Try as you might, you'll be unable to invest in any of the characters – now Bond's heart has been broken, it's like nothing ever changed and the character exists simply to get to the next location and car chase and gun fight.” – The Shiznit
The Shiznit is home to the only truly negative review out there so far. However, it’s from a website named The Shiznit, which means they have even more than the usual amount of credibility, because their name is funny.