I saw the new Bond movie this past weekend (Quantum of Solace) and just wanted to see if I was alone in my disappointment.  For those of you haven't seen the movie, but plan to - stop reading now.

The movie opens OK with Bond in a car chase, things blowing up, slamming into each other.  Good stuff.

But, I think there are a few essential elements to any Bond movie:

M:  OK, they had M but it was Judi Dench again which isn't my favorite role for her, but OK, she did a good job.

Q:  No Q??? How can you have a Bond movie without Q?

Gadgets:  Well, with no Q, no gadgets.  Come on! How cool is it to see Bond in a situation that no human can possibly escape and he hits a button on his watch and a laser cuts half the bad guys in half?

Very Cool Car:  Bond was driving an Aston Martin at the beginning of the movie but after that he could be found in either a Ford or a VW bug.  Neither of them had rockets, machine guns, ejector seats, etc. Heck, I don't even think they had GPS.

Evil Bad Guy:  Yes, there was one but he wasn't all that creepy compared to other Bond movie villians.

The biggest disappointment of all - the movie didn't end with Bond in bed with the "Bond Babe".  For this movie, it's Olga Kurylenko.  He clearly had a shot at the end of the movie but all she got was a love peck.  Yes, Bond had sex, but it was a one-night stand with a staffer who later became "the oil girl" - see the movie and you'll understand.

On top of all that, the action scenes are very choppy; it looked like they got a new editor who wanted to show off his talents. 

It was sad. I love Bond movies; they're great escapes from reality and they're perfect for couple viewing with the female drooling over Bond and the male drooling over the Bond Babe and loving the improbability of it all. 

Am I being overly critical?  Any Bond fans out there?  What's your favorite Bond movie and why?

Joetag,

I have to agree with you. I was truly disappointed. I grew up watching the old Bond flicks with my dad and grandpa. I felt there wasn't enough plot to the movie. It takes a long time to find out what the bad guy is even up to. And you see the water in the sinkhole, and that's the end of it. There was a chance to see everyone turn on their water again and celebrate but no. I felt like it was like, check out this car chase, five minutes of plot and talking, then check out this action sequence on foot, five minutes of plot, then check out this really cool plane chase, then two minutes of plot, then check out this fire action sequence, five minutes of plot. Then movie over. No hookup with the Bond girl, really. WTF? And the real 007 would never drive a Ford, are you kidding. Bond was way too serious. No quirky, smartass remarks like usual. And like you said, where's the gadgets, that was always my favorite part when I was a kid. I feel like they are making James Bond Jason Bourne. It's now a very thin line. Wait is it Jason Bond, James Bourne? I'm confused. But it's still a Bond Movie and still worth the money I paid to see it. And I will buy it as I am obligated to, but they are messing the formula that works. I remember when Coca Cola changed their formula, they changed it back. Maybe we true Bond fans will be so lucky in the next few 007's.

i don't know why it's so wrong to stray away from a template from time to time. quantum of solace was definitely weaker than casino royale but still one of the best bond movies by my standards. 

you have to remember that the daniel craig bond went back to the beginning, when he was still a rough, overly impulsive and naive thug.  in casino royale, he's freshly promoted to the 00 status. that is why you see no fancy gadgetry or countless one-night stands. this is an immature 007, one that has yet to be shaped and scared by false friendships, deceiving women, friendly fire and rogue tendencies. the two movies, or prequels, serve to show that bond so you can better understand how he became what he is in the later movies. 

to me, casino royale (the modern version) is the best bond movie ever made. it was perfectly written and executed despite the controversial casting of the lead character.