The meanest and leanest James Bond film yet, 'Quantum of Solace' is a breathless splash of high-speed action that hurtles from one reckless chase to another.

There's not much solace and few words as the British secret agent exercises his license to kill in dispatching one bad guy after another in the attempt to avenge the death of the lover who died two years ago in ‘Casino Royale’, Daniel Craig's acclaimed Bond bow.

Fans of that box office smash and the earlier films might be disappointed that the new film allows hardly any flourishes of style and character in the 007 tradition, but moviegoers seeking an adrenaline rush will be well pleased. Clocking in at 105 minutes – almost 40 minutes shorter than the bloated ‘Casino Royale’ – the film should do bristling business around the world. The Sony Pictures release opens Friday in the UK, and November 14 in North America.

So much of the movie comprises furious pursuits in boats, planes automobiles that director Marc Forster owes huge thanks to his talented technical crew. Second unit director Dan Bradley and stunt coordinator Gary Powell, both ‘Bourne’ veterans, must take a large chunk of the credit for all the thrilling encounters that leave credibility in the dust.

Forster's regular cinematographer, Robert Schaefer, and Oscar-winning production designer Dennis Gassner (‘Bugsy’) contribute fine work, and the intricate assembly by editors Matt Chesse and Richard Pearson is staggeringly effective. A gunfight cut against a lavish performance of ‘Tosca’ is an action triumph.

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