The new James Bond movie is lean, mean and lacking in the high-tech gadgets and witty innuendo associated with the long-running series. As boring as it is busy, it's a non-stop chase like you're accustomed to seeing in any number of action movies today.

What's really odd is that the awkwardly titled "Quantum of Solace" is the first Bond movie that's a literal sequel. The story begins where "Casino Royale" left off in 2006. Although the narrative continuity and the returning presence of Daniel Craig as 007 should ensure that this movie remains safely in traditional Bond territory, it often seems like it's riffing on "The Bourne Ultimatum."

Scholars of the 22 Bond movies can argue over whether this is the worst entry in the series, but it's certainly not one of the best. The signs of trouble begin with the opening song by Alicia Keys and Jack White, whose crashing vocals sound like they were edited in a blender; and the accompanying title sequence likewise is a stylistic mess.

Some of the individual chase sequences that essentially make up the movie work on their own visceral terms, but they don't add up to a technically or thematically coherent movie. Oh, you can follow the revenge-driven story as it hops around Italy, Bolivia, Austria and Haiti, but that's not the same as caring about all those frequent flier miles and shootouts.

By turns sketchy and formulaic, that story basically involves Bond ruthlessly seeking revenge despite official orders to play by the marginally more polite spy rules. In other words, his boss wants him to capture bad guys for questioning, whereas Bond is more inclined to kill the bad guys now and not worry about asking questions afterwards.

Craig assumed the intimidating, near-sacred role of James Bond in "Casino Royale" and proved he could put an interesting humanistic spin on that cool character. Where he goes wrong in "Quantum of Solace" is that this refashioned Bond's pensive nature becomes downright sullen here. This unglamorous, tired-looking Bond seems like he needs a long vacation or a long session of psychotherapy.

The supporting performances offer glimmers of hope, as international performers including Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric, Giancarlo Giannini and Jeffrey Wright bring sections of the movie alive. Thank goodness for the reliable presence of Dame Judi Dench as M, because there's still a lot of enjoyment to be had watching her methodical personality go up against Bond's more impulsive nature.

Unfortunately, the general editing scheme is so frantic and senseless that the movie only works in small doses. To the extent that the narrative holds together, it thematically hammers home the point that this latest update of the Bond character treats him as a cold killing machine. He may be killing for valid reasons, but that doesn't necessarily make him a sympathetic character. If a James Bond movie isn't fun, what's the point? Grade: C

"Quantum of Solace" (PG-13) is now playing at area theaters.

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