Action-packed Bond sequel
character, the film is a wall-towall rollercoaster ride. In fact, this might be the most actionpacked Bond ever.
The writing trio of Paul Haggis, Neil Purvis and Robert Wade throw everything but the kitchen sink at Bond. There are car chases, motorbike chases, boat chases and plenty of foot races. While it’s a big step up from all the recycled plots that plagued the Moore, and to a lesser extent the Brosnan, years, this feels like more of a chapter than a fully fledged story. And it turns Bond into a male version of The Bride from Kill Bill.
But purists who thought Royale was a bit slow and serious will be delighted with Solace‘ s pacing and pyrotechnics and the return of a few one-liners (‘‘I can’t find the stationery, will you come and help me look, ‘‘ is James’ latest chat up line), as well as the Bond-girl festooned credit sequence. – James Croot Insert Name Here 10pm, Duke Duke adds to its already impressive Thursday night British comedy line-up with this Sue Perkins presented panelshow which is all about famous people, past and present, who have just one thing in common, they share the same name. Our host invites two teams, headed up by captains Richard Osman and Josh Widdicombe, to battle it out, answering questions and competing to earn the right, at the end of the game, to decide the greatest ever bearer of that week’s name. ‘‘This pleasingly fast panel setup delivered a whole encyclopaedia of this kind of recyclable pub/lunch queue trivia,’’ wrote The Daily Express’ Matt Baylis. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy 8.30pm, Duke Martin Freeman, Sam Rockwell, Zooey Deschanel and Alan Rickman star in this 2005 adaptation of Douglas Adams’ much-loved sci-fi comedy book. ‘‘Hits the screen with its disarmingly droll spirit quite intact,’’ wrote The Hollywood
Michael Rechtstaffen.