Despite mixed notices, the new James Bond film "Quantum of Solace" is breaking box-office records in Britain. However, the first stateside review for this 22nd entry in the franchise predicts producers will be shaken and audiences unstirred when the movie opens here Nov. 14. Indeed, Derek Elley of Variety thought the film -- the first direct sequel in the series' 45-year history -- "plays like an extended footnote to 'Casino Royale.'"

Two years ago, that film relaunched the character with a new actor, Daniel Craig, who won over audiences and critics alike. Indeed, "Casino Royale" was the most successful Bond film to date, grossing almost $600 million worldwide and coming in at 95 on Rotten Tomatoes and 81 at Meta Critic. It earned a record nine BAFTA nods, including a nom for Craig and a bid for best British film — Craig lost to eventual Oscar winner Forest Whitaker, whose film, "The Last King of Scotland," also prevailed. Despite this success, "Casino Royale" was ignored by the major American awards. Of course, to be snubbed by the Oscars was nothing new for Bond. Even after 21 movies, the franchise has managed only seven nods and two wins (sound for "Goldfinger" and visual effects for "Thunderball").

And although Golden Globe- and DGA-nominated director Marc Forster ("Finding Neverland") helms this new film, its awards potential is slight at best. As per Elley, "From the grittier lensing by Forster regular Roberto Schaefer, through the distractingly antsy editing by Matt Chesse and Richard Pearson, to the close-up second-unit work by Dan Bradley, 'Quantum' has a generic, in-your-face functionality and a restlessness that just wants to push the movie on to the next chase/shootout/slugfest, rather than, in the traditional Bond way, relishing the spaces in between." Although Forster did not get an Oscar nod for "Neverland," Chesse did, and Pearson was nommed for "United 93."

Though Craig is credited with delivering as strong a performance as possible given the weak plot, his hopes for kudos this year lie with "Defiance," which closes out the AFI filmfest this weekend. Craig plays one of three Jewish Polish brothers (alongside Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell) fighting with the Russian resistance in World War II. Writer-director Edward Zwick has proven adept at bringing epic stories to the screen ("Blood Diamond," "Glory") and getting his actors Oscar nods -- Leonardo DiCaprio ("Blood Diamond") -- if not wins -- Denzel Washington ("Glory"). With Craig looking less studly and more stolid, he could make it into the final five. Even in recent times, WWII-era dramas have garnered lots of Oscar gold with wins for Adrien Brody ("The Pianist") and Roberto Benigni ("Life is Beautiful"), and a nod for Tom Hanks ("Saving Private Ryan").

Perhaps the element of "Quantum of Solace" that has the best chance at awards glory is the theme tune -- "Another Way to Die" -- penned by rocker Jack White, who duets with Alicia Keys. Originally, Amy Winehouse was to record a song in the style of original Bond diva Shirley Bassey, but that fell by the wayside because of the Grammy champ's personal struggles. Surprisingly, neither of Bassey's big Bond hits -- "Goldfinger" and "Diamonds are Forever" -- earned an Oscar nod.

It would take former Beatle Paul McCartney and his 1973 title track for "Live and Let Die" to get any respect from the music branch of the academy. After this lost to "The Way We Were," the Bond producers signed up that song's composer, Marvin Hamlisch, to handle music duties on "The Spy Who Loved Me" in 1977. Although he got a nod for the song "Nobody Does It Better" (sung by Carly Simon), it lost to "You Light Up My Life," and his score was bested by "Star Wars."