Fans left shaken and stirred by Bond action

Dressed to thrill in my most Bond Girl-esque ensemble, I find myself on Her Majesty's Sequinned Service complete with an Aston Martin and my very own 007, writes Elizabeth Joyce.

OK, so he's no Daniel Craig but fellow Express & Star reporter Chris Moriarty makes a fine second best.

Our assignment, whether we chose to accept it or not, was to create an intelligence report on the Black Country's reaction to Quantum Of Solace.

In the new movie, the action unfolds in Panama, Chile and Mexico. Our location? Cineworld in Wednesfield, Wolverhampton.

It may not have been as glamourous, or as warm for that matter, but 007 was still all anyone could talk about.

Pelsall family Andy and Yvonne Harrington, aged 47 and 50, caught one of the first screenings with children Stephen, 12, Emma, 10, and David, eight.

Mr Harrington, an IT worker from Fairburn Crescent, said: "I thought it was absolutely brilliant. Bond is very mean and moody in this one."

Couples Keith and Liz Talbot, from Green Lane, Walsall Wood, and John and Vicky Gardener, of Beech Road, Willenhall, visited the cinema together.

Mr Gardener, 47, said: "I'm a software engineer so I was really interested in all his gadgets - if only my mobile phone could do what his can.

"I think Daniel Craig is the best Bond yet. He's the most realistic, he's the only one that bleeds."

Daniel also got the thumbs up from the ladies in the group.

Mrs Gardener, a 46-year-old teaching assistant, said: "He's absolutely gorgeous but unfortunately he doesn't wear the famous blue trunks in this one."

Phil, Deb and Charlotte Evans travelled from Lance Drive in Chase Terrace to see the film. Full-time mum Deb, aged 39, said the latest release was "typical James Bond" but really good fun.

BMW engineer Phil, 47, said the story followed on well from Casino Royale and so was a hit for avid fans. But he said Daniel Craig could still not topple Pierce Brosnan as the best Bond. Highfields Primary pupil Charlotte, 10, said: "The plane scene was my favourite bit."

Scott and Kirsten Kelly, from Falconer Close in Cheslyn Hay, were thrilled with the latest offering. "I really enjoyed it and I'll definitely be coming to see it again," said builder Scott, 35. Kirsten, 34, said: "I really liked sexy Daniel, but you didn't get to see as much of him in this one!"

Codsall High School students Emma Charlesworth, of St Andrew's Drive, Perton, and Charlotte Merrick, of Birches Road, Codsall, said they could not get enough of Daniel Craig. Emma, 17, said: "We weren't that big Bond fans before Daniel but we loved the last one and were so excited to see Quantum Of Solace."

Brothers Gavin and Kevin Wenlock were also among the first to catch Quantum of Solace at Cineworld.

Tesco store manager Gavin, 29, from Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, said they had been planning for a long time to come along on opening night.

"We are both big fans," he said. "Daniel Craig is the best Bond. Sean Connery is the one to be up against but Daniel Craig has definitely pulled it off. They have managed to re-energise the whole Bond franchise and he is the best actor to be able to do that.

"I think the tickets were worth every Moneypenny!"

l The fans posed next to an Aston Martin DB9S courtesy of Fred Pritchard, chief executive of The Pritchard Group of Companies based in Cannock.

l Chris's tuxedo was courtesy of Greenwoods Menswear, Mander Centre, Wolverhampton