007's next mission... to battle bad reviews

THE new James Bond film faces its most serious test when it opens to the public.

Tens of millions of pounds are being spent to promote Quantum Of Solace, the 22nd Bond film, in 40 countries worldwide.

But after a glittering premiere and one of the most hyped releases in a decade, the makers are facing major questions over the film's success.

Critics have attacked the production as "tosh", with reviewer Cosmo Landesman saying: "Bond is dead."

In The Sunday Times, Landesman said: "You almost feel a kind of patriotic duty to go out and see it. Don't bother. James Bond is dead. This is a back-to-basics Bond. It has been stripped of exotic locations, extravagant gadgetry, bikinied beauties and larger-than-life villains. So what's left? Not much."

The Daily Telegraph's Mark Monahan said: "The expository dialogue scenes can be dull, and cram in so many machinations and double-crossings that it's easy to lose track of who's duping whom."

The Independent also dismissed the film, saying it "didn't seem like a major entry into the Bond canon".

Promoters will now be relying on a $100 million (£60.3 million) advertising campaign to coax people into the cinema, as well as tie-ins with Virgin Atlantic, Sony, Smirnoff, Ford Motors, Heineken, Omega watches and Ericsson cell phones.

Olga Kurylenko, who plays Bond girl Camille, is promoting Heineken as well as Ford's new Ka.

The multi-media campaign includes TV, print, radio and online advertisements in 40 countries.

The concept for the film, which cost a reputed £140 million to make, comes from an Ian Fleming short story, but the plot was created on the hoof by producer Michael G. Wilson while he filmed its predecessor Casino Royale.

In it, Bond is seeking revenge for the death of his great love, Vesper Lynd.