Month: November 2022

“How’s that for a punchline?” —Zao

Today’s quick review: Die Another Day. Betrayed and captured while on a mission in North Korea, British agent James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) is set free in exchange for Zao (Rick Yune), a North Korean terrorist. To catch Zao again, Bond travels to Cuba, where he teams up with Jinx (Halle Berry), a talented American agent. Their search for Zao’s backer eventually leads them to Gustav Graves (Toby Stephens), an ostentatious diamond billionaire.

Die Another Day is a spy action adventure and the twentieth film in the James Bond franchise. Pierce Brosnan’s last excursion as Bond follows in the footsteps of his first: flashy action, high-tech gadgets, and a satellite superweapon for Bond to stop. Die Another Day cuts loose in a way that’s rare even among Bond films. The result is over-the-top action and spectacle that comes at the expense of the film’s story and sense of grounding.

Die Another Day’s willingness to be bold is its greatest strength and its greatest weakness. Everything is larger-than-life, from the villains to the stunts to the scenery. The upshot of this is that the action is larger-scale than most Bond movies, and it never lets up for long. The downside is that the movie goes a little too far. The exaggerated nature of the conflict makes it harder to invest in, and the plot logic is thin in places.

Give Die Another Day a shot when you’re in the mood for a fun popcorn watch. The movie misses out on some of the subtler virtues the James Bond series has to offer, but its action and sense of adventure make it an entertaining pick nonetheless. Viewers who enjoy all-out action will have a good time. Those who prefer more grounded spy drama may want to skip it. For a more polished Bond movie in the same vein, try GoldenEye.

6.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for over-the-top action with a few rough edges.

“Always have an escape plan.” —Q

Today’s quick review: The World Is Not Enough. When Renard (Robert Carlyle), an international terrorist, murders a British oil billionaire, Agent James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) travels to Azerbaijan to protect Elektra King (Sophie Marceau), the deceased man’s daughter, as she works to complete her father’s oil pipeline. Bond searches for Renard’s mole in her operation, only to discover that the terrorist is planning more than just a simple murder.

The World Is Not Enough is a spy action thriller and the nineteenth film in the James Bond franchise. The World Is Not Enough features a more elaborate plot than most entries into the series, following Bond as he investigates the elaborate chain of events leading to a billionaire’s murder. The movie also places a greater emphasis on character than other Bond films, yielding interesting conflicts and a robust story that doesn’t skimp on the action.

Still, The World Is Not Enough suffers from the same deficiency as many other Bond films: Renard and his plan do not compare to the greatest villains the series has to offer. The movie works well enough on a moment-to-moment basis, balancing action and intrigue in equal measure, but it’s not as audacious or memorable as the best Bond adventures. As such, in spite of strong fundamentals, it is easy to overlook in favor of flashier fare.

The World Is Not Enough is a strong pick for fans of the series, especially those looking for an adventure that has a little more substance to it. The movie is not quite as sharp as it could have been, especially when it comes to its climax, but it still makes for an entertaining popcorn watch that caters to Bond’s strengths. Skip it if you dislike Pierce Brosnan or are looking for a more realistic thriller.

For a more serious Bond movie with a winding plot and an expanded role for M, try Skyfall. For a classic Bond movie with an elaborate plot, check out From Russia With Love. For an action thriller that uses similar plot elements, check out Inferno.

6.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for a strong plot backed by plenty action.