“They’ll print anything these days.” —James Bond
Today’s quick review: Tomorrow Never Dies. British secret agent James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) travels to Hamburg, Germany, to investigate Elliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce), a media mogul with a plan to ignite a war between China and Britain. To stop Carver’s operation, Bond must rekindle his relationship with Paris (Teri Hatcher), an old flame now married to Carver, and join forces with his Chinese counterpart Wai Lin (Michelle Yeoh).
Tomorrow Never Dies is a spy action adventure and the eighteenth film in the James Bond franchise. Pierce Brosnan’s second outing as Bond has the same emphasis on action as the first, matching GoldenEye in terms of extravagant stunts and destrction. This—along with a globe-trotting plot, a couple of neat gadgets, and a capable co-star in Michelle Yeoh—is enough to make Tomorrow Never Dies a worthwhile entry into the series.
In spite of its solid core, Tomorrow Never Dies faces stiff competition from other Bond films. Elliot Carver and his henchman Stamper (Gotz Otto) make for lukewarm villains, although the media angle is a welcome change of pace for the series. The plot is workmanlike, delivering plenty of action but few surprises. And while Wai Lin makes a good partner for Bond in the field, their relationship is missing the dynamism it needs to stand out.
Give Tomorrow Never Dies if you’re looking for a bit of popcorn action. Although it lacks the tact of the best Bond films, its raw spectacle is enough to make it an enertertaining watch, while its plot hits all the beats it needs to. Fans who prefer the more realistic, plot-focused Bond movies will want to steer clear. For a Bond film with a similar premise, try Thunderball or The Spy Who Loved Me.
6.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for solid action and a decent plot.