Bond is Back!
Even After 19 Films, He Still Kicks Butt
The nice thing about seeing a 007 movie is the comforting feeling of knowing what one will see, more or less. There's always the fast-paced introduction, the bizarre title sequence, and the great moment when our hero has to introduce himself as "Bond. James Bond." The nineteenth 007 movie, The World is Not Enough is no exception. It's a Bond movie through and through.
Written by: Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Bruce Feirstein, based on characters by Ian Fleming
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Sophie Marceau, Robert Carlyle, Denise Richards, Robbie Coltrane, Judi Dench, Desmond Llewelyn, and John Cleese
Rated
(for intense sequences of action violence, some sexuality and innuendo)Running time: 128 min.
FilmGuru's Rating : 7 out of 10.
After an oil magnate is assassinated in the offices of the British secret service, the heir (Sophie Marceau) to her family's dynasty finds herself in danger. As a favor to the family, M (Dame Judi Dench) asks everyone's favorite superspy James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) to protect Elektra.
Although the terrorist Renard (Robert Carlyle) escaped his last encounter with the British secret service, he finds himself dying from a bullet that had lodged in his gray matter. Renard feels nothing, his sense of touch cut off by the bullet's path through his brain. He is impervious to pain. He's stronger and able to push himself harder than any man. Now he is after Elektra, and Bond has to stop him.
As a Bond movie, The World is Not Enough excels. It has two great chase scenes early on, and makes good -- but sparing -- use of nifty gadgets. Most importantly, every Bond cliche is here, from the martini to the car with all the extras.
There are two beautiful female leads in Marceau and Denise Richards (Wild Things). The latter plays a nuclear scientist, Dr. Christmas Jones. Although Marceau is perfect for her role, Richards doesn't come across as genuine. I couldn't believe her as a spaceship pilot in Starship Troopers, and I can't believe her as a nuclear scientist now. She just doesn't have the acting ability to pull it off.
Favorite characters, such as M, Miss Moneypenny (Samantha Bond), and Q (Desmond Llewelyn ) return, bringing with them a wonderful sense of continuity. Even the untrustworthy Russian Zukovsky (Robbie Coltrane) makes his second appearance since Goldeneye. Introduced into the Bond folklore is R (British comedian John Cleese), who will replace the aging Q in further installments of the series.
The politically correct adaptation of Bond that has plagued the last couple of movies seems to be gone. This Bond is steeped in innuendo and chauvinistic behavior. I for one am glad to see him back to his old self. There is plenty of sexual tension in this film, making up for his lukewarm encounters of the past few years. This a return to true character form. Love him or hate him, you know he's Bond.
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