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Overview
Pierce Brosnan returns to grace the silver screen in the
newest installment of James Bond. Claiming to be his last Bond
film, Brosnan reveals a different side to the cunning and
suave operating methods of everyone’s favorite MI6 agent,
aside from Q. Recessing to the older styles of James Bond
films. Die Another Day isn’t one of the best Brosnan Bond
films I have seen. Filled with over the top stunts and sleek
techno-gadgets, D.A.D seems to phony and false for 21st
century Bond.
Review
The latest James Bond movie filmed by Lee Tamahori, feels that
it was over done like the old Bond movies. The 20th film
begins in the Demilitarized Zone of Korea where an illegal
arms trade is about to occur. After the traditional opening
fight scene on hovercrafts speeding through mine fields, Bond
is unexpectedly captured and tortured for over a year. After
severe Cold War interrogation tactics, MI6 plans for his
release, only to greet James with a less than stellar
greeting. M, calls Bond a liability and a relic.
In traditional James Bond fashion, Brosnan goes solo to try to
avenge his captors and set things right, with his license to
kill and all.
After some interesting plot developments James meets the Bond
film archetypes. Dashing evil entrepreneur Gustav Graves (Toby
Stephens), Evil Bond girl Miranda Frost (Rosamund Pike), and
Bond girl Jinx (Halle Berry). The movie progresses up to the
second elaborate fight scene in Iceland. At an exquisite party
hosted in a mansion carved of ice, Gustav unveils his latest
toy/invention “Icarus”. A huge satellite loaded with
reflective plates, creating a second sun. Claiming to use it
for more daylight for farming, Graves really plans to carve a
path through the minefield in the DMZ to invade South Korea.
Sounds like current events huh? As promised, James Bond
trashes the palace with his high-tech invisible BMW
masterpiece. This trite formula is beginning to taste a little
stale. All the way up through the final scene, this action
packed roller coaster closer steers clear of reality.
Nevertheless, Die Another Day is a moderately entertaining
action film.
James’ insatiable lust for the opposite sex gets him into a
lot of trouble. Maybe next time he will think twice before he
jumps into bed . . . nah. As always, everything comes out in
the wash for our debonair British hero and ends up scoring
with several attractive women several times. The life of a
camp genre spy must be difficult. Playing with the coolest
hi-tech toys, never getting hurt (not the case in Die Another
Day), and meeting gorgeous women all the time.
Acting
As always, Pierce Brosnan does an excellent job portraying
James Bond. His suave appeal and bravado set the bar for
future Bond actors to come. Many people say Sean Connery was
the best Bond, but Brosnan gives him a run for his money.
Newcomer Halle Berry was mediocre, at best. She missed a
certain something to be considered a Bond girl. Once again the
new Q appears in Die Another Day, John Cleese. Famous for the
British comedy Money Python series, Cleese is a marvelous
actor. As Mr. Cleese ages his sense of humor does as well.
Progressing from zany random antics in The Flying Circus to a
dry humor John Cleese is the perfect replacement for the old
Q. Also appearing in this movie is Madonna. Even though her
acting wasn’t too bad, she soured anything she touched. It
almost seemed that because she performed the title track, she
automatically had rights to be in the film. Mind you she is
only in a small part, it still reeks of a whiny pop-star
goddess. Madonna in a movie has the anti-Midas touch.
Directing
Lee Tamahori directs Die Another Day, with less than flawless
skill. The newest James Bond reflects older Bond movies with a
crazy villain set to destroy the world. The past few Bonds
however were more economic terrorists. I didn’t like the whole
“second sun” satellite that destroys everything in its path.
Although Goldeneye was also a satellite movie, it had weapons
on it, not a giant plate that reflects sunlight into a column
of flame. Tamahori almost forced the audience to believe,
rather than let them believe on their own. Bond films are
always over the top, but this one seems to go too far.
Final Thoughts
Although I enjoyed the time I spent in the theatre watching
Die Another Day. It was entertaining, but when I stepped back
to look at it I noticed it wasn’t as good as others. I would
have to say my favorite Brosnan Bond film was probably
Goldeneye. It was traditional Bond but with a new edge. I give
this film 3 Planets. It was good Saturday night movie fodder
but that’s all it was. Die Another Day is a movie that you go
see just because you like the Bond Universe. Unless you are a
diehard James Bond fan, wait until Die Another Day comes out
on DVD and go rent it.
Jameson
Rating: 3 out of 5 Planets
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