The
World is Not Enough (1999)
James Bond's 19th film. Well, Pierce Brosnan's
3rd James Bond film, I guess. The movie's is okay. But
the magic seems to be gone. Everyone seems to be going
through the motions, in particular director Michael
Apted. He seems to direct the film from his suite at
a Nursing Home. The thing is paced at a speed that a
"power-walker" could surpass. It may go and go on occasion,
but there is no sense of urgency. It's all pretty typical.
Still, there are moments of fun and frolic, here and
there, at least.
Brosnan's allure has dimmed some. He doesn't
seem fully into the role here. It's as if he were phoning
it in. But how much of this is lackluster acting and
how much is supposed James Bond suave? Judi Dench, meanwhile,
has a more involved role as "M," but she seems only
barely interested as well. Robbie Coltrane - ditto.
It's getting "old hat" for these folks.
The film has strong points in Robert Carlyle
as the villain and in a (not-so) surprise cameo. Carlyle
makes every moment he has on screen squeak with edge
and interest. Too bad he's relegated to a sort-of secondary
villain role. A true mad-capper between he and Brosnan
might be one of the best Bond outings of all time, given
a good script. As for the cameo. Let it surprise you
if you don't already know. It's a small cameo, however,
and one that only hints at a promise of some interesting
moments in future Bond sequels.
What doesn't work in the film are the female
"interests." Denise Richards is all tits. And teeth.
She has nothing else to offer here. Her performance
is laughable. Truly atrocious. Sophie Marceau shows
promise of being an interesting chemical ignition for
Brosnan's Bond and then fizzles like a dud. It's sad,
really.
The film opens with a 20 minute, pre-credits
action sequence that is quite good. It's the best thing
you will see in the film and, in a way, worth the price
of admission. But Apted is much more cerebral than kinetic
and his film is soon bogged down in plot and dialogue.
Brosnan even has a rough go of sputtering out some of
the inane sexual innuendo. And when is Moneypenny going
to sue for sexual harassment? Bond pulls a "joke" here
with her that opens the door for some cleaver banter
but that would get you or I fired from any real job.
The action sequences include a lot of water
(remember the frantic nature of "Speed 2?"). There's
motorboats and submarines galore here. Plus some action
on skis and a hot air balloon and some parachuting snowmobiles.
And lotsa "bomb talk" and gunplay. Doesn't sound like
the stuff of wham-bam action flicks does it? Again,
only one of these moments has any real interest at all
and that is the opening sequence. The rest of the film
seems to have way too many "Yeah, Right!" moments.
Bottom line: I'm not a big Bond fan. This
movie was just "okay" as far as I was concerned. For
an opinion by someone who is deep into the genre, you
will have to look elsewhere, I'm afraid. But, if your
like me, just a casual viewer, the holiday film slate
seems to hold many better options and choices for you.
You'll see trailers for a lot of these films on the
Bond movie, at least.
Note: Also known as "Bond 19," "Bond 2000,"
"Fire and Ice," "Death Waits for No Man," "Pressure
Point" and by it's initials: "T.W.I.N.E."
The film's release date: 11/19/99
Opening song performed by Garbage.
"The World is Not Enough," in Latin, is
cited as the Bond family motto in both novels and prior
film outings.
Several "Bond Girls" from previous films
were to have cameos in the film. If they're here, no
big deal is made of it.
Brosnan's 3 Bond films: Goldeneye (1995)
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) The World is Not Enough (1999)
More
of Lodger's reviews indexed alphabetically! Just click
your favorite letter to go there.
a
b c
d e
f g
h i
j k
l m
n o
p q
r s
t u
v w
x y
z
HOME
|
In
Association with:
|
Posters From!
|
|
Please Visit
|
|
