| [3.5] "There's no point living if you can't feel life" |
And there is no point in watching this movie unless you are a serious Bond fan who wants to keep up with every film. The World Is Not Enough has two great things going for it, and thats the extent I got out of this film. Its not a bad movie, its just not up to par with the other so many great Bond films out there. The pre-credits scene is the best pre-credits action scene ever in a Bond film - and its the best part of this movie. The other great thing is the character Elektra King. Her chemistry with Bond and her own secrecy was quite mysterious.
It's sad when I am waiting for the ending of a Bond movie to come. Some parts of the movie were very good, and then there are others that just made me feel like ugh. The story was never interesting, as much as I tried to get into it. I won't say it was the easiest thing to follow either. I was captivated, however, by any events surrounding Elektra. She fooled Bond for quite some time - and me too, believing she was an innocent woman. Though she really isn't the main villain in this film, her character was strong enough to hold the role. The main villain, Renard, was a big dissapointment. He had the ability to be a very original villain, being shot in the head once and escaping death. The result - he cannot feel anything, including any pain. One would think such a villain would destroy his enemies in the fight scenes. One would think. The final fight between Renard and Bond felt very weak, despite the creativity that they are fighting in a submarine that has fliped vertically.
The action was actually limited in this film too. The action scenes that are presented, felt rather dull. Though there is some originality with the copters that have hanging blades and saws from their base, cutting everything in sight, that was about the only interesting scene of action. As mentioned earlier, its the pre-credits scene that steals the show. It is the most amazing boat chase, involving the Q boat piloted by Bond, who ends up taking shortcuts through the streets and buildings in London, before landing back on the water.
Pierce Brosnan actually did pretty good in this film, maybe a bit better than his previous two films. The role of Bond seems to now fit him well, and he has found a comfortable level of flow. Aside from Elektra, the rest of the characters were rather dull. Again, the villain Renard is easily forgettable, and Denise Richards as Christmas Jones was embarrassing - specifically, she just can't act. Most Bond villains have decent henchmen, but not here. The closest we get is a guy named Bull, who is all show and no action.
Ok movie overall, but one of the most uninteresting Bond films ever. One of the best female charcaters and a great pre-credits action scene are the higlights. Die hard fans will still find enough to appreciate it, but for those who are comfortable with films like "Goldfinger" and "Spy Who Loved Me", this just can't compare.
Acting - 3
Action - 3.5
Characters - 3.5
Story - 3
Overall - 3.5
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3 Rating
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| James Bond Reporting For Work |
More like 3.5 stars. Only three movies in and Brosnan is on autopilot. Disengaged and discontented he dutifully kills the bad guys, recites the trademark catchphrases, chats w/ M, Q & Moneypenny and boffs the lovely ladies. The promise of GoldenEye is wasted on the humorless Brosnan. The plot and character motivations are a bit more sophisticated than past Bonds and Judi Dench is a great Q. The opening scene is truly exhilarating and the Bond song ranks high in the series. The movie lacks both the tongue in cheek sexiness Connery trademarked and the joie de vivre Moore stamped onto the series. Instead, we get an actor who is a bit thin for the role & who talks as if he has a headache the entire movie. This indifference gives the entire movie, even the elaborate and slighty exhausting action scenes, a certain perfunctatoriness. For what they're paying him, you'd think Brosnan could suck it up and play pretend if only for the audience's sake. Denise Richards is easily the worst Bondbabe ever. Nuclear physicist? I wouldn't trust that rude, pouty, sarcastic teenage girl with a bowl of corn flakes. She's better looking but about as sexy as John Cleese. Sophie Marceau is gorgeous but has far too much dialogue for a nonactor. On the other hand, talented actor Robert Carlyle has far too little to do here as the main baddie. A dispiriting mailed-in effort by almost all involved made w/ the smug and, sadly, justified expectation that filmgoers these days will watch anything bearing the Bond trademarks. |
4 Rating
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