‘Die Another Day’ forges strong Bond
Pierce Brosnan returns as James Bond in the 20th film of the
franchise -- this one titled “Die Another Day.”
His newest mission begins with a hovercraft chase through a
minefield in the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea
and his newest case leads him from Hong Kong to Cuba to London. Bond
is after a traitor to prove that he is not one.
The newest Bond girs are Jinx, played aptly by Oscar-winner Halle
Berry (who has also secured herself a spin-off film -- the first ever
in the Bond franchise), and Miranda Frost, portrayed by Rosamund
Pike. Madonna makes a brief appearance as a fencing instructor and
supplies the opening theme.
Returning are Judi Dench as British Secret Service head M and John
Cleese as Q. The film also features Michael Madsen, Will Yun Lee and
Samantha Bond.
The rich bad guy this time around is Gustav Graves, played well by
Toby Stephens. He is assisted by ruthless henchman Zao, played by
Rick Yune.
Bond gives chase to Iceland, where he enters a true ice castle.
There, he is victim to a new mega-weapon.
Lee Tamahori directs a more rugged and louder Bond outing that at
times distracts from the realization that you are watching a very
long car commercial.
The lead female is more of a partner than a conquest, making “Die
Another Day” the first modern-era Bond film.
Brosnan looks as if he finds it difficult to compete with all the
special effects. Tamahori should have spent a little more money on
the computer graphics, as a few sequences suffer in credibility
because of poor screen craft.
The screenwriters, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, supply a weak plot
and minimal dialogue, which is at times witty, but most of the film
is nothing but action, sexual tension and techno-gadgets.
Thrown in at various intervals are nods to all of the 19 films
that preceded this one. Tamahori competently incorporates these
elements, from which we can extrapolate
how Bond has evolved over the years.
I’m all for getting one’s money’s worth, but at more than two
hours, the film does begin to lose its viewer’s attention, as the
fever-pitch action becomes desensitizing.
The film is what it is -- a guilty pleasure.
Except this one is “guiltier” than all the others. But I do
recommend going to see it.
* RAY BUFFER, 33, is a professional singer, actor and voice-over
artist.
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