‘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.