Tomorrow Never Dies
©1997 Matt Petras
Official site:
www.tomorrowneverdies.com
Rating: ** out of **** Length: 125 min Director: Roger Spottiswoode Producer(s): Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Jonathan Pryce, Michelle Yeoh, Teri Hatcher, Joe Don Baker, Ricky Jay, Götz Otto.
As time moves forward and more movies are filmed, certain formulas become readily apparent and they are exploited. Also as sequels are created franchise series' are found and exploited. This being yet another movie in the enormous Bond series it is hard to tell what we should expect from it. Since it is obvious the series is being exploited, it's particularly obvious after the you find out that this is the eighteenth official Bond movie. From the beginning Bond has been somewhat formulaic, I cannot readily recall a movie in which Bond DIDN'T save the world from peril or from some grand external force. Since both the basic formula for a Bond movie seems to still be popular and still be something that is in demand, then so be it. Let there be Bond movies. Simply because the character of Bond is popular doesn't mean that the story has to be terribly predictable. It is obvious that Bond is going to win the moment the ticket is purchased, that doesn't necessarily mean that you can predict everything that happens in this movie. For example: Enter, Wai Lin something of a copy of Bond but with a Chinese tone. This is a fairly original idea having a woman that is just as capable as good old Mr. Bond, well at least it's somewhat original for the series. This idea is not played out all that well for more than once she seems to be this Damsel in distress with our hero soon coming to the rescue. Wai Lin, played by Michelle Yeoh is a character that should add flare and life to a Bond movie. But is only there it seems to assist the hero of the hour, something of a sidekick rather than the equal she is made out to be. Michelle Yeoh, seems to be good for the role that the character is best suited for, not the one that comes through, rather unfortunately. As Bond, Pierce Brosnan fits the traditional formula almost to the letter. He is everything he is supposed to be, he's even emotional about his relationships or at least he tries to be. Yes, Bond actually cares about some of the women he sleeps with. Just makes you teary eyed thinking about it. Strangely enough that idea was tried with rather limited success. Pulled out of a love scene with a blonde beauty, to go onto this mission, Bond encounters a former flame. Yeah, so? He's not supposed to go mushy on us, that's not the Bond that is expected, that's also not the Bond that works. It's also not something that works very well in the movie. One liner's abound when this subplot is visited, a rather forced way to bring us another love scene. Now no formula is complete without a bad guy unfortunately there isn't much of one in this movie. The idea behind the bad guy is great it's actually plausible. But the character is not developed enough and assuming certain things is required. The bad guy is sinister enough for the part, but you don't see enough of the evil, not enough of the planning behind the mayhem. Just because the 'Bond Formula' requires an evil character does not mean that he's being evil just for the sake of being evil. There just doesn't seem to be much motivation behind what he does and comes off somewhat aloof from the story. Now, no Bond movie is complete without its gadgets, its violence and its action. Well, this movie has those in fair quantity. Fair enough not to be over indulging and fair enough to keep the pace going at a fairly high speed to keep our interest. One thing that strikes as being rather pointless is opening sequence, too elaborate and too destructive. The whole build up sequence could have been created much more subtly for much greater effect. Especially since the opening sequence turns out to be one of the more destructive and more action packed ones in the movie. Other than that, the Bond formula holds more than true for most of the film in this respect. The action is where it is supposed to be and in proper quantity. But then when viewing a Bond movie, what is it that you go to see it's the action, the character and the story. The story is there, although riddled with holes. The character is there and in fairly good standing with only a minor blip. Finally, the action is there although a bit excessive in the beginning. All in all, this movie is exactly what it is expected to be. It is a Bond movie, maybe not the best Bond movie but not the worst one either. It had the potential to be one of the better action films of the year, but it fell short by its shortcomings. In the end, it's a decent action movie supporting an old franchise with due respect.
December 26, 1997
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