The World Is Not Enough Review
I have generally been a fan of the James Bond series, and I am always anticipating a new installment. While Pierce Brosnan is a good Bond, his films, with the exception of Goldeneye, have suffered greatly from storylines and even some action sequences. In the 19th episode, Bond is sent to protect Elektra King, who's in charge of an oil company (Sophie Marceau) from the evil madman Renard (Robert Carlyle), who has a bullet driven into his head, giving him the power to feel no pain. Of course what is a Bond film without twists and turns, none of which I will reveal, for your viewing pleasure. This film disappoints on so many levels, that I could spend all day discussing them, but I'll keep it relatively short. First off, the film is actually quite dull. I thought I'd never see the day, when a Bond film never delivers an explosive ride. Sure there are some nice highlights. The Underground Pipe scene, the boat chase at the beginning, but nothing ever sticks out. In Goldneye there was the tank scene, in Tomorrow Never Dies the remote controlled car, this one merely follows the formula and never gives us a treat. Even the ending is pathetic. How many times must a Bond film involve a submarine! It's time to think of something more elaborate, hint hint, be creative next time. Another element that bugged me, was Robert Carlyle. I was expecting a great performance, especially when the character has a bullet in his head, and can feel no pain. I was really hoping they would have expanded on that, but that never occurred. The Bond girls however were decent. Despite the rumors you've heard about Denise Richard's acting ability, it wasn't as bad as I thought. Considering the little amount of screen time she had, there was no way of telling what she could have done, but hey, she looks real nice. Isn't that what Bond girls are about anyway? I mean, it's not like she's in the running for an Oscar. Sophie Marceau however was of value to the film, but she received far too much attention. The film could have easily been shortened, if it wasn't for the writer's obsession with her character. Luckily, those Bond moments fans all cherish are still here and of course some new features, that might be of some interest as well. Of course there is the hero himself, Pierce Brosnan, who continues to do an exceptional job as Bond. I do hope that he will reconsider, and do another entry, this time, a more thoughtful entertaining one! Then there's the gadgets. Too be honest, the vehicles are the main factor in this film and there are very few gadgets. The BMW, although considered a gadget, looked nice, but you can pretty much guess what happens to that, and every other vehicle Bond enters. The "fishing boat" as Q refers to, is also pretty shabby, as it's powered by booster jets. Speaking of Q, he is now training John Cleese (the latest expert) to replace himself, for when he retires. When Q does go, it will be a shame to see him leave. I doubt the series will ever be the same without the help of Q's priceless one-liners, but Cleese (best known for his work in Monty Python) is a rather noble replacement. At least it's someone you can rely on to make you laugh. While "The World Is Not Enough" is far from the best in the series, there are some fast paced scenes, that will keep you strapped to your chair. The familiar elements are still here, but fans will be undoubtebly displeased.
Grade: B-
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