Die Another Day

Roger Ebert started his review out by saying, "I realized with a smile, 15 minutes into the new James Bond movie, that I had unconsciously accepted Pierce Brosnan as Bond without thinking about Sean Connery, Roger Moore or anyone else. He has become the landlord, not the tenant. Handsome if a little weary, the edges of an Irish accent curling around the edges of the Queen's English, he plays a preposterous character but does not seem preposterous playing him." 

"Die Another Day," released in 2002, is the 20th Bond film in 40 years, not counting "Casino Royale." Halfway into the film, Bond's boss M says, "While you were away, the world changed." She talks about the months he was in prison in North Korea, but she might also be talking about the universe of the Bond franchise. This movie has the same impossible stunts, like when Bond flies down the façade of a glacier being melted by a laser beam in space. This has as many scenes that are tough and tenacious enough to blend in any current action movie. It also has a heroine who pays off from 40 years of progress in the way we see women. When Halle Berry, as Jinx, first shows up on screen, there is an on purpose and loving tribute to the first Bond girl, Ursula Andress, in "Dr. No." In both movies, the woman appears from the beach wearing a bikini, which, in slow motion, looks like it is catching up. Even the wide belt looks the same. However, Jinx is a new type of Bond girl. Ebert noted, "She still likes naughty double entendres (Bond says "My friends call me James Bond" and she replies, "Well that's a mouthful"). But in "Die Another Day" her character is not simply decoration or reward, but a competent and deadly agent who turns the movie at times into almost a buddy picture." 

The film starts with an unusual moment: The villains are not fictional, but real. Ebert noted, "The North Koreans have for the time being joined the Nazis as reliable villains, and Bond infiltrates in order to--I dunno, deal with some "African Conflict Diamonds," if I heard correctly, but I wasn't listening carefully because the diamonds are only the MacGuffin." However, they do decorate the memorable cheekbones on one of the villains, Zao, played by Rick Yune, who looks like he has, as Ebert puts it, "a skidded face down through a filled of them at high impact." A chase scene including hover tanks in a mine field is kind of weak, the hover tank not being the nicest looking of cars, and then Bond is kidnapped and tortured for months. He's freed in a prisoner exchange, only to see that M thinks he has been brainwashed. Ebert asked, "Is he another Manchurian Candidate?" Eventually he proves himself and after a visit to Q, now played by John Cleese, for a new arsenal of gadgets, including an invisible car, he's back on the field in the same types of eye-popping stunt moments. For the first time in the Bond franchise, a CGI effect joins the traditional use of stunt men and trick photography. Ebert noted, "A disintegrating plane in a closing scene is pretty clearly all made of ones and zeroes, but by then we've seen too many amazing sights to quibble." 

The North Koreans are sided with Gustav Graves, played by Toby Stephens, a usual world-conquering Bond villain, whose space flying mirror is not completely original. What is original is Gustav's chose to monitor his operation in a gorgeous ice building in Iceland. Since his mirror operates to penetrate heat on Earth, this looks like wanting trouble, and not before long the ice palace is melting down, and Jinx is stuck in a locked room with the water level rising toward the ceiling. (Ebert said, "Exactly why the room itself doesn't melt is a question countless readers will no doubt answer for me.") Other characters include the villainous Miranda Fronst (the hot Rosamund Pike), whose name is a hint as to which side she is on, and Damian Falco (Michael Madsen), whose name, as Ebert puts it, "unites two villainous movie dynasties and leaves me looking forward to Freddy Lecter." Oh, and Miss Moneypenny, played by Samantha Bond, who looks like she's overlooked, makes a last-minute appearance and practically flirts with Bond. 

Ebert noted, "The film has been directed by Lee Tamahori (whose credits include "Once Were Warriors" and "Mulholland Falls"), from New Zealand, who has tilted the balance away from humor and toward pure action. With "Austin Powers" breathing down the neck of the franchise, he told Sight & Sound magazine, it seemed like looking for trouble to broaden the traditional farcical elements." "Die Another Day" is still completely silly from one part to the other, obviously, but in a little more understated way. As it continues, Bond after Bond, as the strongest franchise in movie history going towards half-century. There is no way to think this franchise will ever stop. Ebert ended his review by saying, "I suppose that is a blessing." 

In my opinion, I think this is the best of the Bond movies that star Brosnan as 007. The only flaw I had, which is very minor, is the effects look similar to something we would see in a Nintendo 64 or Sony Playstation game. Other than that, this movie was enjoyable from first minute to last. It was action-packed, with never a dull moment, and I know if you liked the others, then you will love this one. Do not skip this one, it is a must. My friend (who I mentioned saying that Octopussy is his favorite good Bond girl) says that Miranda Frost is his favorite villain Bond girl, and I can understand why. Also, expect a brief Madonna cameo in this movie.

Look out tomorrow where we look at more excitement in "James Bond Month."