The World Is Not Enough

The film opens with a formidable assassin who had recently posed as a banker's secretary… She had given Bond a cigar, before killing her boss in the Swiss banker's office in Bilbao, Spain…

Now, when a bomb blew a hole in MI6's London headquarters, the super spy sped off in the Q boat, ignoring Q's plaintive cry, "Stop" Stop! It isn't finished!" It was Q's fishing boat for his retirement… There's a splendid boat chase along the River Thames between 007 and the stunning Maria Grazia Cucinotta, the "Cigar Girl" – who worked as a barmaid at the village inn in "Il Postino." Bond was eager to capture her for questioning…

When a bomb planted in a briefcase of money killing British oil tycoon Robert King, M was determined to bring the perpetrators to justice… The prime suspect was Renard who had once kidnapped King's daughter, Elektra… M (Judi Dench) believed Elektra was next on Renard's list and 007 was assigned to act as her "shadow" while she supervised the building of an oil pipeline in Azerbaijan… Yet despite his powerful urge to protect her, there was something about this beautiful, cunning, willful woman that aroused his suspicions…

Bond flew to Azerbaijan, where King Industries was building an oil pipeline… Elektra gave 007 a 'cold' reception, taking him up into the snowy peaks to the pass where the two ends of the pipeline would soon meet... It was then that unsocial 'visitors' struck…

Sophie Marceau plays the magnate's daughter Elecktra who had once escaped Renard's clutches all by herself… Her favorite motto: "There's no point in living if you can't feel alive."

Robert Carlyle plays Renard, the former KGB hit-man who had set up his own organization and demanded fanatical loyalty… He was a murderer, a terrorist, and a kidnapper… His only goal was chaos… Subordinated who failed him killed themselves rather than face his wrath… After Robert King came to see M, she sent 009 to kill Renard… 009 caught up with him and put a bullet in his head…The bullet was now killing off all his senses and was impervious to pain… Renard was determined to pull off one last coup against the West… But his motivations were motivated by blind hatred, or blind love?

Goldie plays Bull, Zukovsky's shifty, gold-toothed bodyguard… He was a menace to his boss and an important Renard spy…

Denise Richards plays Christmas Jones, the sexy atomic scientist overseeing the dismantling of the Kazakhstan nuclear test site… Dr. Jones became an invaluable ally of 007's following Renard's theft of a nuclear bomb…

For "The World Is Not Enough," Q equipped Bond with the faster car 007 had ever been entrusted with: the MBW Z8, armed with a radar-guided missile system...

Robbie Coltrane returns as the duplicitous Russian black marketeer Valentin Zukovsky whose ebony walking gun stick seemed a typically showy affection - but it had its uses...

A final sad note: "The World Is Not Enough," marked the final appearance of the beloved Desmond Llewelyn, who acted from 1964 to 1995, except for "Live and Let Die." A perfect foil to 007's lighthearted nature… Q has been one of the series' most enduring character...

The last James Bond film of the 20th century began in spectacular fashion. Now, a lot of the Bond movies have great openings, so that's nothing new, but this one outdid itself. This 15-minute opening may be the best ever with an amazing boat race and opening credits. It gets my vote, anyway.

After that, frankly, it slowly goes downhill. (That's the problem with too good a start!).

In the end, it's okay but hardly a memorable Bond picture. It has the usual assortment of heroes and villains, wild and improbable action scenes, tons of sexual innuendos, sharp DVD picture and great 5.1surround sound. New actors to this series included Sophie Marceau, Robert Carlyle, Denise Richards and Robbie Coltrane. None of them are big drawing cards who are going entice people to see the movie.

I didn't find any of the characters particularly memorable, unfortunately, so I can't rate the film higher than a "7," but that opening was a "10."

James Bond must rescue M, protect an oil heiress from her former kidnapper Renard, a terrorist who can't feel pain.

It begins with the sleek gun barrel Point of View walk, and what follows is arguably one of the greatest Bond pre-title sequences and certainly Pierce Brosnan's best. There's a specular escape in Spain, an explosion in MI6 headquarters London and a chase on the River Thames to apprehend an assassin (Sicillian star, Maria Grazia Cucinotta) that climaxes at the Millennium Dome. All this action before the James Bond title song and it's carried out not just for show, but as it's all part of the story's later developments.

Michael Apted directs the 19th Bond instalment in which Brosnan gives his finest performance as 007, he appears, confident, intellectual, more dangerous and authentic as the spy. In this he is injured and carries his ailment throughout the film, making him more vulnerable and real in life threaten situations, leaving the entertaining but bland Tomorrow Never Dies behind.

For the most part this instalment is more grounded and played serious with fewer gags than in previous Bonds, certainly less than Moore's outings. A lot of this is due to Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Bruce Feirstein screenplay which lends itself as a mystery, whodunit thriller theme and the villains, have more shades of grey as well as the heroes.

Despite, Denise Richards beauty with brains role as Dr. Christmas Jones, she still appears as the typical Bond girl by the end. Robert Carlyle character Renard is given depth and ulterior motives as the villain but he still is cliché Bond Villain with scars. This aside, Sophie Marceau is excellent as femme fatale oil baron heiress Elektra King and M's (Judie Dench) late friends daughter. Dench is given more to do and shines on screen, and regulars Desmond Llewelyn (Q), Samantha Bond (Miss Moneypenny) and Colin Salmon reprise their roles. Robbie Coltrane makes a welcomed return as Zukovsky to briefly assist Bond, and Goldie makes an appearance as a henchman. Comedy legend John Cleese plays Q's side kick R.

The music score and Barry's trademark theme comes in just at the right moments to heighten the action on screen. And as a bonus the title songs music is interlaced throughout the movie.

The World Is Not Enough is only marred by some poor cringe-worthy quips that are synonyms with the franchise. It's a shame that all the hard work of writers, Bronson's and Apted's subtly was discarded in Die Another Day (2002), where it was CGI heavy and returned to a Moore- like, lighter spectacle adventure.

This Bond is in the tradition of the earlier Connery outings, the vein of Dalton's steely incarnation, and a credit must goto Pierce Brosnan as this influenced the style of the later Casino Royale rework.

Ultimately, The World Is Not Enough due to it's great plot is one of the better Bonds that can be enjoyed by fans and the causal viewer.

Until now, this was the only James Bond film in the official EON series I had not watched. Having just now done so with Mom, we consider this one of the most entertaining of the series in recent times. Pierce Brosnan, in only his third time as 007, seems to get better each time he portrayed Bond, James Bond. Among the rest of the cast Sophie Marceau is aces as Electra King whose story is one that's filled with great surprises, that's for sure! Robert Carlyle is also fine as Renard. As for Denise Richards as nuclear scientist Dr. Christmas Jones, well, she does well enough for what she's supposed to do and isn't too distracting a presence considering. Also, nice return of Robbie Coltrane from GoldenEye. Also great to once again see Judi Dench as M, Samantha Bond as Moneypenny, and, for what turned out to be his very last time, Desmond Llewelyn as Q. His character here introduces former Monty Pythoner John Cleese as his assistant and possible replacement about whom Bond asks Q if he's called "R". Mr. Llewelyn, unfortunately, died in a car accident a few weeks after this movie premiered. He was often one of the most entertaining parts of all these JB flicks starting with From Russia with Love to this one (though it should be noted he was absent in Live and Let Die). Great entertaining set-pieces throughout and fine backstory concerning some of the characters. For both Mom and me, The World is Not Enough is fine Bond entertainment.

The first time I saw this in the cinema in '99, I remember actively disliking it - the first time I'd had that reaction to a new Bond release. I saw it a second time at the cinema, and disliked it less - but still wasn't keen. Now, in the dying days of 2002, and quaking with hatred for - and disappointment at - 'Die Another Day', I re-evaluated TWINE for a second time. And I have to say, compared to this year's farce, TWINE is bathed in a golden glow. In terms of character development, plausibility (always tenuous in Bond films, but still), acting, and script, TWINE is far and away and without a shadow of doubt superior to 'Die Another Day'. Above all, this is a Bond film that does occasionally treat its audience like they have brain cells, rather than a ghastly exercise in sci-fi pretensions with MTV production values.

The opening sequence reveals itself to be one of the very best in the series, taut and exciting, flawlessly directed and perfectly executed. There's nothing else in the film that can quite top it, but some inspired casting helps immeasurably. Sophie Marceau is superb, and it's great to see Robbie Coltrane reprise Valentin Zukovsky, who bags many of the best lines. Judy Dench as 'M' is given a high profile in this entry, which is all to the good as she's clearly the best thing to happen to the Bond films in the Brosnan era. Alas, Desmond Llwelyn makes his final appearance as 'Q' - it would be thus even had he not died the following year - and his exit is well-handled.touching, even. On the downside, Robert Carlyle is not quite convincing as Renard, but it barely matters as Marceau is so firmly in control. Denise Richards isn't as bad as she's been made out to be - indeed, she actually seems smarter and less bland than Halle Berry in DAD.

Plot and action sequences throughout the film are deftly handled, but there are some areas where TWINE seems a little derivative, cheerfully looting the Bond back catalogue, for example in the Caucasus skiing sequence which fuses together action setpieces from YOLT and OHMSS. There are also moments of alarming silliness more redolent of the 1970s and '80s, such as the scene with John Cleese making his debut as future-'Q' and all scenes with Goldie in as Bullion. And for those of us who aren't fans of Pierce Brosnan, there's plenty to annoy - excessive jaw-clenching, lots of posing, inherent charmlessness. I'm sure he's lovely in real life, mind.

Generally, though this is a competent entry in the series, and its attempts at depth just about succeed. It is also the most `how'-and-`why'-proof Bond film since the 1960s, a refreshing change from those Bond films that arrogantly command the audience to suspend their beliefs and do all the maths themselves. Quite why it all went wrong three years later is anyone's guess, but I blame 'XXX' and a continuing adoration of 'The Matrix'.