TOMORROW NEVER DIES (1997)
A Film Review Copyright Dragan Antulov 2003
James Bond franchise, like any long-lasting enterprises through history, survived because of its ability to evolve and adapt to changes in the environment. The world in late 1990s was very different from the world in early 1960s, something that Bond film producers have obviously forgotten in GOLDENEYE, almost pointless exercise in beating the dead Cold War (and WW2) horse. TOMORROW NEVER DIES, 1997 Bond franchise instalment directed by Roger Spottiswoode, is the first in the Brosnan chapter of Bond history that actually pays attention to the world from where its audience is coming from.
The plot begins with the destruction of British frigate in the waters near China. Subsequent events lead to crisis with potential to escalate into full-blown war between two nuclear powers. However, British secret service notices that the news about incident was leaked to the media beforehand. This suspicious detail leads investigation towards Eliot Carver (played by Jonathan Pryce), world's media mogul who had built his empire by scooping all the major news stories. British agent James Bond (played by Pierce Brosnan) must use his past connection with Carver's wife Paris (played by Teri Hatcher) in order to gather as much information as possible. In Hamburg he meets Chinese news reporter Wai Lin (played by Michelle Yeoh), who is actually Chinese secret agent with similar task.
The most interesting thing about TOMORROW NEVER DIES is the credibility of its villain. In good old Cold War times, evil megalomaniacs bent on world domination were never taken seriously. In our times, when media confronts us with likes of Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch or Ted Turner, it is much easier to imagine individual more powerful than mightiest nation-states. In our times, when information becomes the most valuable resource, it is easy to imagine media manipulation as the easiest and the most efficient way to rule the world. So, character of Eliot Carver owes more to the real world and less to the imagination of entertainment industry. All that doesn't prevent Jonathan Pryce to portray it in parodic, but very spirited fashion, making this villain one of the more memorable in otherwise forgettable gallery of latter Bond characters.
Although set in modern world - not just by theme, but also by unprecedented use of product placements - TOMORROW NEVER DIES takes time to pay homage to Bond films' past, namely 1970s THE SPY WHO LOVED ME. This is not only in a number of underwater scenes and plot similarities; here Bond has to join forces with its mortal enemies against even greater evil (just like Roger Moore's Bond joined forces with his Soviet counterpart, played by Barbara Bach). That gives opportunity for director Roger Spottiswoode to use great talents of Michelle Yeoh, one of the most credible female action stars of today. Yeoh is very effective in this film, but the rest of cast is not. Brosnan does his Bond thing without much inspiration, and that is shared by Teri Hatcher in even more uninspired and mercifully short appearance as his former love interest. Vincent Schiavelli, who briefly appears as hitman, is the best thing about this movie. In terms of action, TOMORROW NEVER DIES delivers its promised goods - spectacular car chases, explosions and fights - so the usual plausibility problems and disregard for laws of physics can be forgotten (just like the dreadful Sheryl Crow's song in the opening titles). James Bond franchise, because of the way it can adapt to new circumstances, would probably never die.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
Review written on November 20th 2003
Dragan Antulov a.k.a. Drax http://film.purger.com - Filmske recenzije na hrvatskom/Movie Reviews in Croatian http://www.ofcs.org - Online Films Critics Society
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