By: debbie lynn elias
In his 20th big screen adventure in 40 years, James Bond returns to the silver screen on November 22, 2002 in “Die Another Die”, more explosive, dashing and debonair than ever. Keeping in step with the darker and more serious times in which we now live, agent 007 travels the world, once again trying to save it from doom and destruction. Starting in North Korea, we find Bond undercover in a diamonds-for-arms deal that naturally runs afoul, resulting in some 14 months of torture for our uber super agent. On his release, although Bond is seemingly “not quite Bond,” he nevertheless knows there is a massive plot by the psychotic billionaire Gustav Graves (with a little help from his diamond studded lackey, Zao) to take over the planet by way of a potentially cataclysmic war. Enlisting the help of this year’s new Bond beauties, Jinx and Miranda Frost, 007 travels from Korea to Hong Kong to Cuba to England and even Iceland, in an effort to thwart their evil plans and leave villainy and treachery for yet another installment.
Thanks to a big Hollywood budget and one of the most polished technical crews ever assembled, director Lee Tamahori and his visual effects team headed by Mara Bryan, veteran of three prior films in the Bond franchise, go hog wild and not just with gizmos, gadgetry and explosions, but with over-the-top, knock your socks off effects like invisible cars and hotels built of ice (didn’t we see something similar in “Tomb Raider”) and down-to-earth nail biting suspense and tension. Tricks, toys and gadgets galore, we get our first glimpse of some of the newest high tech weaponry on the market today (maybe not found at your local Target or K-Mart, but probably available in deserts and caves everywhere in Afghanistan and Iraq) which is guaranteed to excite, amaze and enthrall us all. The package is complete thanks to the cinematography of one of my all time favorites, David Tattersall.
Thanks in large part to Bond veterans, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, the dynamic duo responsible for “The World Is Not Enough,” this script is undoubtedly one of the finest pieces of Bond work seen in recent years. Not relying solely on explosions and stunts to attract an audience, Purvis and Wade, have opted for a more adult, dramatic take this go round, giving us more character development and a greater sense of maturity mixed with grace and even a bit of silliness in 007 himself. Double entendres, throwback comments to prior Bond adventures and a more sophisticated laugh-at-ourselves humor only make “Die” even more classic.
But of course, nobody does it better than Pierce Brosnan in his fourth appearance as Bond. More complex, introspective and just a shade untrustworthy, Brosnan makes quite a case for walking the edge and pushing the envelope just a bit too far when it comes to the powers of good versus evil. And damn! Not since Cary Grant has anyone looked more dashing in a tuxedo! Halle Berry arrives on the scene as the latest beauteous Bond girl and joins forces with Bond and M in the fight against evil. Berry explodes on camera, exuding such a smart, sexy aplomb, no wonder there is already talk of a “Jinx” spin-off. As with Vanessa Williams in “Eraser”, what a pleasant surprise to find Halle Berry an action hero in her own right, and as many of you know, I have never been a big Berry fan.
John Cleese returns as Q and of, course, what’s a bond film without Dame Judi Dench as M and Samantha Bond as Miss Moneypenny! Toby Stephens, in what is undoubtedly the biggest role of his career to date, hits a home run as evil-doer, power monger, Graves, while relative newcomer Rick Yune does an admirable job as Zao. And let’s not forget those unknown stuntmen headed by stunt coordinators George Aguilar and Vic Armstrong, together with a lot of returning Bond veterans, who again give those eye-popping performances that make you sit up and go “how’d they do that!”
With Bond interest declining over the past decade, Tamahori has a lot riding on “Die” and he doesn’t disappoint. Action packed, hilarious, entertaining and engaging – definitely one of the all time best Bonds in the past 40 years. With work like this, I’m sure #21 can’t be too far behind. Thank goodness Brosnan isn’t ready to throw in the towel yet. Better keep those martinis comin’ folks. And make that shaken, not stirred.
