The World Is Not Enough Movie Review

The World Is Not Enough (1999)

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Written by: Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Bruce Feirstein (screenplay by), Neal Purvis & Robert Wade (story by), Ian Fleming (characters, uncredited) 
Directed by: Michael Apted
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Sophie Marceau, Robert Carlyle, Denise Richards, Robbie Coltrane, Judi Dench
Rated: PG-13
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Plot
James Bond uncovers a nuclear explosives plot while protecting an oil heiress from her former kidnapper, an international terrorist who can't feel pain.

Verdict
It's an action focused Bond movie and that's to cover up for the lack of story. We get a bad guy that can't feel pain, and I wondered what kind of fight we'd get out of that. The answers is absolutely nothing. While Bond seduces two women and a second villain appears, it's all to obscure the fact this movie is basically a collection of action scenes with a several regrettable one liners.
Skip it.

Review
Brosnan's third Bond film, the previous two started with planes and this changes it up with boats. An oil tycoon is killed with money James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) recovered, forcing Bond to chase the assassin by boat. Bond's boat impresses as it dives and flies all while chasing the assassin. The sequence can't stay out of the sky as the assassin steals a hot air balloon.

Bond is tasked with protecting the tycoon's daughter, Elektra King (Sophie Marceau). Bond is smitten with Elektra, what a shocker. She's attracted to him because every woman is. Bond also feels really bad that her father was killed during his operation. He does get a BMW Z8 which eases the pain. This car is more fun looking than the 750 in the last movie.

Pierce Brosnan plays Agent 007 James Bond

The villain, Renard (Robert Carlyle), can't feel pain. It's a great attribute that's absolutely wasted. Renard wants to steal a nuclear bomb. I'm not sure why other than it's a villain thing to do, and he'd rather not disappoint anyone. Bond begins wondering if Elektra is helping Renard. He had kidnapped her previously, and they may have a connection no one realizes.

What helped Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) is a villain with a clear goal. What is Renard after, a bomb to extort money? He exists just to give Bond someone to fight. While this tries to create a twist to the villain, I ultimately don't care. Bond goes to the most likely location where Renard could steal a nuclear bomb. That entire setup seems way too easy to exploit, and Renard does just that. Bond tries to stop him while also wooing scientist Christmas Jones (Denise Richards). It's a blatant case of fan service, even for James Bond movie standards.

Robbie Coltrane, Pierce Brosnan, Sophie Marceau play Zukovsky, James Bond, Elektra King

I didn't like Renard, but it turns out he's not the real villain. The actual twist provides motive, something Renard sorely lacked. I did expect the movie to capitalize on a bad guy that can't feel pain. You could delete that detail and it wouldn't change anything which makes it an utter waste.

Bond has to save the world as he does in every movie. He also saves Dr. Christmas. Unfortunate as it leads to the movie concluding with Bond asking, "I thought Christmas only came once a year." It's worse than it sounds. It's not a great movie, and it manages to get even worse with only one line.