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Written by: Bruce Feirstein (written by), Ian Fleming (characters, uncredited)
Directed by: Roger Spottiswoode
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Jonathan Pryce, Michelle Yeoh, Teri Hatcher, Joe Don Baker, Judi Dench
Rated: PG-13
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Plot
James Bond is sent to disrupt a media mogul's plot to foment a war between China and the United Kingdom.
Verdict
Another exciting introduction starts the movie. This provides a villain with credible goals instead of existing solely to give Bond something to do. A media tycoon decides to start wars and create news to enrich his brand. The franchise overall can be a bit pulpy, but this movie leans into it more. A villain with a purpose gives the entire film a better foundation and a reason for Bond to succeed that's more than just stop the bad guy because he's mean. All of that makes this more fun.
Watch It.
Review
Brosnan's second Bond film, opens with Agent 007 infiltrating a military base, escaping in a jet before the base is bombed, and even defeating another jet that follows him.
Media mogul Elliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce) wants to create news by starting a war between China and UK. By creating the news he can be the first to cover it. He's also so powerful that he can blackmail world leaders as it suits him. Bond is suspicious of Carver as he knew about the crisis between the countries before MI6. Only someone that caused the event could have the information so quickly. As it happens, Carver's trophy wife, Paris Carver (Teri Hatcher), is Bond's ex-girlfriend. She's mad upon initially seeing Bond, but no woman can resist Bond's charms. She's with him that very night.
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| Pierce Brosnan play Agent 007 James Bond |
When Bond infiltrates Carver's facility, it's revealed that Wai Lin (Michelle Yeoh) is also an agent looking for information on Carver.
This feels like a Bond movie. He has gadgets for very specific situations, like the wire cutter that's part of his car's hood ornament that manages to be the exact right height to cut wire that was supposed to stop the car. That's in addition to his remote control car. I like the story of this movie. Media feels predatory, and this movie just assumes that those corporations are. I don't mind James Bond movies leaning into being pulpy. That's the fun. GoldenEye never leaned into it enough. A media mogul controlling the news seem ahead of its time. That's an apt villain even now.
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| Pierce Brosnan Michelle Yeoh play James Bond Wei Lin |
Bond and Wai Lin are captured by Carver's henchman. They're handcuffed together but manage to escape despite the predicament, even riding a motorcycle together and fighting off more goons simultaneously. Bond's charms don't work on her, and she ditches him, stating she works alone. It's a great in-joke in a franchise where Bond always gets the girl.
With Bond movies, a villain with a good goal helps, even if it is completely delusional. With some of these movies, the villains seem to exists just to give Bond something to do. If the story isn't going to give us a completely over the top bad guy then making them interesting like Carver helps. Bond isn't just bringing down Carver, he's attacking the media at large.
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