The World Is Not Enough
MGM, 1999
Directed by Michael Apted

$$$1/2

Pierce Brosnan is three for three. Since helping to revive the James Bond series four years ago, Brosnan has not only become my favorite 007 (for me he combines the best elements of both Sean Connery and Roger Moore), he's also starred in three of the best Bond films. The World Is Not Enough departs a bit from Brosnan's first two outings but is still destined to be 007 classics.

The 19th installment in the series is not as visually slick as GoldenEye, nor does it have the non-stop John Woo-style action of Tomorrow Never Dies. But it makes up for it with a strong script that provides more romance, seduction, betrayal, psychological tension and espionage intrigue than we've seen in any of the recent Bonds. This time out the mood is darker and more serious. But the outlandishness of the Bond universe is still in effect.

It's standard, of course, for the films to have an elaborate action sequence before the credits roll -- this time, we're treated to not one but two major action scenes before the opening titles. There's also a lot more dialogue and exposition than usual in this opening section -- if you're still munching your popcorn loudly you'll miss some stuff. But whether you understand what's going on, you'll still enjoy Bond's wild rocket powered speed boat chase down the river Thames.

Eventually, British secret agent Bond is assigned to protect Elektra King, the daughter of an oil tycoon whose murder Bond tried -- but failed to prevent. The mission pits Bond against a KGB spy turned terrorist named Renard, who's seemingly trying to kill Elektra (the exquisite Sophie Marceau), and thwart her plans to build an oil pipeline along the Caspian Sea. Renard (played by an unrecognizable Robert Carlyle from The Full Monty) has a bullet in his brain that's slowly killing him -- but it's also rendered him impervious to pain. One thing leads to another and Bond finally uncovers a Goldfinger-style plot to control much of the world's oil supply.

Along the way there are the usual efforts to diffuse nuclear warheads and such -- in this Bond is aided by the heavenly Denise Richards, as nuclear weapons expert, Christmas Jones. Sure, the young, voluptuous Richards is ludicrously cast as a nuclear physicist, but it's played in a wink-wink sort of way that works. And Richards is so beautiful it doesn't matter. You simply need someone that the audience believes 007 would risk his life to save -- and what guy wouldn't want to save Denise Richards?

The guy who does get to save her, of course, is Brosnan, who turns in what may be his best performance yet as 007. Cunning, debonair, brutal, witty -- he wears Bond effortlessly. The rest of the cast is strong as well. Robbie Coltrane reprises his GoldenEye role as a Russian Mafioso. This time he gets a lot more screen time -- and makes the most of it. The producers also capitalize on the Oscar-winning talent of Dame Judi Dench as M. 007's boss plays a bigger role in the action than ever before. Desmond Llewelyn is back once again as 007's gadget master, Q -- but it certainly seems like this might be the octogenarian's last outing. Not only are we introduced to his successor, R, played in a brilliant piece of casting by John Cleese -- but Q's parting words with 007 end on a rather poignant note, suggesting that this is goodbye.

As for the action scenes -- there are more than enough of them to satisfy Bond fans. The highlight is probably a chase down a ski slope with Bond and Elektra pursued by bad guys in para-gliders. The World Is Not Enough also features one of the most excruciating torture scenes in any Bond film. It's worthy of Ian Fleming. The script also contains some of the funnier double entendres in the series -- the last line is a killer.

In all, this Bond film is more reminiscent of From Russia With Love or For Your Eyes Only than flashier outings like The Spy Who Loved Me. Some minor elements of the story are a bit tough to follow and the cinematography is disappointingly bland -- but the flaws hardly take away from what will be remembered as one of the best Bond films.

(c) Copyright 1999