The James Bond franchise, like any long-lasting enterprise throughout history, has thrived due to its ability to evolve and adapt to changes in the environment. The world in the late 1990s was vastly different from the world in the early 1960s, a fact that the Bond film producers seemed to have overlooked in GoldenEye, which felt like a futile attempt to revive the Cold War era. However, Tomorrow Never Dies, the 1997 Bond installment directed by Roger Spottiswoode, stands out as the first in the Brosnan era to truly resonate with the contemporary audience.
The film kicks off with the destruction of a British frigate near China, sparking a crisis that could potentially lead to a full-blown war between two nuclear powers. However, the British secret service uncovers a suspicious leak of information to the media prior to the incident, leading them to investigate Eliot Carver (played by Jonathan Pryce), a media mogul who has made a fortune by breaking major news stories. James Bond (played by Pierce Brosnan) must leverage his past connection with Carver's wife, Paris (played by Teri Hatcher), to gather crucial intel. In Hamburg, Bond crosses paths with Chinese news reporter Wai Lin (played by Michelle Yeoh), who is actually a Chinese secret agent on a similar mission.
What sets Tomorrow Never Dies apart is the credibility of its villain. In a departure from the traditional evil megalomaniacs of Cold War-era Bond films, Eliot Carver's character feels more rooted in reality, drawing inspiration from real-world media moguls. Jonathan Pryce's portrayal of Carver strikes a balance between parody and conviction, making him a standout villain in the Bond series.
While the film is firmly set in the modern world, with abundant product placements, it also pays homage to classic Bond films, particularly 1970s The Spy Who Loved Me. The collaboration between Bond and his enemies against a greater threat echoes the dynamic of the earlier film, showcasing Michelle Yeoh's impressive action skills. While Yeoh shines, the rest of the cast falls short, with Brosnan and Hatcher delivering lackluster performances. Vincent Schiavelli's brief appearance as a hitman stands out as a highlight.
In terms of action, Tomorrow Never Dies delivers the expected thrills with spectacular car chases, explosions, and fights, though it may require some suspension of disbelief. Despite its flaws, the film's ability to adapt to a changing world ensures that the James Bond franchise will continue to endure.
Rating: 6/10 (++)
(Note: This review was originally posted in the Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on November 20th, 2003)
Watch the trailer here.
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