Movie Review                                                                                                            

18 Dec 2002

US THEATRICAL RELEASE
Nov 22, 2002 (Wide)

NUMBERS
US Box Office: $131,851,422

MPAA RATING
PG-13, for action violence and sexuality

RUNTIME
2 hours, 12 minutes

RELEASE COMPANY
MGM/UA

Directed by: Lee Tamahori

Starring:

Pierce Brosnan    Halle Berry Rosamund Pike    Judi Dench             Rick Yune           Toby Stephens       John Cleese

Movie Review                                                                                                            

On hearing about the new James Bond movie, Die Another Day, my mind was filled with the excitement of Goldfinger and the enthralling Goldeneye. But at once leaving the theatre, I felt the movie was somewhat half-baked despite stunning visual effects and devastating digital surround sound of gun bullets. The first half was definitely full of exciting action and stunts, but it reaches the climax and the 'so-called' most thrilling aircraft ride since Harrison Ford's Air Force One, made my eyes itchy, drowsy and eventually sleepy. May be it is the formula becoming too familiar or just that Pierce Brosnan is no Sean Connery

The movie starts off with James Bond being capture by the villainous  North Korean played by the talented and uprising actor, Rick Rune (Fast and Furious) and the HK veteran bad guy in Hollywood Films, Kenneth Tsang (Replacement Killers). Although both are Chinese than the Korean they portrayed, they managed to have a pretty good screen presence, but definitely no Goldfinger. Then comes the normal Bond Routine, Bond (Brosnan) escapes, captured, escapes, gadgets, tuxedos, meet some hot chicks, cool invisibility car, betrayal and then the finale good guys vs. bad guys.

One of the highlights of the film is definetly the cool car and traditional gadgets and two new Bond girls: Oscar Winner Halle Berry (Monster's Ball) and newcomer Rosamund Pike. Despite Halle Berry being sexy and more screen time of the two and also putting in a good screen presence, but first timer Pike definitely has the presence of the classical Bond Girl, which is a screen stealer. Brosnan (The World is Not Enough) as James Bond certainly is one of the best protrayer, but somehow lack the presence of Sean Connery, just like nowadays action stars lack the exhilarating display of Bruce Lee. But still Brosnan did a good job.     

The visual effect and cool gadgets are certainly an eye candy experience, combines well with the charismatic villians, usual Bond formula, sexy and pretty Bond girls and the presence of Brosnan making the James Bond franchisees to Die Another Day. 

Ratings:

                          1/2                       7/10

By Andrew Chan (18 December 2002)