STUFF YOU GOTTA WATCH - The World is Not Enough

THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH

Umm, Sweetie, are you upset with me over something?

(1997)
With Pierce Brosnan, Sophie Marceau, Denise Richards, Robert Carlyle, Robbie Coltrane, Judi Dench, Desmond Llewelyn, John Cleese, Colin Salmon, Samantha Bond
Directed by Michael Apted
Reviewed by JL and JB

Once the Cold War ended, British Intelligence apparently needed to create its own foes to keep busy. That's the enemies-are-within premise of THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH, Pierce Brosnan's third film as James Bond. It's the least remarkable of the Brosnan films, in that it's neither as well-plotted as GOLDENEYE nor as much fun as TOMORROW NEVER DIES, but at least it doesn't descend to the excruciatingly silly level of DIE ANOTHER DAY. Sophie Marceau is one of the better Bond girls of later years, an effective spider-woman double-agent type, but Denise Richards as scantily clad nuclear scientist Dr. Christmas Jones is right out of the Britt Ekland-Tanya Roberts Institute of Advanced Bimbo Studies. The best aspects of the film are some decent action sequences and a meatier-than-usual role for Judi Dench as "M." - JL

THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH is the grandest of all the Brosnan-Bonds. There is very little that is superfluous in the way of chases, gadgets, etc., and everything revolves around the plot and the characters. It recalls ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, not just because of the ski chase but because Bond is not Superman in this one, but rather a man who could fall in love and get hurt.

Sophie Marceau is wonderful, but how do you solve a problem like Denise Richards? There is no denying that she's extremely easy on the eyes, but I thought we were finished with this kind of character when Roger Moore retired from the series. Michelle Yeoh showed that Bond girls could be beautiful and bring something beyond their looks to a Bond film. But Denise Richard, goregous although she may be, is all eye candy and no brain food.

Richard Carlyle makes for an okay villain, not more, not less. Call me a sentimental old fluff, but I've been spoiled by Dr. No, Goldfinger and Blofeld - I need my villains to be supervillains, not just rogue bad guys or international terrorists. But at least Carlyle's villiain is bald with a scar and a bullet lodged in his head, so he gets points for style. - JB

HOW TO TALK LIKE A BOND VILLAIN

"How sad. To be threatened by someone who can't grasp what he's involved in."