Its seems that James Bond is everywhere at the moment. As a celebration of his 40th year in cinema it seems as though we are being assaulted on every front and in every medium by Bond programmes. There have been viewers' favourite scenes, programmes on the real 007's and the obligatory making of documentary. Even without all this added advertisement you will already know exactly what to expect from this film. I am not a huge fan, and would not usually pay to see it at the cinema, or even rent it on video. However, it seemed as though Bond had scared off all opposition, leaving nothing better to watch that week. It is also a very girlfriend friendly film. (What is it about women and there desire to be riding in that Aston Martin with Pierce Brosnan? Does he know how much sex he could have?) I was pleasantly surprised by this film. The usual pre title sequence with Bond completing a mission and making a daring escape was gone. Instead we see him betrayed and are treated to a spectacular hovercraft battle as he tries to salvage some form of success. However he is still captured and tortured in a North Korean prison for 14 months. From that moment I was hooked. MI6 then set up a prisoner exchange, handing over the wonderful villain called Zao, whose mandatory disfigurement is to have diamonds embedded in his face. He must be evil then. Bond is then imprisoned by MI6, who fear that he talked, and have decided they no longer like his style and don't need an agent of his temperament running around getting into trouble. There is only one option open to our hero, to break out of prison and go after Zao, as a rogue agent. This leads to a great scene in which Bond wanders into a top hotel practically naked, soaking wet, dishevelled, disgraced and dishonoured. Anyone else would be thrown out on the street or taken out the back for a beating, but this is Bonds regular hotel and within minutes he is groomed and wearing a tailor made suit. This is why he is a secret agent, he doesn't need his tuxedos and gadgets, he knows too much and has connections everywhere. Bond then uses his connections and charm to hunt down Zao, who is undergoing genetic therapy to change his face. Not as unbelievable as it sounds as this kind of thing will apparently be a real possibility in the near future. The plot involving diamond smuggling doesn't really matter, after all this is a Bond film. The head bad guy is Gustav Graves (Toby Stephens), a North Korean who is now a white businessman thanks to the same therapy used on Zao. He is also a complete waste of space. A slimy, cocky, pale faced loser that is supposed to be a threat to James Bond. As if. Thankfully Bond gives him a good beating in what starts off as a friendly sword fight. A great scene, which also makes up for the awful Madonna cameo moments before
aarrrgh. It was bad enough having her sing the theme song. MI6 eventually make up with Bond, primarily to annoy the CIA. This means he gets tooled up with gadgets and an invisible Aston martin!!! (Very disappointed the line "now where did I leave my car?" wasn't used.) He is also informed about the undercover agent Miranda Frost (Rosamund Pike) who is posing as Graves' PR girl. As her name suggests she is an ice-cold agent who refuses to be taken in by Bonds charm. The stunning Halle Berry plays the tough U.S agent Jinx, one of the best Bond girls for some time, who hops straight into bed with the sexually frustrated Bond. (14 months at least) The love scene is appropriately passionate. The favourites are all there too, although perhaps in smaller doses than before. M (Dench) is wonderful at putting Bond in his place, Q is also superbly played by Cleese who has really made that role his own, and there is a great scene with Money penny and a virtual reality machine near the end. The only major thing I can fault with this film is Gustav Graves, who is a terrible villain, and the sometimes over done directing. The rest is top form Bond, with impossible stunts, crazy fight sequences, cheesy one liners and gorgeous women. A nice addition to the franchise, that shows a grittier side to the character. Turn off your brain and enjoy yourself, this is a wonderful Bond extravaganza with enough of a twist to keep it fresh.
Review of Die Another Day
