The World is Not Enough (1999) Review

 Title: The World is Not Enough
Year: 1999
Director: Michael Apted
Country: UK
Language; English

The World is Not Enough is a tearjerker, but not for the reason you'd expect. This was the last feature film of Desmond Llewelyn, who played Q throughout the Bond franchise. He had been a staple of the series since From Russia With Love (1963). and many fans looked forward to his scenes, which often featured him giving Bond a ridiculous gadget. Seeing his last scene  At 85 years old, he lived a long life, but we all wish he lived a lot longer. 

James Bond (Piece Brosnan) uncovers a nuclear plot while protecting an oil heiress from her former kidnapper, an international terrorist who can't feel pain.

The last James Bond film of the Twentieth Century, The World is Not Enough features a great opening song by Garbage & is one of the most impressive of t007 features when it comes to thrilling, pulse pounding action scenes. TWINE is fast-paced, with the 2 hours feeling like 20minutes.

I like Bond Girl Christmas Jones, if only for the name & associated puns. "Christmas came early this year."  & I think Pierce Brosnan has a better developed personality than his previous two outings. I would argue that the plot is a bit weak; the story itself is not very engaging or providing a lot of depth. TWINE is very much style over substance.

The World is Not Enough is a pretty average film that is enjoyable, but not very memorable. Cinephiles often site 1999 as one of the best years in film history, but that's because of The Matrix, American Beauty, and The Sixth Sense. Nobody claims 1999 was great because of Bond. 

Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) Review

Title: Tomorrow Never Dies
Year: 1997
Director: Roger Spottiswoods
Country: UK
Language: English

Roger Moore's first two Bond films of the 1980's  (Octopussy & For Your Eyes Only) were too conservative for my liking. They were too influenced by  the Reagan/Thatcher politics of the time. Tomorrow Never Dies comes during a more liberal 90's when Tony Blair (US), John Chretien (Canada) & Bill Clinton (UK) were in charge. Concerns became more focused on technology, rather than the pointless "war on drugs".

James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) sets out to stop a media mogul's plan to induce a war between China and the United Kingdom.

Tomorrow Never Dies takes Bond into the Information Era and is shockingly relevant considering politics of today. Perhaps it is the most relevant film in the franchise, and that is including the most recent No Time to Die (2021). There are many examples (*cough*FoxNews*cough*) of media being manipulated in order to influence our elections. Brexit was partly driven by media influence. 

Michelle Yeoh's stock has risen immensely since Tomorrow Never Dies. She won Best Actress at the Academy Awards in 2023 for Everything Everywhere All At Once. It is fascinating to watch her in an earlier role where she is kicking ass along with Bond. She is a great Bond girl. 

Tomorrow Never Dies is a fast paced, thrilling Bond film that is an underrated gem in the franchise. Its impressive set design, exquisite cinematography and jaw-dropping fight choreography make this entry a contender for one of the best Bonds. 

Goldeneye (1995) Review

 Title: Goldeneye
Year: 1995
Director: Martin Campbell
Country: UK
Language: English

Ah, Goldeneye! Most of us millennials know of this 007 entry as our favorite childhood video game. We spent countless hours on the N64 beating our friends in "slappers only" combat. Nobody played as Oddjob, because his small stature was considered cheating. Many of us didn't ever end up seeing the film Goldeneye, which is a shame, because it's a damn good movie!

When a powerful secret defense system is stolen, James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) is assigned to stop a Russian crime syndicate from using it.

The first Bond film made since the end of the Cold War, Goldeneye was an ambitious project for the producers to make. Mel Gibson, Hugh Grant and Liam Neeson were all offered the part of Bond, but they all passed. Pierce Brosnan accepted the role. He's a good middle0ground between the goofy camp of Moore & the extreme seriousness of Timothy Dalton. Brosnan is an instantly credible Bond.

"I think you're a sexist misogynistic dinosaur. A relic of the cold war." - M

Goldenye updates the Franchise to reflect attitudes of the time. This entry is the first time Bond is called out, and made fun of, for his outdated views. It's also the first entry to feature a female M, which was huge at the time. The film itself has an adequate script, but is visually impressive. Its impressive cinematography, intense fight choreography and outstanding set design give Goldeneye an epic feel that is rarely matched throughout the Bond Franchise. 

Famke Janssen as Xenia Onatopp is a memorable femme fatale. Sean Bean as Trevelyan is an iconic Bond villain. I love how personal Trevelyan & Bond's showdown is at the end of the film. Goldeneye is certainly worthy of being highly regarded. 

 

Licence to Kill (1989) Review

Title: Licence to Kill 
Year: 1989
Director: John Glen
Country: UK
English: English

While Roger Moore's Bond was busy shagging every lady who could find, Timothy Dalton's James Bond was practically abstinent. Reporters at the time wondered if the AIDS epidemic had contributed to 007's reduced sexuality. Dalton initially denied these claims, but decades later he admitted this was true. Dalton's Bond would be darker, grittier and more of a killer-for-hire than the previous incarnation.  

A vengeful James Bond (Timothy Dalton) goes rogue to infiltrate and take down the organization of a drug lord who has murdered his friend's new wife and left him near death.

Licence to Kill feels like the true sequel to On Her Majesty's Secret Service, rather than the atrocious Diamonds are Forever (1971).  The events of Lazenby's film gave 007 a relentless desire for revenge against his enemies. It turned this quirky ladies man into a cold blooded killer. Dalton really has an intensity that no other Bond actor has had since. Its easy to tell that he came from a Shakesperean acting background. 

While the story & acting is great, the visual presentation of Licence to Kill feels quite dated. It looks, and sounds, like a late 80's television show. It's like the cinematographer, set designer and costumer designer all decided to model this outing after Miami Vice. While a View to a Kill (1985) reminds viewers of the fun Cyndi Lauper era of the 80's that everyone is nostalgic for, Licence to Kill resembles a part of the 80's that only your grandmother liked.

If Licence to Kill had a visual presentation that didn't look like Dallas it would be a top tier Bond flick. Unfortunately, it looks dated & won't age gracefully as time goes on. I love the story however & I would tell everybody to watch it at least once. 

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) Review

Title: Deadpool & Wolverine 
Year: 2024
Director: Shawn Levy
Country: US
Language: English

With Logan (2017)  Hugh Jackman had decided to be done playing the character of Wolverine. He had been playing this part for 17 years; since X-Men (2000) However, he saw Deadpool 2 & expressed regret killing the character off, telling Ryan Reynolds that he wished their two characters could meet onscreen. Welp! Something something multiverse & we get Deadpool & Wolverine.

Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) is offered a place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe by the Time Variance Authority, but instead recruits a variant of Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) to save his universe from extinction.

When She-Hulk breaks the fourth wall, she gets cancelled. When Deadpool does it his movie earns a Billion dollars. That seems unfair. 

Crass, violent, and full of f***s to give out in every sentence,  Deadpool & Wolverine is a fun, goofy brainless film that will certainly work among those who want to see two immortal beings beat each other up for two hours. 

For everyone else the jokes are hit & miss. The fourth wall-breaking becomes tedious at times; like Deadpool will make fun of how stale the Marvel formula has become - only for the movie to fall into the same cookie-cutter plot tropes (ie. excessive cameos). The writing can be pretty bad at times, as some of the plot gets convoluted and confusing. Since when was "anchor beings" ever a thing in the MCU? 

This movie makes me reflect upon my distaste for the Disney series She-Hulk. I think my annoyance for that character was her reluctance to become The Hulk. "I'm great at controlling my anger." Then why am I watching She-Hulk? The Deadpool series is at least a fun time. If you can turn your brain off, you'll enjoy it. 

The Living Daylights (1987) Review

 Title: The Living Daylights
Year: 1987
Director: John Glen
Country: UK
Language: English

A View to a Kill (1985) did pretty good in the theatres, but it had become pretty obvious that Roger Moore had become too old for the role. The Producers decided to hire Pierce Brosnan as 007, but the TV Series Remington Steele decided to renew his contract for another season, and thus Brosnan wouldn't be available until Goldeneye (1995). For now the part of Bond would go to Shakesperean actor Timothy Dalton. 

James Bond (Timothy Dalton) is sent to investigate a KGB policy to kill all enemy spies, and uncovers an arms deal that potentially has major global ramifications.

Dalton's approach to Bond was similar to Daniel Craig. In The Living Daylights Bond is darker, more brooding and more serious than Connery & Moore. He is less focused on babes and booze; preferring to a "get the job done at whatever the cost" assassin. He gives an emotionally gripping performance that compliments the engaging plot & stunning cinematography. 

This Bond film is very topical for the time. By the late 80's the West's "War on Drugs" was in full swing. This was the time of "Just Say No." and D.A.R.E. The film also touches on the Russian War with Afghanistan and, interestingly enough, has Bond team up with a group that would later become the Taliban!

Dalton's Bond doesn't jump into bed with the ladies like previous Bonds', which I suppose reflects the AIDS crisis of the 80's. It's a fascinating time capsule film that proves to be pretty entertaining. 

Diamonds are Forever (1971) Review

 Title: Diamonds Are Forever
Year: 1971
Director: Guy Hamilton
Country: UK
Language: English

After On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1967) producers scrambled to find the new James Bond because George Lazenby did not want to renew his role. He felt the franchise wouldn't make past the sixties. Who better to play Bond than the original actor Sean Connery. Paid a record breaking salary at the time, Connery was the producers' best bet to introduce the beloved spy to a new decade. 

A diamond smuggling investigation leads James Bond (Sean Connery) to Las Vegas where he uncovers an evil plot involving a rich business tycoon.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service ended on such an incredibly emotional cliffhanger that I expected Diamonds are Forever (1971) to be a chilling follow-up where Bond is consumed by grief and desire for revenge. This isn't the case. The follow-up to OHMSS is such a letdown that it sours the experience of the former film. 

This version of Blofeld is the most boring in the 007 Franchise. Connery seems to have phoned it in as Bond in this film. He is far less charming than in Dr. No (1962) and Goldfinger (1964). The gay henchmen Mr.Wint (Bruce Glover) and Mr.Kidd (Putter Smith) are represented as all the worst homophobic stereotypes of the era. 

It is honestly hard to watch Diamonds Are Forever and still consider myself a fan of Bond films. I find it embarrasing, repulsive even. Die Another Day (2002) is at least a guilty pleasure "so bad its fun" viewing.  This film is just tedious. 

You Only Live Twice (1967) Review

Tile: You Only Live Twice 
Year: 1967
Director: Lewis Gilbert
Country: UK
Language: English

With the harsh reality of the Vietnam War permeating the West, the producers of the James Bond Franchise sought to make their productions increasingly escapist. More of the film's budget would be spent on lavish sets, exotic locations and big explosive special effects. You Only Live Twice (1967) was quite an absurd Bond film for the time. 

James Bond  (Sean Connery) and the Japanese Secret Service must find and stop the true culprit of a series of space hijackings, before war is provoked between Russia and the United States.

The concept of "Bond in Japan" is quite fascinating considering the historical context. Just two decades prior, Tokyo was a mess of rubble and debris. Post-war, the country built itself into shape & was becoming an economic powerhouse. In the 70's their industry would see a boom. This movie provides a time-capsule moment of a country on the verge of greatness. 

Ninjas, Sumo Wrestlers, Volcano lairs, and Helicopters in a suitcase! Only Roald Dahl, writer of Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, could make the absolute absurdity of You Only Live Twice work. As a travelouge film, it works. As a Spy thriller, it works as well. The producers needed Bond to survive the 60's and this "throw everything, including the kitchen sink" approach is effective. 

You Only Live Twice straddles the line between admiration for Japanese culture, and mockery of it. I personally feel it does a good job of presenting Japan, but your mileage may vary. I enjoy Bond flicks for their "over the top" premises and this does deliver some wild times. 

Thunderball (1965) Review

 Title: Thunderball
Year: 1965
Director: Terence Young
Country: UK
Language: English

The mid 1960's were a difficult time in Western politics - the Cold War permeated pop culture as the atomic threat felt more inevitable with each passing day. Thunderball (1965) leans into this anxiety; the SPECTRE villain is determined to hold the world ransom when he steals two nuclear warheads & threatens nuclear annihilation. 

James Bond (Sean Connery) heads to the Bahamas to recover two nuclear warheads stolen by S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Agent Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi) in an international extortion scheme.

Around the time Thunderball was being made, surf culture made a huge splash among the general public. Surf rock (ex. Beach Boys) and films featuring prominent tropical destinations (ex. Elvis' Blue Hawaii) were guaranteed money-makers. Therefore this entry had to cash-in on the crazy & prominently feature diving, surfing and lots of aquatics. 

Unfortunately, this means that Thunderball is weighed down by a lot of meandering underwater scenes. There's an underwater action scene that is laughably slow in an almost comical way. The attempt at balancing serious cold war attitudes with goofy surf culture give the film an odd tone. The dramatic and comedic elements don't quite balance each other out. 

This is a shame because Thunderball is a visual spectacle. The cinematography is remarkable, the on-location shooting is gorgeous, and the score is upbeat and fun. The villain, Emilio Largo, is iconic and menacing. The Femme Fatale, played by Luciana Paluzzi, has a great amount of charisma. There are so many elements of Thunderball that work terrifically. 

There is a lot to appreciate about this 007 entry, even though the sum of its parts doesn't quite work out. I enjoy surf movies (see: Ghost in the Invisible Bikini) but too much of Thunderball takes place underwater, which makes the pace sometimes agonizingly slow. Nobody likes underwater levels. 

From Russia With Love (1963) Review

Title: From Russia With Love
Year: 1963
Director: Terrence Howard
Country: UK
Language: English

In 1962 a reporter asked US President John F. Kennedy what was on his reading list and he responded with Ian Fleming's From Russia With Love. This boosted sales of the book and, after also seeing the public's interest, the Producers decided to adapt the book into the next Bond flick. Interestingly enough; From Russia With Love was the last film Kennedy would watch prior to his assassination. 

James Bond (Sean Connery) willingly falls into an assassination plot involving a naive Russian beauty (Daniela Bianchi)  in order to retrieve a Soviet encryption device that was stolen by the organization Spectre.

From Russia With Love set the formula for the Bond film, creating a standard that is still sought after in modern 007 flicks. The screenplay is pretty good; a smart spy story that is ahead of its time in terms of portraying sexuality onscreen. The editing of the film is also innovative; it set the template for what action choreography would look like in later years. 

Many people, including Connery himself, consider From Russia With Love to be the Best Bond film. I certainly appreciate the film. The score, set design, lighting and on-location shooting fully immerse us in the atmosphere of Bond's world & keep us pulled in throughout the run-time. Its easy to become invested in our characters because we are invested in such an unpredictable story. 

I do think some of the casual racism/sexism dates this film, and some of the picture trudges along too slowly for my liking. However, these are minor issues compared to the impressive story that unfolds onscreen. I would certainly recommend it. 

On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) Review

Title: On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Year: 1969
Director; Peter Hunt
Country: UK
Language: English

Sean Connery was unhappy with the politics, attention and low-pay of playing James Bond, so he left the role as soon as production wrapped on his 5th film. The producers wanted to make Man With the Golden Gun in Croatia with Roger Moore next, but instability due to the Vietnam War meant that project needed to be delayed. Once they decided on On Her Majesty's Secret Service, they sought to find an actor who's star power would not eclipse the popularity of the character. They found George Lazenby; a model who had no filmography prior. 

British agent James Bond (George Lazenby) goes undercover to pursue the villainous Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Telly Savales) , who is planning to hold the world to ransom.

The late 1960's were a chaotic time in the Western World. Race riots, student protests, and labour strikes were all rampant throughout Europe. Charles De Gaulle resignated in France. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated the US. The film industry itself had undergone a remarkable change, inspired by the Nouvelle Vague (French New Wave). Making Bond at this time was risky, but luckily OHMSS has a great screenplay, is wonderfully directed. and has some pretty impressive action scenes. 

Considered one of the best Bond films, OHMSS is a back-to-basics Bond that adds more emotional depth to our hero than the previous Connery pictures allowed. Its colour pallette and costume design give OHMSS a very groovy 60's feel. 

Unfortunately, this Bond installment does suffer from a long run-time (the longest until Casino Royale) and can feel very slow and meandering until Bond gets to Switzerland. The blue screen in some scenes, such as the bobsled race, seem cheesy and incredibly dated. 

Lazenby has been rumored to be difficult to work with. His agent didn't see the James Bond Franchise lasting much longer and suggested that Lazenby forgo further Bond roles. This is unfortunate, because he did make a good Bond. Fortunately, this meant the time for Roger Moore as the 007 Agent would come sooner.  OHMSS is a good film, but it's no Moonraker (1979) .

A View to a Kill (1985) Review

Title: A View to a Kill
Year: 1985
Director: John Glen
Country: UK
Language: English

I was hesitant to give A View to A Kill (1985) a chance because, so far, the 1980's Bond movies (Octopussy & For Your Eyes Only) have been too subdued & too steeped in conservative politics for my liking. I was immediately won over as I heard Duran Duran's iconic 80's synth-pop blaring through my speakers. Dance into the Fire. That Fatal Kiss is all We Need. Bring it on. 

The recovery of a microchip from the body of a fellow British secret agent leads James Bond (Roger Moore) to mad industrialist Max Zorin (Chrisopher Walken) , who is scheming to cause massive destruction.

A View To a Kill  is James Bond at peak 80's. In the West, this was the era of Cyndi Lauper, New Coke and The Goonies. There was still a conservative presence, as Ronald Reagan was re-elected, but it had cooled down significantly since the start of the decade. The Cold War had also cooled due to instability within the USSR. Computers were becoming more important to pop culture; Apple had released their first Macintosh in 1984. Therefore it was appropriate for the film to be a pop-punk MTV-era spy picture where the villain is obsessed with microchips. 

This Bond outing, the final one starring Roger Moore, is fun and campy. It features a hot Bond girl (Tanya Roberts) and a memorable femme fatale in May Day (Grace Jones). Christopher Walken does a good job at portraying an industrialist psychopath. The set pieces are memorable, but the action scenes are lacking a feeling of excitement and urgency. 

A View to a Kill is rated quite low by fans of the Franchise, who seem to like a more serious Bond, but I quite enjoy it! Goofy escapist Bond, fighting crazy rich baddies, is definitely my cup of tea. 

 

For Your Eyes Only (1981) Review

Title: For Your Eyes Only
Year: 1981
Director: John Glen
Country: UK
Language: English

The early 1980's were marked by heightened tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. In the West, the political landscape was dominated by Conservative leaders, such as UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who held strong anti-communist beliefs & emphasized military strength as a resolution to the Cold War. For Your Eyes Only (1981)  would reflect these tumultuous times. 

Secret service agent James Bond is assigned to find a missing British vessel equipped with a weapons encryption device and prevent it from falling into enemy hands.

For Your Eyes Only is a very serious, no-nonsense Bond film, a far cry from the silly camp of Moonraker (1969) and Live and Let Die (1973). In this picture the villain is clearly defined as a Russian spy, differing from the rogue evil billionaires of the past. Even Bond himself has changed to fit conservative times; he has become less of a womanizing bachelor and now only has *gasp* two romantic interests. 

The villain of For Your Eyes Only is a bit bland, perhaps intentionally to fit the mold of generic "Russian".  The action scenes are - at times- incredible. I was really impressed by the chase scene where Bond is skiing down a fast-paced Bobsled track. The plot is a bit convoluted  & it feels like the script needed to be tightened a bit. 

The score is the only part of the film that makes it feel very dated. It has this A-Team 80's action television show sound and it gives this 007 entry a made-for-tv feel at times. For Your Eyes Only is an adequate Bond movie, but far from my favourite.