MOVIE REVIEW: Bond does it again — Grade B+
“Die Another Day” was the 20th James Bond movie in 40 years, and the franchise is aging quite gracefully, for the most part. With movies like “XXX” hitting the market, Bond has had to become bolder, larger, sexier and louder to compete.
In a way this makes for a more exciting movie, but I can’t help feeling that it’s causing 007 to lose some of the sophistication and elegance we have come to expect from him. Instead of ready wit and thrilling searches, we are given faster cars, hotter sex and steamier language in an attempt to give Vin Diesel a run for his money.
Some of these additions, like Halle Barry as Jinx, the American equivalent to Britain’s licensed killer and is the first Bond girl who can hold her own, is a welcomed addition to the series. Other additions, like the genetically altered super villain and the solar-powered death ray orbiting the earth, are laughable at best. But then, when did Bond villains ever make any sense (see, for instance, “Jaws” or “Oddjob”)?
Since it was the 20th movie, filmmakers tried to make it a celebration of all things Bond. Most of these homages to past films, such as the rejected gadgets in the underground station, died before they took off. Others, like Berry’s Ursula Andress introduction, were a great salute to the franchise.
This film was fun, but there was really nothing special about it. It was the same old hero fighting the same old villains with the same old gadgets and cars intermixed with explosions, fist fights, gun battles and steamy bedroom romps. What we got was a Gen-X, frenetic film that never truly found its roots.
It was trying too hard to be something it is not. Also, the standby characters like M and Moneypenny were reduced to minute performances that utterly wasted the fun of their existence, not to mention the talents of Judi Dench.
That said, I did enjoy the film. Pierce Brosnan is definitely the best Bond since Sean Connery, and Berry gave him a run for his money. Her character was so successful that there is talk of giving her character her own movie. That’s a first for a Bond girl.
All in all, the film will provide a mesmerizing escapist experience for those who like Bond films and explosions. For die-hard Bond fans, this film may be mildly disappointing. But hey, there really isn’t much else to go see until “The Two Towers” comes out anyway, so by all means, enjoy it while it lasts
Justin Berry is working toward his second bachelors degree in theater performance. Comments can be sent to justinsb26@hotmail.com