(December 1997, U.S.)
On December 31, 1997, I experienced my final New Year's Eve before meeting the woman who'd one day become my wife. On January 1, 1998, I went to see TOMORROW NEVER DIES with my ex-girlfriend who was as much a James Bond fan as I was. Honestly, the two dates have absolutely nothing to do with each other. I just thought it would be a different way to introduce this post to an otherwise fun and formulaic James Bond movie.
So, imagine a Bond movie with a touch of Sidney Lumet's NETWORK (1976) and Orson Welles's' CITIZEN KANE (1941), in which Bond (played by Pierce Brosnan for the second time) attempts to defeat power-mad media baron Elliot Carver (played by Jonathan Pryce in a role intended to pay homage to American newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst) from influencing world events that could inevitably lead to World War III. "M" (played by Judi Dench for the second time) sends Bond to investigate Carver after he releases fake news article about a crisis in the South China Sea hours before MI6 has learned about it. Arriving in Hamburg, Bond attends a a major media event sponsored by Carver, and in the process, seduces his ex-girlfriend Paris (played by Teri Hatcher) who also happens to be Carver's wife, while trying to obtain information from her. Like so many other "secondary" Bond girls before her, Paris is killed when Carver discovers the truth between her and Bond. But fortunately, not before we get a good look at her ass behind black panties and garters...
Traveling to the South China Sea, Bond meets Chinese agent Wai Lin (played by Michelle Yeoh) who's on the same case. Working together now, the experience thrills, chills, perils, capture and escapes as they work with the Royal Navy and the People's Liberation Army Air Force to explain Carver's ultimate plot, which is to destroy the Chinese government with a stolen missile, allowing a Chinese general to step in and stop war between China and Great Britain, both of which have waged a naval war against each other. Following the conflict, Carver will achieve exclusive broadcasting rights in China. But like any other Bond crisis, the great villain is defeated and killed by our British hero, and he and the "Bond girl" share their final romantic moment before the end credits rolls.
If I seem limited in how much I'm saying about this James Bond film, it's probably true. In a spy franchise that's been around for fifty-eight years, you eventually get to the point where the traditional formulas of these movies become almost indescribable for anything truly new, unique or original. Don't get me wrong - TOMORROW NEVER DIES is a fun Bond film with plenty of action to keep one interested, and Pierce Brosan continues to prove he was a good choice as the new Bond for the '90s. But it's this second go-around where things are starting to slip a little. Whatever dark tones his persona may have exhibited in GOLDENEYE (1995) are starting to slip as he begins to give in to the silly puns and jokes that typically turn any Bond film into something cheesy. It's even a shame to see a truly gifted actor like Judi Dench give in to lame puns like, "You just have to pump her for information." The film ultimately does its job by providing the excitement and style we've come to expect from the legendary British agent, though how seriously we're supposed to take the nature of evil when it falls into the hands of media news is entirely up to the individual. Remember, this is still the '90s, before TV and media influence were as serious a threat as they are today with networks like FOX News. Still, the message of TV and the media's influence on our lives even back then is evident.
Michelle Yeoh is perhaps the most badass Bond girl in the entire franchise, which leaves me to question exactly what we want from our Bond girls. Do we prefer them to be the independent women of strength and power as in this film and those of the past like GOLDFINGER, or do we prefer them to be more dependent and even helpless as in DR. NO or LIVE AND LET DIE. Before we automatically choose the former, let's consider and ask ourselves why Ursula Andress is still one of the most popular, if not the most popular Bond girl of all time. Sheryl Crow provides one of the better Bond opening theme songs I've heard since Duran Duran in 1985, with a combination of seduction and pure anger. And if anyone is fitting to replace Desmond Llewelyn wisecracking role of "Q", who better than MONTY PYTHON and FAWLTY TOWERS legend John Cleese?
But really, all of what I'm writing here may be considered trivial, at best. The real question is...what does Richard K. think of TOMORROW NEVER DIES? Let's all just wait and see...
Favorite line or dialogue:
Elliot Carver: "Mr. Wallace, call the President. Tell him if he doesn't sign the bill lowering the cable rates, we will release the video of him with the cheerleader in the Chicago motel room."
Mr. Wallace: "Inspired, sir."
Carver: "And after he signs the bill, release the tape anyway."
Like all Bond Films, i of course love this, but I have to admit, not as much as some others. Elliot Carver is not a bad idea for a character, but he is written without any subtlety and Johnathon Pryce plays him that way.
ReplyDeleteMichelle Yeoh is the best thing about this film (outside of that shot of Teri Hatcher that you so kindly included in the post. Yeoh is a character that is the equal of Bond, right up to the last scene where she does get reduced to Damsel in distress status for the climax.
The Fake news aspect was prescient but not used as well as it needed to be. The Motorcycle chase and helicopter action were the strong action moments in the film.
Brosnon peaked early as Bond, with each subsequent film growing less effective (but apparently still more profitable).