I have seen every Bond picture on opening day since Dr. No.  That's right, ALL of them and though some are better than others, I have yet to see one that I didn't like.  Anybody with ANY sense will admit that Connery is the best Bond.  Having said that, they have all been good in their own way and Pierce Brosnan is, in my opinion, tied for second with Roger Moore.  Brosnan has been a solid Bond since his first attempt and played this one with skill even though the story was a departure from the "normal" James Bond recipe. 

"Die Another Day" takes off like a rocket, full blast in the normal Bond opening sequence.  The difference this time is he doesn't get away.  He is caught, imprisoned and tortured for 14 months.  When he is finally released in a prisoner exchange he embarks on an odyssey of revenge and
redemption.  It takes him from North Korea to South Korea to Hong Kong to Cuba to England to Iceland and then back to the Koreas.

Along the way he comes across a mysterious lady named Jinx, played AMPLY by Halle Berry.  There have been many "Bond Girls" but there has NEVER been one that looked like Halle.  The scene of her coming out of the surf will surely make a million seller poster.  The girl is AWESOME!!!

The classic Bond story line calls for a villain and this time we have two.  Gustav Graves played by Toby Stephans and Zao played by Rick Yune.  Zao is a North Korean who is stuck in Bond's craw and Graves is a...........better not tell you that one.  They were both "decent" villains but we have had better in the likes of Blofeld and Goldfinger.  The American government contact was horribly played by Michael "I can't act for shit" Madsen.  This guy was absolutely TERRIBLE and I kept wondering WHY he was there.  And what would a Bond picture be without gadgets.  There weren't many but that was made up for by the Astin Martin (I won't spoil it for you) that was truly amazing (fantastic?)!

All the elements were here and the things that have made these pictures a success are right there to dazzle you.  The action, the suspense, the girls (singular this time), the gadgets, the villains, the cars and the overall fast pace that we have come to expect and demand from a Bond picture are all in place.  Sure, some of the lines are corny, but they are meant to be and have always been said tongue in cheek.  The one huge flaw that I must comment on was the title song by Madonna.  It was the WORST ever and she should give back the money.  That aside, we know from the opening credits that our guy will "win" but we keep coming back to see HOW!  This installment delivers the "HOW" in true "Bond............James Bond" fashion and lives up to the legacy. 

"Read THIS..............BITCH!!!!" 

RECOMMENDATION: It's all here! You like Bond? THIS is BOND! Not the best
one but Classic Bond, just the same. Spend the money! 

TWO SHAKEN, BUT I'LL SHOOT YOU IF YOU STIR, THUMBS UP!!! I

Movie Review © 2002 by Terry Anderson