Die Another Day (2002)

Average rating

(63%)

Starring:	Pierce Brosnan \| Colin Salmon \| Halle Berry \| Rosamund Pike \| Toby Stephens \| Judi Dench \| John Cleese \| Rick Yune \| Michael Madsen \| Samantha Bond
Director:	Lee Tamahori
Studio:	MGM ENTERTAINMENT
Run time:	127 mins
Genres:	Action/Adventure \| Thriller
Languages:	English
Hearing-impaired:	English
Subtitles:	Dutch, English
Released:	May 02, 2003
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In DIE ANOTHER DAY, the 20th James Bond adventure, 007 (Pierce Brosnan) gets off to a rough start when he's captured and subsequently tortured during an assignment in North Korea. When the suave secret agent is eventually liberated, he embarks on a dangerous mission that involves tracking a terrorist named Zao (Rick Yune) to Cuba, where 007 also encounters Jinx (Halle Berry), a highly formidable and alluring fellow spy. Soon Bond is back in England following a mysterious trail that leads to Gustav Graves (Toby Stephens), a flamboyant diamond mogul. After a rather bloody introduction, Graves invites 007 to Iceland, where he plans to unveil his enigmatic Icarus project. Before long, Bond and Jinx are reunited and battling Graves, Zao, and other villains bent on world domination.
With this Bond installment, directed by Lee Tamahori, 007 catches up with the 21st century, and the results are grittier and more explosive than ever before. Although it begins as one of the darkest and most violent Bond films, the intense mood of DIE ANOTHER DAY is also counterbalanced by typically clever and funny moments. Brosnan is in fine form as the iconic hero, while Berry shines as the immediately likeable Jinx. Stephens and Yune are excellent as the two main bad guys, and the rest of the cast--including Judi Dench, John Cleese, Rosamund Pike, and Michael Madsen--provide key supporting roles. With its hi-tech gadgets and special-effects-laden set pieces, DIE ANOTHER DAY clearly has its eye on the future, but in numerous scenes it also lovingly embraces the past, placing the film in the upper tier of Bond movies.

Rating of 4 stars out of 5

There are only two “cons” to this 20th James Bond adventure, and both involve Madonna — firstly, the singer's grating theme song and, secondly, her dire cameo as a fencing instructor. These trivialities aside, it's heartening that the much loved Boys' Own franchise has rarely looked better, even if the familiar “quash the evil megalomaniac and unmask the traitor” plotline is more preposterous than ever. Such continued vigour is largely down to director Lee Tamahori's fluid style and the relentless pace that effortlessly propels the film's intense action around the globe. From North Korea and London to Cuba and a dazzling Icelandic snow-palace, the locations are as inspired as the frequent set pieces. Pierce Brosnan, as a betrayed and vengeful 007, is on particularly fine form, combining the secret agent's usual charm and throwaway wit with true toughness and a streak of venom. Such character-broadening traits ensure that the format never feels stale, while the introduction of Halle Berry as a genuinely equal, if underdeveloped, female sidekick is a definite coup.

Rating of 1 stars out of 5
Halliwell's Film Guide

Bond's adventures have grown more risible with the years and this, which has him driving around an ice-palace in an invisible car, is more ridiculous than any that have gone before; Brosnan carries it off with suave charm, with some sex appeal added by Ha

Highest rated reviews

9 out of 11 people found the following review helpful:

Worst so far

Melon from East Sussex, 15th August, 2004

Watching this it's easy to see why Pierce Brosnan has now decided to bow out as Bond. He must have smelt how rotten the franchise was getting as this is easily the worst out of them all.

It's unexciting, unfunny and frankly dull. The CGI is woefully cheap-looking (seriously not good for a movie this expensive) and has unfortunately replaced the great stunt work which was the series' hall mark. The attempts to give it a modern feel are incredibly misplaced and cheesemongouring (terrible Madonna song, surfing etc). This is a really bad movie. The makers need to completely re-evaluate what the hell they think they're doing before they continue the series.

The very idea that they were considering giving Halle Berry her own franchise in the Jinx character just seems laughable.

Judging by this any actor worth his salt would be wise to give the iconic role a wide berth. Bond may well have had his day, especially when you compare this to something like the recent Bourne movies, and it may be an idea to let him retire him for good.

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5 out of 6 people found the following review helpful:

The Worst Bond Ever!

Stu from , 7th June, 2005

If you thoght Casino Royale was bad, Avoid this movie! I was a firm supportor of Pierce as the best bond until I watched this film. Its as if someone has tried to describe to a small child all the things that make a bond film great (the women, that beach scene, the catchphrases, the oneliners, the gadgets, the cars, etc) and then overdone them all to such an extent that the film itself is plotless drivel. Unbelievable gadgets, unwatchable story, painful oneliners, characters with no discernable character. In short, this is 'hollywood does Bond' - RIP Bond!!!! Only Hollywood could kill a no brainer....

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