The World Is Not Enough (1999)

Average rating

(66%)

Starring:	Pierce Brosnan \| Sophie Marceau \| Judi Dench \| Robbie Coltrane \| Robert Carlyle \| Desmond Llewelyn \| John Cleese \| Samantha Bond \| Colin Salmon \| Maria Grazia Cucinotta \| Denise Richards \| Goldie
Director:	Michael Apted
Studio:	MGM ENTERTAINMENT
Run time:	123 mins
Genres:	Action/Adventure \| Thriller
Languages:	English
Hearing-impaired:	English
Subtitles:	Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
Released:	November 03, 2003
Also available on:

Complete with ski chases, casino hijinks, high-tech gadgetry, and sultry women, the 19th installment in the James Bond franchise features the increasingly at ease Pierce Brosnan in his third appearance as 007, in a race to save the world's oil supply. Sophie Marceau (BRAVEHEART) stars as Elektra King, the daughter of a murdered oil tycoon, while Robert Carlyle (THE FULL MONTY) plays one of the most unusual Bond villains ever: Renard, who is unable to feel pain because of a bullet lodged in his brain. Director Michael Apted, known for such films as COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER, was brought in to bring more drama to the story and more complex female characters. One of the fruits of Apted's involvement is that M (Judi Dench) gets to move from behind her desk, while curvy Denise Richards (WILD THINGS) gets to show off more than her figure. Dangerous stunt work, exhilarating action sequences, and a rousing theme song from alternative rock band Garbage make this a worthy addition to the 007 series. The film also marks the 17th and final appearance of Desmond Llewelyn as Q; John Cleese is introduced as Q's successor, R.

Rating of 4 stars out of 5

In a welcome return to the gritty glamour of such early outings as From Russia with Love, this 19th James Bond adventure effortlessly juggles a hard-hitting story with all the expected “super spy” embellishments and keeps everything in diamond-cut focus for maximum suspense and thrills. Director Michael Apted is to thank for the stirring, not shaky, blend of casino, ski slopes and submarine components contained within a topical plot about the power struggle for global domination of pipelines from oil-rich Azerbaijan. Pierce Brosnan is clearly comfortable as 007, both in the dramatic sequences and during the spectacular stunts. (The opening speedboat chase along the River Thames gets things moving in turbo drive.) Matching him every step of the way is Sophie Marceau, the best Bond girl in ages, and Robert Carlyle, who is perfect as a vicious villain. Even Judi Dench's “M” gets out into the Middle East battlefield to show her gadget ingenuity. Though everything comes gift-wrapped in production glitz, there are many touching moments to temper the adrenalin-pumping action. Accompanied by a theme song from Garbage that sounds like Shirley Bassey revisited, the world's greatest secret agent entered the new millennium in fine blockbuster form.

Rating of 2 stars out of 5
Halliwell's Film Guide

A spectacular opening sequence provides most of the thrills, after which Brosnan's charm smooths over the bumpy narrative and second-rate bad guys on offer here; Denise Richards in a wet T-shirt will no doubt do wonders for the image of nuclear scientists