Die Another Day (2002)

Bond brings some friends to lift diamonds. And so he has access to North Korean military equipment posing as an arms dealer. But, alas, the enemy has updated information as to his real identity and instead of spying, we are treated to a lengthy chase scene after Bond uses his wristwatch to create a very flammable diversion. But the idea of racing hovercrafts in mine fields are genuinely cool and most entertainingly executed, although it ends pretty stupidly because action still seems to be more important than reason and logic in a single scene. Then Bond is tortured through the entire vignette. That's a first.

The casting here is the worst in decades. Brosnan delivers as he's supposed to. Berry overacts terrible, Stephens is mostly like a petulant child. With Pike unable to really find her footing, and the extras including Madonna, the casting was obviously done by a dozen drunk monkeys trying to write Shakespeare. Sure, the director might be rightly criticised for not getting the best out of Pike, Stephens and the great Michael Madsen, but casting Madonna is just insane in any film. At least Cleese is good. And Samantha Bond's scene towards the end is a real gem.

Fencing with the villain was an excellent idea, but unfortunately director Tamahori is tempted to overdo it, and the whole scene makes Madonna look like the well-balanced one. The action in general is better than in a while though, as Tamahori mostly manages to keep it at acceptable length and tries not to overdo the stunts and explosions too much  (apart from the insanely stupid paragliding). Besides, he actually has a couple of cool ideas (apart from the black hole of daftness in the paragliding). He doesn't really seem to like tension though, so he chooses to disregard that option, even when easily applied.

So it's not without its strengths and charms, but they've not bothered to write decent characters, and managed to cast poor characters with all the wrong actors. And that does hurt your bottom line (in quality. Fiscally, this film did great). Thus endeth the reign of Pierce Brosnan

5/10

Best car used: Aston Martin Vanquish. Delectable
Most memorable drink served: '61 Bollinger
Henchmen: Zao. A martial arts version of Michael Jackson walking into a diamond storm.
Villain: Gustav Graves. Stupid character, badly acted
Best one-liner: "I think I broke her heart". (Jinx' line)
Song: "Die another Day" by Madonna. Horrid, despicably poor. Almost half as bad as her part in the film
Bond-girl: Halle Berry as Jinx. Pays homage to Andress. Otherwise forgettable though one of the strongest flirters of the franchise, partly because she overhits the ball.