A new decade, a new Bond. After a six year absence, the series undergoes its most radical revamp in "Goldeneye", as Pierce Brosnan finally steps into the role of a James Bond based very much in the real world. He operates out of the real MI6 building on the Thames, and his boss M is now a hard as nails woman (a terrific performance from Judi Dench).
Brosnan keeps Dalton's serious touch, but leavens it with Moore's smirking humour in this tale of renegade British agents and stolen satellite weapons. Sean Bean's embittered 006 is a pretty good villain, backed up by a new style of henchman: Famke Janssen's Xenia Onatopp, whose mode of killing is very adult indeed.
The setting of post-Communist Russia is very well-realised, and makes a poignant comment about how much the world has changed since Bond first appeared. It also gives Brosnan the opportunity to go storming through the streets of Moscow in a bloody great tank, knocking buildings over as he goes; yes, this Bond has even more action than ever before.
Izabella Scorupco's Natalya is a plausible Bond girl, a computer programmer more drably clad than most, but nonetheless beautiful. Solid support also comes from Robbie Coltrane's larger than life Russian crime lord and Alan Cummings' treacherous geek.
It's an impressive new look for the series, established with considerable style. Brosnan has arguably the most well-rounded portrayal of Bond since Connery, with the balance of humour and danger just right.
ボンドは強奪された兵器「ゴールデンアイ」の追跡調査のためロシアに向かう。だが、そこには世界経済破壊計画を遂行する国際犯罪組織「ヤヌス」の陰謀が。しかもボンドを待ちかまえていたのは、任務遂行中に死んだはずの006だった……！
