Pierce Brosnan's second film as James Bond, "Tomorrow Never Dies" is a classic adventure that takes us back to the idea of deranged madmen trying to control the world. This sits surprisingly well with the new, grittier style of the series to create a new kind of Bond movie.
Brosnan is excellent again as Bond, trotting from Switzerland to Paris to Bangkok in is pursuit of crazed media baron Elliot Carver. Played by an OTT Jonathan Pryce, Carver is a not very subtle parody of all-powerful media giant Rupert Murdoch, with his empire of newspapers and TV stations. His plan to stage a war for ratings echoes the real life comments of press lord William Randolph Hearst - "You give me the pictures, I'll give you your war."
On this mission, Bond has to deal with professional hitman Dr Kaufman (the sublime Vincent Schiavelli), who is, after all, only doing his job. He also gets a new car, a Q branch BMW 5 Series with a handy remote control. Superb action sequences include a car park chase with Bond driving from the back seat, and a motorbike/helicopter face off on the streets of Bangkok.
Martial arts star Michelle Yeoh is perhaps the coolest Bond girl ever as the ass-kicking Chinese agent Wai Lin, and is a terrific foil and back up for Brosnan's Bond. First, though, he has to woo old flame Teri Hatcher, who has married Carver. Double result for Mr Bond!
"Tomorrow Never Dies" was a fine entry in what was coming to be seen as a renaissance for the Bond series.
中国海域に誤侵入した英国艇の乗員が、中国軍により全員射殺――このトップニュースにより、世界最大の中国空軍と英国海軍による第3次世界大戦勃発の危機が浮上。突如沸き起こった世界的な緊張状態の裏に、メディアの帝王と呼ばれるカーヴァーの存在が浮かび上がる――！
