The World Is Not Enough (1999) Director: Michael Apted
★★☆☆☆
Pierce Brosnan’s penultimate outing as James Bond marks the last appearance of the character during the 20th century, however The World Is Not Enough is another cliché Bond picture with a handful of fun adventures along the way. The title for the film is taken from the Bond family Coat of Arms created as mentioned in the 1969 movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and originally found in Fleming’s original novel On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Generally speaking I would say this is a superior movie to its predecessor, Tomorrow Never Dies but that is hardly saying much. Apparently after all the production troubles in Tomorrow Never Dies, Pierce Brosnan expressed an interest in bringing things back down to earth in a more serious spy thriller and The World Is Not Enough was an attempt at meeting that challenge.
At any rate, the film begins with Bond on a mission in Spain rescuing stolen money in a briefcase, however when he returns the money to MI6 it is revealed to booby-trapped, killing Sir Robert, the man to whom the money belonged. Bond then chases the culprit in a dramatic high speed boat chase down the Thames that ends on a hot air balloon, however the female culprit decides to blow up the hot air balloon, killing herself. Bond is injured in the fall from the balloon, breaking his collar bone among other things. However, he is cleared for duty because he sleeps with the doctor assessing him in a ludicrous scene. He traces the money to a man named Zokas “Renard,” a former KGB agent with a bullet lodged in his brain that is slowly killing him, but also making him stronger and immune to pain all the time (a remarkably absurd physical state to be in). Bond then travels to Azerbaijan, to protect Elektra, the daughter of Sir King (the man killed at the outset). She is overseeing the construction of an oil pipeline for her late father’s company. After doing reconnaissance work and being attacked, Bond discovers that Elektra has been working with Zokas “Renard” the whole time. She killed her father out of revenge and then also lured M into a trap before kidnapping her. Bond reveals a bomb plot to blow up Istanbul and also disrupt the Russian oil industry, but Elektra captures Bond and tortures him, but Bond’s ally Valentin Zukovsky (Robbie Coltrane) suddenly arrives to rescue Bond. In the shootout, Zukovsky is killed, but Bond is freed. Bond then kills Elektra and frees M as they escape. Bond chases “Renard” down into his submarine which he sinks and ruptures the hull allowing water in. While it sinks Bond and “Renard” battle until Bond eventually somehow releases tremendous pressure that launches a plutonium rode into “Renard” impaling him. Bond flees while the bomb detonates safely underwater.
The World Is Not Enough is yet another forgettable and underwhelming Bond film filled with predictable and wholly unbelievable scenes (including an anti-climactic ending in which Bond simply releases pressure launching a plutonium rod into Renard, thus impaling and killing him). Perhaps the only saving grace of this film is a somewhat unique Bond girl who is just as cold-hearted as her evil paramour. In general, I would suggest avoiding these Pierce Brosnan James Bond films unless you have dedicated yourself (as I have) to slog your way through the complete Bond series.
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- James Bond actor: Pierce Brosnan
- Director: Michael Apted
- Producers: Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli
- Screenplay: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Bruce Feirstein
- Cinematography: Adrian Biddle
- Editor: Jim Clark
- Gun Barrel Sequence: performed by Pierce Brosnan
- Villain(s): Victor “Renard” Zokas, a former KGB agent turned high-tech terrorist (Robert Carlyle), Elektra King (Sophie Marceau), Gabor, Elektra King’s bodyguard (John Seru)
- Bond Girl(s): Elektra King (Sophie Marceau)
- MI6: M (Judi Dench), Q (Desmond Llewelyn), Miss Moneypenny (Samantha Bond), Charles Robinson (Colin Salmon), Bill Tanner (Michael Kitchen), Dr. Molly Warmflash (Serena Scott Thomas), R, Q’s assistant (John Cleese)
- Bond Gadgets: Q Boat, Glasses Detonator, Lapel Transmitter, Gun Bagpipes, Inflatable Jacket, Hologram Floor, Omega Seamaster, X Ray Specs, Card Lock Pick, Cane Gun
- Allies: Dr. Christmas Jones (Denise Richards), Valentin Zukovsky (Robbie Coltrane)
- Score: David Arnold
- Theme Song: “The World Is Not Enough” by Garbage
- Locales: Spain, England, Azerbaijan