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Amazon.co.uk Review
In his 19th screen outing The World is Not Enough, Ian Fleming's super-spy is once again caught in the crosshairs of a self-created dilemma: as the longest-running feature-film franchise, James Bond is an annuity his producers want to protect, yet the series' consciously formulaic approach frustrates any real element of surprise beyond the rote application of plot twists or jump cuts to shake up the audience. This time out, credit 007's caretakers for making some visible attempts to invest their principal characters with darker motives--and blame them for squandering The World is Not Enough's initial promise by the final reel. By now, Bond pictures are as elegantly formal as a Bach chorale, and this one opens on an unusually powerful note. A stunning pre-title sequence reaches beyond mere pyrotechnics to introduce key plot elements as the action leaps from Bilbao to London. Pierce Brosnan undercuts his usually suave persona with a darker, more brutal edge largely absent since Sean Connery departed. Equally tantalising are our initial glimpses of Bond's nemesis du jour, Renard (Robert Carlyle), and imminent love interest, Elektra King (Sophie Marceau), both atypically complex characters cast with seemingly shrewd choices and directed by the capable Michael Apted. The story's focus on post-Soviet geopolitics likewise starts off on a savvy note, before being overtaken by increasingly Byzantine plot twists, hidden motives and reversals of loyalty superheated by relentless (if intermittently perfunctory) action sequences.
Bond's grimmer demeanour, while preferable to the smirk that eventually swallowed Roger Moore whole, proves wearying, unrelieved by any true wit. The underlying psychoses that propel Renard and Elektra eventually unravel into unconvincing melodrama, while Bond is supplied with a secondary love object, Denise Richards, who is even more improbable as a nuclear physicist. Ultimately, this world is not enough despite its better intentions. --Sam Sutherland, Amazon.com
On the DVD: There are three different documentaries on this disc, as well as a "Secrets of 007" featurette that cuts between specific stunt sequences, behind-the-scenes footage and storyboards to reveal how it was all done, and a short video tribute to Desmond Llewelyn ("Q"), who died not long after this movie was released. The first "making of" piece is presented by an annoyingly chirpy American woman and is aimed squarely at the MTV market (most fascinating is watching her interview with Denise Richards in which the two orthodontically enhanced ladies attempt to out-smile each other). "Bond Cocktail" gamely distils all the essential ingredients that make up the classic Bond movie formula--gadgets, girls, exotic locations and lots of action. Most interesting of all is "Bond Down River", a lengthy dissection of the opening boat chase sequence. Director Michael Apted provides the first commentary, and talks about the challenges of delivering all the requisite ingredients. The second commentary is less satisfactory, since second unit director Vic Armstrong, production designer Peter Lamont and composer David Arnold have little in common. There's also the Garbage song video, and the booklet has yet more behind-the-scenes info. The anamorphic CinemaScope picture and Dolby digital sound are as spectacular as ever. --Mark Walker
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Blu Ray is not enough!!!,
By Stotty (Bolton, England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The World Is Not Enough [Blu-ray] [1999] (Blu-ray)
'The World Is Not Enough' is arguably the best of the Brosnan era movies. Whereas 'Goldeneye' took an age to get going with limited action, and 'Tomorrow Never Dies' was a full on action assault, this film was a more balanced movie with plenty of action, lots of drama, good performances and complex storyline with a half decent twist.
By now Brosnan was in cruise control as Bond, having made the role his own, some critics going as far to say that he was the best. His performance here is beautifully understated as Bond struggles to keep his emotions and professionalism separate. The performances from the female cast are also a revelation as Sophie Marceau, Denise Richards and Judi Dench get much more material to play with and see plenty of action. The movie moves along at a smooth pace and the action is evenly spread. The photography is also excellent. The whole picture oozes class. Unfortunately the Blu Ray transfer doesn't do the film any justice at all. The ski chase sequence looks good, but that's about it. I expected the pre titles sequence to blow me away, but it's no better than the DVD in my opinion, which is a travesty. It's hard to explain, when you consider the DVD transfer of the first three Bond films, especially 'Golfinger' which looks and sounds fantastic. That a newer film like this looks and sounds so inferior is a real mystery. I would seriously advise anyone thinking of 'upgrading' 'The World Is Not Enough' to Blu Ray to save their money and stick with the original DVD. I seriously think that some people are trying to con movie lovers and Blu Ray owners by giving us 'placebo effect' discs, that actually haven't been upgraded at all. What a damn shame.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Bluray is not enough,
By cosmetic punk (England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The World Is Not Enough [Blu-ray] [1999] (Blu-ray)
Of the 9 "old Bond movie" Blurays released so far this is the weakest. The step up from the DVD isn't good enough. There just aren't enough WOW moments that I expect from a Bluray picture. Which is rather strange as this is the newest of the "old Bond" Blurays released so far.
As with the other Bond re-released Blurays the extras are as per the 2-DVD issues from a couple of years back.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
adult,
By Furio (Genova - Italy) - See all my reviews
This review is from: World Is Not Enough, The [DVD] (DVD)
I have been reading several negative reviews about this Bond episode and the only explanation I could give myself is that what so many people have hated is exactly what I have liked.
Admittedly this is not your usual Bond plot: why, of course there is plenty of action scenes, including the classical pursuit, this time Bond chasing a handsome sniper(ess) on the Thames; there is the usual plot to conquer/destroy the world, etc. but while some themes are called for as expected the general atmosphere is completely different, dark, gloomy, realistic. That is my point, the plot is realistic: the villains' motives are perfectly clear and understandable from the point of view of general, globalised economy. In you put a decaying Russian empire with all its leaks of corruption, weapon trafficking, inefficient government. In you put the blatant inefficiency of the British (read Western) governments too. Then we have two superb villains, both unquestionably evil, but the one, a splendid Sophie Marceau, who became such out of a desperate sense of abandonment and revenge, the other, the terrorist, who surprises us by being capable of loving tenderly and fully. There is no black and white here, just a murky gray that contaminates everything and I can very well see how this adult vision may have displeased many Bond fans. Five stars cannot be given to this glorious attempt though: the script is faulty and there are some really cheesy lines including, unfortunately, the usual love banter between Bond and the Beauty at the end of the film. Direction is not flawless either: here and there the rhythm falters and is regained with an effort. Bad. Acting is not bad though, as stated by many. Brosnan is convincing and the Beauty does her job, served by the worst of lines, overshadowed by the gigantic figure of the beautiful Marceau.
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