In honor of the 60th anniversary of James Bond, I’m revisiting and reviewing all the movies. Next up, Tomorrow Never Dies! Read on for my thoughts on this classic in the James Bond film franchise.
The Story
While James Bond spies on a terrorist arms bazaar, he identifies “techno terrorist” Henry Gupta, who is buying a stolen American GPS encoder. As Bond hijacks a Russian plane carrying nuclear torpedoes, Gupta escapes with the encoder during the confusion. Gupta is working for media baron Elliot Carver, who plans to provoke war between China and the United Kingdom, Gupta uses the encoder to send the British frigate HMS Devonshire off-course into Chinese waters, where Carver’s stealth ship, commanded by Stamper, sinks the frigate with a sea drill and steals one of its missiles. Bond has 48 hours to investigate the sinking before the British and Chinese go to war. Bond investigates Carver in Hamburg, seduces Carver’s wife, Paris, and steals the GPS encoder. Carver orders assassin, Dr Kaufman to kill Paris and Bond. Paris dies, but Bond kills Kaufman and escapes. Bond travels to the South China Sea and discovers that one of the missiles is missing from the wreck of the HMS Devonshire. Wai Lin, a Chinese agent on the same case, and Bond are captured by Stamper and taken to Carver’s headquarters in Ho Chi Minh City, but they escape and team up. They board Carver’s stealth ship to prevent him firing the stolen British missile at Beijing. In the final confrontation, Bond detonates an explosive exposing the ship on radar to the Royal Navy, and kills Carver with the sea drill.
Double-O Insights
Michelle Yeoh performed most of her own stunts
The film was dedicated to the memory of Cubby Broccoli, who passed away the year before release
The opening sequence was originally intended for The Living Daylights
Much of the snow in the opening sequence was fake, as the warm weather was melting the existing snow
The location in the Pyrenees doubling for the Khyber Pass had a runway that was too steep and narrow for high speed jets to land – so the production team dismantled the jets – took them up to the location and rebuilt them
The first of four Bond films to be scored by David Arnold who was recommended to the producers by John Barry
My Thoughts
Tomorrow Never Dies is a true gem in the James Bond franchise. The film showcases Pierce Brosnan’s remarkable talent and charisma as the legendary secret agent, making him a fan-favorite among Bond fans. The movie opens with an action-packed sequence that sets the tone for the rest of the film, and the excitement doesn’t let up for a single moment.
The story revolves around Bond’s mission to stop a media mogul, Elliot Carver, played by Jonathan Pryce, who is determined to start a war between the UK and China for his own gain. Brosnan’s Bond is at his best as he fights his way through a series of dangerous and intense situations, from car chases to shootouts, to finally face off against the villain in a spectacular showdown.
One of the standout features of the film is the incredible soundtrack, which adds to the film’s overall impact and enhances the viewing experience. The film also features an excellent supporting cast, including Teri Hatcher and Michelle Yeoh, adding depth and dimension to the film’s story.
Tomorrow Never Dies is a must-watch for any James Bond fan and a great addition to the franchise. With its exciting storyline, pulse-pounding action, and unforgettable scenes, this film will surely leave you on the edge of your seat. Whether you’re a longtime Bond fan or new to the franchise, this film is sure to satisfy and leave you eagerly anticipating the next installment.
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