Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

 

In the wake of the fun romp that was 'Goldeneye', expectations were understandably high. Pierce Brosnan proved to be a most excellent Bond and the mix of some of the older silliness with bigger stunts and a grittier edge made everyone hope for the best. 

And then we got this one. 

Don't get me wrong: 'Tomorrow Never Dies' is more than okay as an actionfilm, but it is hardly one of the more memorable Bondflicks. In fact, most of it is easily forgotten and only when you revisit it, there are a few scenes that you can say: "I seem to remember this."

The plot is nothing spectacular. There's a media mogul who's already enormously mighty and he wants to start a conflict between the UK and China, just because he didn't get broadcast rights over there. So when he starts a war, he can cover it and afterwards get a foothold in China.

Yes, I thought that was a little weak for a plot as well.

Anyway, Bond is sent to investigate and stop a war. Along the way he is joined by his female counterpart Wai Lin (Michelle Yeoh) and they eventually find the stealthship that is being used for this nefarious purpose. 

Things explode, the world is saved. The end.

As you can see, the plot isn't much. Heck, it might even be one of the flimsiest of the series (and that is saying something). It might have started as a critique of media magnates, but it falls rather flat on its face. Brosnan is good as always and he gets a wonderfully active partner in Michelle Yeoh, who is far better than she sometimes gets credit for. She gets to kick more backside than Bond, and rightfully so. I might be wrong, but I think miss Yeoh also did most of her own stunts. It seems that way. I'm damn sure she did all her own fight choreography and it is most excellent. 

But everyone else is just there. Teri Hatcher has nothing to do, Jonathan Pryce as Carver (the big bad) is excruciatingly boring and cookie cutter, the henchman Stamper is so underwhelming, I had to look up his name again because I already forgot... No, this film is not memorable by any stretch of the imagination.

You know what is cool? Several of the action scenes. The opening is fun, but it is the bike chase through a Vietnamese city that takes the cake. That is legitimately exhilarating. It's just a shame the rest doesn't stick with you for long.

If you have some time to spare, you can watch this one. It flies by at a ridiculous pace and you will be entertained by it. But its biggest flaw will always be that nothing sticks. The second you turn it off, you have probably forgotten what just happened.