Wolff rating: FAIR
Plot summary: Bond is sent to protect a wealthy beautiful chick.
Biased, pithy comments: So, it's a James Bond movie, but it's one of those James Bond movies that has retreated deeply into cliche but fails to be any fun. With a sprawling, mealy-mouthed plot that the characters keep having to repeat so you remember what's going on and stiff acting from both Brosnan and Marceau, you're left with a troubling, cold action film with cartoonish, silly action (that repeats set-pieces---Bond zooming away from an explosion behind him is a shot you should use once, maybe twice per film, not four times) without much reason behind it. Apted is not a talentless director, so it's hard to see what went wrong except a script-by-the-numbers that lacks verve and punch. Supporting characters are what go best in the film---Denise Richards shows signs of life as Christmas Jones, Robbie Coltrane is fun to watch in the repeat role of Zukovsky, Cleese as ``R'', and Robert Carlyle again showing his ability to completely disappear into his roles.
Other Notes: The DVD contains the music video for Garbage's theme song. It's more fun to watch than the movie in many ways. Everyone seems to have their favorite Bond film; this is probably not one of mine, but lots of other people seem to like it. Interesting.
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Sophie Marceau, and those mentioned above.
Directed by: Michael Apted