The World Is Not Enough *** (1999, Pierce Brosnan, Sophie Marceau, Robert Carlyle, Denise Richards, Judi Dench) – Classic Movie Review 407

Ice cold secret agent Pierce Brosnan returns in 1999 for his third 007 film in The World Is Not Enough, another flashy, fast-moving if predictable entry, directed by Michael Apted. In it James Bond tries to protect his recently killed oil tycoon friend’s lovely daughter Elektra King (Sophie Marceau), who may just not need his protection after all.

But, with performances, stunts and action well up to par, this 19th Bond movie is a notch up on Brosnan’s first two outings, GoldenEye (1995) and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997). Marceau cuts a dash as Elektra King, and Denise Richards is spunky (if unlikely) as nuclear physicist Dr Christmas Jones.

In the evil nemesis department, Robert Carlyle makes a fun Bond villain as Renard, the crazed, pain-free man with a bullet in his brain, who is secretly planning the destruction of a pipeline. The vintage team of Judi Dench (M), Desmond Llewelyn (Q) and Samantha Bond (Miss Moneypenny) are once again all present and correct, though this time John Cleese is also at hand as boffin R (before taking over as Q in Die Another Day after Llewelyn’s death in a road accident on 19 December 1999).

Writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade devise an intelligent screenplay, with unusual plotting. There are some stylish sequences throughout and the opening chase sequence is a sizzler.

Next up is Die Another Day (2002), with Brosnan back for his fourth and final Bond appearance. Writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade also return for that one, and then for Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008) and Skyfall (2012) too.

RIP Michael Apted, director of Coal Miner’s Daughter, The World Is Not Enough and the Seven Up documentaries, who died at 79 on 7 January 2021.

© Derek Winnert 2013 Classic Movie Review 407 

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