"The difference between insanity and genius is only measured by success."      

TOMORROW NEVER DIES (PG-13) 

Reviewed December 21, 1997 - Check out the Tomorrow Never Dies web site.

Tomorrow Never Dies is the eighteenth installment of the 007 series, an extraordinary testament to the popularity of "Bond, James Bond."  This time 007 (Pierce Brosnan) matches up against media mogul Elliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce), who decides to make the news for his media empire by instigating a conflict between England and China.  When a downed Chinese jetfighter and a sunk British battleship cause tensions to run high between the two nations, Bond goes in to investigate...with the hopes of averting a deadly war.

Like all its predecessors in the Bond series, Tomorrow makes an effort to deliver a combination of international espionage, beautiful women, fancy techno-gadgets, and outrageous stunt sequences (not necessarily in that order).  It's obviously a formula that's worked in the past, and heck, who wants to break with tradition, right?  Right. 

For better or worse, Tomorrow Never Dies is not much different from other Bond films we've already seen.  The shootout sequences, car chases, and fancy gadgets are all well-executed but unoriginal, as are the one-liners Brosnan is asked to blurt after each villain's death.  In fact, the only somewhat unique element in Tomorrow seems to be the role of Wai Lin (Michelle Yeoh), a "Bond girl" with some martial arts training and the ability to hold her own against the bad guys.  Unfortunately, though this element is unique for a Bond film, it's one that's already been seen in many others.  Women who can take care of themselves?  What a concept. 

Admittedly, part of the Bond series' appeal is that with 007, things never change.  Take that for what you will, and take this film for what it is...Tomorrow Never Dies is a Bond flick, and fortunately or unfortunately (depending on who you are), nothing's changed.

Responses from cyberspace--thanks for writing!

dvd2k@hotmail.com gives this movie  stars: "This james bond movie was not the best, but it was better than some of them." (1/1/99)

Davie gives this movie  stars: "I LOVED IT!!! there are great vilons!Perese Brosman plays a great James Bond!I dont know wat I kold do with out him!" (10/1/98)

john89@ids.net gives this movie  stars: "I like Tomorrow Never Dies Becuse the title makes you think. I also liked it becuse it was not to long and not to short. I also think the cheaters are cool." (9/28/98)

Paul VanDoren gives this movie  stars: "I give this movie 4 stars because the plot isn't at all like any other James Bond movie, but the action was great. I recomend you see it!" (9/5/98)

Salusbury@worldnet.att.net gives this movie  star: "It just sucks." (9/4/98)

Ben C. gives this movie  stars: "I like Elliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce)and Pierce Brosnan did a great Job as 007. But Michial Yeoh takes the cake." (6/18/98)

David gives this movie  stars: "Need I say more ? What a pathetic film !!! I thought that this was very boring, the acting was crap, the villain was bad and it did not live up to other James Bond standards. The only good scene was the car chase scene ! I really disliked this film !!" (1/23/98)

cus55@yahoo.com gives this movie  stars: "After 17 prior James Bond films, and a completely pathetic return with Goldeneye, I was reluctant at first in seeing Tomorrow Never Dies, the 18th installment in the series. But I was surprisingly....surprised. It wasn't TOO far fetched, as Goldeneye was, and it contained some fabulous one-liners, along with a superb performance from Pierce Brosnan, a fantastic carpark chase, and one of the better villains, played by Jonathan Pryce. True James Bond cinema." (1/12/98)