Bonds have more fun. On Nov. 22 Pierce Brosnan returns in “Die Another Day,” for his fourth go round as that other international man of mystery, James Bond.
The film marks the 20th installment and 40th anniversary of Ian Fleming’s 007 on screen. To celebrate, “Die Another Day” supposedly features several in-jokes and iconic images from the Bonds of yore.
“This film has everything everyone loves about James Bond, but much more so,” Brosnan told World Entertainment News. “I think they’ve thrown everything but the kitchen sink at it, but in a good way.”
For starters, it’s bye-bye BMW. After significant garage time, Bond’s classic ride, the Aston Martin, is back on the road.
And as the previews tantalize, Oscar winner Halle Barry’s slinky she-spy Jinx emerges from the foamy surf just like Ursella Andress’ beach bunny, Honey Ryder, in 1962’s “Dr. No.”
The obvious return to form is a worthy adversary in the demented, icy stare of Gustav Graves. After the last two outings where Bond sparred against a pissy Rupert Murdoch-type media mogul and a kidnapped heiress–horrors!–Graves is a classic Bond nemesis: an evil mastermind with a super weapon.
But where images and style may throw back to Sean Connery’s standard-setting portrayal, the plot appears to shadow the hard-nosed, lone ranger feel of Timothy Dalton’s ’80s entries “License to Kill” and “The Living Daylights.”
“This time you see a much more desperate Bond,” Brosnan said. “You see this renegade, a man completely out of his environment–so vulnerable and broken.”
A little edge is just what Brosnan needs. Critics often say, “He looks the part, but he’s a softy.” After all, Connery never would have let Dame Judi Dench so much as look at him crossways, much less take the verbal lashing Brosnan gets from his MI6 chief at least once per picture.
The aging Brosnan told press the next Bond outing would likely be his last. With studio executives already measuring everyone from Christian Bale to Hugh Jackman, Brosnan’s chances to stamp his namesake in Bond’s passport are slipping.
But advance reviews of “Day” are good and Brosnan came out swinging with 1995’s thrilling “Golden Eye.” Still his best, and one of the better Bond films of all time, “GoldenEye” proved engrossing and memorable. Who can forget James pummeling through the streets of Moscow in a stolen tank, wrestling atop a giant satellite dish or cutting the tension with Famke Janssen’s femme fatale?
Each actor has left his unique mark on the character. Connery was the brawny charmer; George Lazenby, the romantic sleuth; Roger Moore, the quick wit, and Dalton, the ruthless avenger. So what will Brosnan’s legacy be? And who really does it better?
“There is no Bond but Sean Connery,” history senior Matt Callac said of the original 007.
But film critic Jeff Westhoff lists Dalton’s performance in “License to Kill” as the best Bond ever, with Connery’s “From Russia With Love” and Moore’s “Octopussy” close behind. Westoff rounds out his Top 5 with Connery’s “Goldfinger” and Brosnan’s “GoldenEye.”
“I like Sean Connery because he is the original,” biology freshman Adrianne Tucker said. “And he just has that ‘sexshy accshent.'”
Oh, James…