As a mystery, "The World is Not Enough" is one of the best movies based on Ian Fleming's Agent 007 of England's Secret Intelligence Service, or MI6. This film has plenty of intrigue that the audience isn't aware even exists in the first third of the film. About midway, one begins to suspect that there's something not yet known about the bad guys. And the last one quarter to one third brings the mystery out into the light. This is one heck of a James Bond Thriller. There are a number of unusual aspects in this film. More than the usual amount of scenarios take place outside of the glamour and glitter of big cities, fancy digs and party places. Filming locations included Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Spain, France, England, Wales, Scotland and the Bahamas. And, true to the form of the James Bond series, some new and different source of mayhem are introduced in "Tomorrow Never Dies." The most gruesome of these is a helicopter tree saw. It's more ferocious than any pictures I've seen of such equipment. I don't know where modern writers come up with these ideas, but I doubt that Ian Fleming would have written about such a "weapon" in his mid-20th century novels. John Cleese joins the Bond "family," introduced as "R," to be the eventual successor to "Q." The aging Q has been played for several films by Desmond Llewelyn, who was 85 years old when this film was made. He died the same year. Cleese, of course, is no spring chicken, coming on board at age 60. But one can see a different comedy wrinkle he can add, continuing on as the new "Q."I marked this for possible spoilers just for tipping folks off that there's more intrigue about who the real culprit is in this film. But, I won't divulge who or what happens in the plot. Here are some favorite lines in this film. Q, "Now pay attention double O seven. I've always tried to teach you two things. First, never let them see you bleed." James Bond, "And the second?" "Always have an escape plan." He slowly descends. Elektra King, "There's no point in living if you can't feel alive."M, "If there's even the slightest chance, Bond will survive. He's the best we have... though I'd never tell him."Dr. Christmas Jones, "Do you wanna put that in English for the rest of us who don't speak 'spy?'"

This is a Bond adrift.. Sure there'r the explosions, beautiful woman...as if these elements alone could possibly the film. Pity the producers thought so. Innuendo was made for Bond; Bond was not made for innuendo. Casting Cleese is a mistake. the comedic element is again given centre stage rather being kept in the wings, so to speak.Brosnan does try his hardest, and this is to be cummendid. Coltrane as Zukovsky is excellent. However, Denise Richard's acting leaves much to be desired. she and Marceau who is miscast - sink the film. Unfortunately her Frenchiness is all too evident plus she has very littl chemistry with Carlyle - who isn't bad as the villain but is under-written which detracts badly and adds t the film's incoherence. A very promising start though Maria Grazia Cucinotta is all too fleeting- pity, she'd'v' lifted the film no end I daresay. But the bathos overtakes... the action sequences are more set pieces rather than augmenting the overall plot - which is little existent. This picture doesn't care for the viewer much, I mean taking them to exotic sunny locations that ooze with espionagy atmosphere (I must ask did someone forget that JB is a actually a 'spy'?) Back t basics.

'The World Is Not Enough' is the last great fun Bond they are probably ever going to make, with a lot of the old spirit in it. This script could have been shot with Roger Moore 20 years before (if they hired good stunt men). Sophie Marceau is a brilliant villain, an actress who is an equal opponent to Bond. Not to mention looks - when she enters the casino in that red dress, I almost fainted. Denise Richards may not be a convincing nuclear scientist, but her outfit looks suspiciously like Lara Croft who had just reached her height of popularity in the video games. Nothing wrong with that, as these 2 ladies contribute a lot to keep the show going, and I loved every minute of it. Pierce Brosnan is a much more relaxed and sympathetic hero here than the angry, tormented agent played by Daniel Craig in the 2000s and 2010s. And all the ingredients are right, too: Judi Dench as M, Desmond Llewellyn for the last time as Q, great chase sequences (first on water, then on snow), love, treachery, vengeance. What's not to like?

It's fast! It has a lot of explosions! It has many big big flames and running around and shooting. It starts with a terrific water and land chase around London mostly on the Thames. It even has a torture scene if that's "your thing." BUT !!! It has so many of these action devises that the story and the who is who and why are they chasing each other get rather lost.Pierce Brosnan is pretending to be Bond in this one but he really IS Remington Steele so it doesn't quite work. Judi Densch as M and Desmond Llewelyn as Q are their usual excellent selves.Outstanding character was Robbie Coltrane as a rather Sidney Greenstreet like semi-villain. Odd to see Hagred in a Bond film. If you want to see all of the Bonds you may like this one. As a stand alone watch only if you like explosions and hard to follow story.