I consider Tomorrow Never Dies to be a better action movie than Bond movie, which I'm sure is a weird thing to qualify since this franchise is made up of action movies. However, once you reach the midway point of the movie, the entire back half is one action set piece after another with very little downtime. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it just doesn't have the feel of most Bond movies and sort of becomes a generic 90s action flick after awhile.
1. There is nothing generic about that pre-title sequence though. It is one exciting thriller ride filled with quips, big explosions, intriguing stunts, a ticking clock, and unbelievable moments that remind the viewer why we love this franchise.
2. A lot of fans wish the original k.d. lang song "Surrender" had remained the title song instead of Sheryl Crow's theme, but I prefer Crow's song. There is just something about her melodramatic and bombastic singing combines with the guitars and strings. It has a sense of classic Bond theme modernized for 90s rock/pop audiences.
3. Jonathan Pryce is a highly respected stage and screen actor. His credits range from dramatic to black comedy starring roles, but in this as the primary villain, a sadistic media mogul, is absolutely bonkers.
4. The BMW 750i is not an attractive car. It looks like the vehicle of a successful marketing guy with a trophy wife, three kids, and is overextended at the bank. Yet, the gadgets that will be on full display in the parking garage chase are some of the most ingenious (and in one case most ridiculous) we've seen in the series up to this point.
5. I mentioned this in my Thunderball viewing, but I love when Bond antagonizes the villain during conversation with a double entendre.
6. I used to think composer David Arnold relied too heavily on the James Bond theme song in this score, but I have since realized he was making up for the horrendous Goldeneye soundtrack that had come before.
7. Dr. Kaufman is one of my favorite characters in the entire series. Every line and characteristic note is a winner. He also is part of my favorite line exchange in the film.
8. "I'm just a professional doing a job." "Me too."
9. Like I mentioned before, a lot of the action sequences run together near the end of the film, so I will combine these two as one great thing. Jumping from the top of the building using the banner of Carver's face is my favorite stunt in the movie and that leads directly into a unique motorcycle chase where a handcuffed Bond and Wai Lin have to work together to escape.
10. This movie was made at the peak of when there was a renaissance of Hong Kong martial arts featured in Hollywood movies as Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh were introducing us to some wild stunts and fight sequences. So it makes sense that they would give Yeoh her own scene to show off her skills as an action star. We also get some humorous moments as Bond realizes her safe house headquarters also doubles as their version of a Q lab.
11. We haven't had this in a while, but we close out the film with Bond and the main love interest together at sea ready to consummate their victory with a little private time.
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