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Die Another Day (Widescreen Special Edition)

Die Another Day (Widescreen Special Edition)

List Price: $14.95
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: After 40 Years, Nobody Does it Better!
Review: To describe James Bond as merely an action hero is to do a disservice to one of the finest screen creations of all time. After 40 years, 20 films, and five leading actors, the character is a cherished piece of popular culture and a national institution. As a result, I was somewhat surprised by the lack of young people in the audience when I attended a Saturday evening presentation of Bond's latest adventure, Die Another Day. The only explanation for this strange deficiency of youth is that many contemporary teenagers write Bond off as a dated artifact of the Cold War. This is a sad occurrence, for Die Another Day is an exciting, sexy and extremely modern thrill ride that is superior to almost every action movie released this year. For anyone who prefers their heroes stylish as well as strong, their female sidekicks cunning as well as curvaceous, and their drinks shaken but not stirred, this film will be a pleasure to view.

Die Another Day offers all of the delightful clichés that we have come to expect from Bond films: beautiful women (in the form of Rosamund Pike and Oscar winner Halle Berry) with questionable loyalties, impressive gadgetry, fast cars, exotic locations and plenty of sex and sexual innuendo. Additionally, the movie contains the usual assortment of stirring action sequences, including a high-speed hovercraft chase, physical confrontations in a burning clinic and a plummeting airplane, and one of the finest fencing matches ever put on film. Most importantly, director Lee Tamahori and screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade have provided Bond with realistic enemies that reflect the political conditions of our era. His opponents are not outlandish and outdated supervillians with bizarre European accents, but agents from North Korea (part of president Bush's "axis of evil") who threaten world peace with a dangerous device known as the Icarus satellite. This is a timely and provacative plot point, considering the fact North Korea is currently in possession of nuclear weapons that are every bit as dangerous as the satellite in the movie.

In the role of Bond, Pierce Brosnan remains charismatic and effective. His performance incorporates many of the finest attributes of his predecessors, including Sean Connery's poise and ruthlessness, Roger Moore's wit and charm, and Timothy Dalton's dogged determination. He also invests 007 with a rugged inventiveness and vulnerability all his own, reminding us that this franchise is as much about character exploration as it is about intrigue. Brosnan's charm more than compensates for a few unconvincing and rediculous plot twists and the sloppy nature of some of the special effects.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Around The World With James Bond!
Review: Although "Mr. 007" is entering a new millennium, don't expect all the madcap mayhem and crime-fighting excitement to be of the high-tech variety, which for the most part, isn't any more or less advanced when compared to other James Bond adventures, as is the case of "Die Another Day". All of the ingredients presented in the scenic and "chase-like" ambience one has come to expect in previous Bond outings is still intact, which all the more makes virtually any James Bond film worthy of many a look-see. Pierce Brosnan has never been more debonair, stunning and cunning in his role as everyone's favorite "spy". Halle Berry is equal to the task as 007's sexy and able assistant - a formula which has worked wonders in prior Bond flicks. Regardless of the various actors whom have filled (the role of) James Bond's shoes (from Sean Connery through Brosnan), Bond has always shown unadulterated prowess and finesse in his attempts at catching the bad guys (with the bad guys usually losing out in the end, of course). From (mostly) exotic locales in this movie ranging from North (& South) Korea to Hong Kong to Cuba to Britain, "Die Another Day" is truly a first-class ticket to a world filled with a grand degree of mystery and intrigue, all done in 360 degree 007 fashion. Fasten your seat belts, and get set to experience the thrill of a lifetime (either at your local theater or on video) ASAP!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Where is James Bond?
Review: Because he's not in this awful wreck of a film.

Let's see...
Bond gets betrayed and captured in Korea. He's tortured for over a year (fine, but why did we have to be tortured as well by that awful Madonna song-surely the worst Bond theme ever). He's traded by British Intelligence for one of their prisoners and this is where the movie falls apart.
First of all, since when does British Intelligence answer to US Intelligence? Second, how did Bond learn to slow his heart rate? Third, Bond would never, ever, leave his pajama top undone walking through a hotel lobby. (Although the hotel scene is honestly the best in the film-at least Bond is intelligent in that scene.)
He ends up in Cuba searching for the bad guy, where he meets Halle Berry as "Jinx", the worst Bond girl ever. Their dialogue has to be heard to be (dis)believed. They end up in a secret clinic where evil doctors swap people's DNA to give them untraceable new identities.
Hey, I know this is scientifically impossible, but I can suspend disbelief for Bond.
Wht I can't suspend my disbelief on is the following:
Bond has aparently become an idiot. Plots go on around him and he doesn't see any of it. We see it long before he does. This should not happen.
Bond has also lost his fighting abilities and, aparently, his marksmanship skills. He shoots at many people in this film and hits none of them (with the exception of the computer-generated ones.)
A bad guy has built an enormous satellite in space tha nobody knows about, despite the many spy satellites in space.
This same bad guy also has an elaborate underground terrarium for no apparent reason.
The "skiing over tidal wave" scene. I expected Frankie & Annette to show up, the effects were that bad.
When the US government decides to destry the magno-evil-satellite (with British Intelligence "assisting", I guess) they shoot one missile at it. That's right, ONE. Not several from different angles, as even a five-year-old would be clever enough to do. The satellite, of course, destroys the mssile, thus stumping the greatest minds of two countries.
Halle Berry then flies a plane through the path of the magno-beam for no apparent reason.
The bad guy's Dad recognizes his son based on something the son says. Wouldn't you wonder how your Korean son became a white man? Wouldn't you ask for more info before embracing a total stranger?
Then when Bond is victorious (through luck, it seems-he certainyl has done nothing anyone else would do, like shoot the bad guy when he had the chance) we are treated to a cruel, cruel scene, where Bond and Moneypenny kiss and we discover it's ust Moneypenny playing with the Virual Reality machine. This might have been cute earlier in the film, but when we cut from Moneypenny sitting alone and disheveled to Bond and Jinx being romantic in a mountain cabin it's just cruel. It makes us feel like he's cheating on Moneypenny, and makes her seem pitiful. Badly done, gentlemen...badly done. Bond & Moneypenny are the cutest "will they won't they" couple in films...making her pitiful was just wrong.
All in all, this film was a major disappointment. Give us BOND...not some guy who is at a loss for the entire film. He didn't save the day...he was just along for the ride.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not the best "Bond" film. DVD "M16 Database" is excellent.
Review: I was disappointed with "Die Another Day". I was already hyped and excitied this being the 40th Anniversary and 20th film in the James Bond series. I am a big James Bond fan and did come to accept Pierce Brosnan as "James Bond 007". Halle Berry as "Jinx" did not impress me. With all due respect to Toby Stephens, I just could not get into him as "Gustav Graves". However, I just adore his mother, Maggie Smith and the work she has done. This film had some special effects that really was too much and unbelievable to take. Let's not get too carried away with the CGI effects. The James Bond on the waves effect looked computer animated. Advancing technology is fine. Creating new, interesting gadgets is fine too. Some of the "Q" gadgets in past films have become reality in the present. Keep it real, guys. The delightful Samantha Bond as "Miss Moneypenny is back. Dame Judi Dench as "M" is nice to see again. John Cleese returns this time as the official "Q". Desmond Llewelyn passed away in 1999. What I thought was really cool and possibly the coolest villian yet was Rick Yune as "Zao". Great invention of a villian with a diamond-pelted face. The first 25 minutes of this film is "Wow!". Great idea for a story Pierce Brosnan had. Rosamund Pike as "Miranda Frost" was refreshing. If you have seen this film before, click on "Q Branch". Then select "M16 Database" below. Click "M16 Database" "ON". Many extras will now appear on the screen as you watch the film. They have been making James Bond films since 1962. Sean Connery began with DR. NO (1962). George Lazenby, Roger Moore, and Timothy Dalton played Bond too. The current "Secret Agent 007, James Bond" is Pierce Brosnan. His films are: GoldenEye (1995), Tomorrow never Dies (1997), The World Is Not Enough (1999), Die Another Day (2002). The current James Bond film is currently on hold. It would have been released in 2005.
Personal Note: I wish EON would quit fighting, and allow the James Bond films to be made every two years again. If they could do the "Lord Of The Rings" thing and have three films made and released every year would be fantastic.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Best Bond since Goldeneye
Review: After the disappointing THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH, Bond No. 20 is the first to match the excellent GOLDENEYE in terms of action and acting. Pierce Brosnan shows another side to James Bond while remaining true to the character. And Halle Berry as the sultry Jinx is indeed an equal to 007, no wonder she's getting a spin-off film. Starting off with a fast-paced and very LOUD pre-credits action sequence, the film's plus points are more evident in the action than plot. But hey, it's Bond, not Shakespeare, and director Lee Tamahori has ensured that modern action film movie-goers will not be disappointed, for there is much to be enjoyed in terms of ear-splitting action. There is something to be said about the over-use of frenetic action explosions that obscures David Arnold's classy score. But said action moves the film forward with a quick pace and hardly any stalls. Highlights include some inventive laser-dodging, Bond sword-fighting, Bond hanglide-surfing and the fantastic car chase between 007 and villain Zao, though giving the bad guy's car missiles lessens the originality of Bond's "cool car" feature. Regardless, it's an incredible action seqeunce and the big audience payoff.

The previous 007 adventure, Michael Apted's ham-fisted TWINE had action but no momentum. This one does away with over-plotting and nonsensical motives for villains taking over the world. The villains, especially Gustav Graves are well-written and get into the fist-fights rather than the laconic Bond villains of late. As sad as it is to not have Desmond Llewelyn to do the old "Oh grow up, 007", John Cleese actually does a good job of stepping into Q's shoes. And Samantha Bond and Judi Dench as Monneypenny and M respectively do a good job. The main problem that the Bond films have had over the years is the string of shaky B-movie directors. Tamahori bumps the trend and infuses the spectacular action with enough witty one-liners and quips so as not to stray too far from the sure-fire formula. Though some scenes have been "Matrix-ised", it's still cool, as is Bond's gadget-laden Aston Martin with the unique feature off disappearing courtesy of tiny hidden cameras fixed to the car's exterior reflecting the opposite sides. Sound far-fetched? Well, it is, but it's still really cool. Just like the film itself. Watch it, and have a Bond-sized blast.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The first 2-disc Bond DVD
Review: OK, there's plenty of reviews of the film itself here, let's look at the DVD. As with previous discs in the 007 Collection, MGM has offered up more bonus features than most casual viewers will ever need. I was very excited to learn that, for the first time, Pierce Brosnan has recorded a commentary track. While his comments tend to ramble and his delivery is, on the whole, a bit dry, it's nonetheless thrilling to have the man himself offering his observations on the film and the role of James Bond. Somewhat more listenable are the comments by the director and producer. And if that's not enough, there's a "pop-up"-style track that conveys text info while you watch the movie. My only minor complaint after sitting thru all 3 commentaries is that much information is repeated.

"Inside Die Another Day", the main documentary, was also a bit of a letdown, as it focuses mainly on the technical aspects of production. There are also short featurettes on gadgets, etc., as well as Madonna's delightfully sadistic music video and a making-of segment on the video.

If you're a 007 fan, there's no-doubt this is a must-have. But even with 2 discs, I'd have to rate it slightly lower than the fully-loaded single disc presentations of other recent Bonds like Goldeneye and Tomorrow Never Dies.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Mediocre
Review: The thing with Bond is that the premise of the movie never changes and the actors who play Bond either make it or break it. Thankfully Pierce Brosnan does an excellent job at being the suave, debonair 007.
The story begins in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea with a highspeed hovercraft chase and continues via Hong Kong to Cuba and London where Bond meets up with the two women Jinx (Halle Berry) and Miranda Frost (Rosamund Pike) who play such important and differing roles in his quest to unmask a traitor and to prevent a war of catastrophic consequence. Hot on the trail of the villains, Bond travels to Iceland where he experiences at first hand the power of an amazing new weapon before a dramatic confrontation with his main adversary back in Korea where it all started. Although this was an ok Bond flick, I wouldn't rush out to buy it and add it to my collection. No one will ever compare to Sean Connery.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: say never again... and die - today - twice !... please !!!
Review: Woaw, another one... encore!!! It seems that tomorrow's bonds never ever die... anyway, this one's so absolutely ridiculously ludicrous that I even missed the habitual narcotic effect... please pass on the barbiturates...!!!

Notice that you can actually buy this less-than-a-year-old DVD release for about a single dollar a piece, and in the hundreds... so is it worth it? Certainly not!!! Buy the austin powers instead, they're far more realistic... having said that, this Jemsie b0ôô0nd is probably still good to have if you can lend it for ever to someone you hate and despise, and wish to see dead of boredom by tomorrow aftern00n

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Surfing, Madonna and Bond - All in One Movie!
Review: This was, I believe, the twentieth Bond movie ever made. Starring Pierce Brosnan as Double - Oh, and Halle Berry as "Jinx" this movie was supposed to take James Bond to the next level. Well, it did, but probably not a very high level... When the movie started with an extended surfing scene (I kid you not, James Bond surfing), I started to worry a little bit about the movie. Actually, I ended up slightly surprised...it wasn't that bad!

The movie starts out with Bond being captured and tortured...and after Bond returns to MI6, his own government refuses to back him up (believing he leaked information to his captors). The movie is full of cool explosions, cool cars, cool fight scenes, and cool sets. In fact, I think the fencing match turned sword fight between Bond and Graves (played by Toby Stevens), is one of the best fighting sequences I've seen in a Bond movie.

Once again, John Cleese plays "Q," providing several moments of non-stop hilarity while providing Bond with some cool new gadgets (and an invisible car). The movie was pretty good, but towards the end, the sexual innuendo was getting pretty extreme. The one-liners really weren't that funny, and most of the joking seemed far too contrived. Aside from that (and the poor blue-screening done during Bond's two surfing incidents), the movie was great and a lot of fun to watch.

This won't win as my favorite Bond movie (sorry, there wasn't any skiing!), but some of the new film techniques that were used certainly make this film stand apart from the rest.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: "So You Live To Die Another Day?"- James Bond 007
Review: Who can say no to James Bond? This movie is packed with Action! It was really exciting to see it in the Imax.
There were alot of Action sequences including a hovercraft chase, a sword duel, a brawl in a laser room, a fight aboard a jetplane and of couse a gun fight with two cars.
James Bond(Pierce Brosnan is sent to deliver diamonds to Korean Colonel Moon and kill him. After killing him, he is capured by his father. Fourteen Months Later, James Bond is traded for Zao(Rick Yune), a criminal envolved in Moon's group when Bond blew diamonds into his face. Bond, having his license revoked again(second time including Licence To Kill), escapes to Cuba to hunt for Zao. He later meets Jinx(Halle Berry), an unlucky agent born on Friday the 13th. Bond goes back to London after Zao escapes. He meets the King of Diamonds Gustav Graves(Toby Stephens) and his secretary Miranda Frost(Rosmund Pike). Bond is invited to an event in Iceland involing one of Graves' satellites. 007 finds out that Graves isn't really how he seems. Bond then gets his License To Kill back.
Pretty good storyline and plot, but Gustav Graves isn't a very memorable villian. Hate to admitit, but Graves isn't even a better villian that Renard(The World Is Not Enough). Halle Berry didn't have the Acadamy Amard acting this time and wasn't a very memorable Bond girl. She was too much like Pam Bouvier(Licence To Kill) and Wai Lin(Tomorrow Never Dies). Zao was a pretty darn good henchman(possibly memorable). Pierce Brosan was(for the fourth time) terrific. Dame Judi Dench reprises her role as M. John Cleese changes his role from R to Q and takes Desmond Lewelyn's spot as Q. "I guess I'll Die Another Day!"


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