Hollywood WATCH

Besides, Pierce Brosnan also seems to be fitting well in the role of Bond, James Bond. He is handsome, has his tongue firmly embedded in his cheek and has a devastating Romeo glance. In Tomorrow Never Dies there is also a reference to his earlier romance with Paris Carver (Teri Hatcher) — the wife of media baron Elliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce) so he has to stay away from her. Elliot is trying to start World War III by sinking some ships and by pitting China and the United Kingdom against each other. One of his aides is Henry Gupta (Ricky Jay) who starts off impressively with what he calls"Gupta’s laws of creative anomalies" but peters out. His exit is quite undramatic.

A new element is added to this Bond film as we reach behind the Bamboo Curtain — the People’s Republic of China. External security force agent Wai Lin (Michelle Yeoh) comes from Hong Kong and like the new Bond babes she is an equal participant to the mayhem. So karate and kung-fu is it and a slice of the John Woo-Run Run Shaw type of action. At times it gets too heavy but the stunts on the motorbike, handcuffed to each other (Bond and Lin) is clever. Credit must go to director Roger Spottiswoode for his deft handling.

But the best thing about the film is Bruce Fierstein’s screenplay, replete with a plethora of one-liners in the best Bond tradition. It certainly is the best reason for seeing this film. Don’t miss it.