Die Another Day

As of 2002, Die Another Day was the most bombastic, most spectacular and most elaborate and flashiest Bond flick yet. It’s also the goofiest and most entertaining. Within the franchise, it’s a similar turning point as Lethal Weapon 4 was in that franchise. Bond chases two Batman-esque villains in an invisible car and when he eliminates them, the head of the American National Security Agency, Michael Madsen, contentedly lights a cigarette, referencing his Vic Vega character from Reservoir Dogs. Halle Berry gets special recognition for attractiveness, as she beautifully combines feminine fragility with the diligence and aggressiveness of an agent. Conversely, the casting of Madonna was a mistake here. For me, the only thing that keeps this exciting movie (though it is a bit drawn out in the last third) from getting the highest rating is its slightly over-the-top silliness. By the final scene, I had started seeing both of the bad guys as Power Rangers action figures. (12/12/2002)

Visually the most robust and opulent Bond film in a very long time, considering that today's trend is economical, raw, and down-to-earth filmmaking. The hazy digital effects can be survived, there aren't so many of them, but overall, it's occasionally too over the top. Pierce Brosnan delivers his lines decently and the Bond girls are a good. A number exotic locations, great action, and a loaded technical side, but it lacks charm, tension and atmosphere. A wild ride and a culmination of one decade of filmmaking. (05/07/2005)

Typical modern Bond film loaded with technologies, digital tricks, and dynamic action. Similar matters are difficult for me to assess as I am not a fan of the genre. On one hand, it is a high-budget film with a number of visually appealing scenes, and both the direction and acting are decently done. There are charming moments in the movie, such as the verbal shootout between Brosnan and Cleese, but on the other hand, the same applies to this film as to most Bond films. From a script perspective, it is ridiculous nonsense, although fortunately it does not pretend to be serious at all. I cannot give it four stars, it doesn't deserve less than three. By the way, those are decent three stars. Overall impression: 65%. (12/29/2006)

The weakest Brosnan Bond... Still, four stars, because I was entertained from the blindfolded, almost realistic beginning to the mega-overwrought ending. It's a Bond birthday present, so it will be especially enjoyed by Bond fans, who will recognize one quote after another and feel like they're in spy-action heaven. Madonna's song, however, is awful. The music (except for "Cuban rhythms") as well... Where did the good old times of Barry go? (01/17/2010)

Brosnan's run didn't really sit well with me in the Bond films in general, but what the creators showed in the movie "Die Another Day" is truly terrible. Digitally, it is absolutely dreadful. Under the assumption that the tricks would bring it back to life, another sci-fi Bond was created, but it is completely unrecognizable compared to the great "Moonraker." "Moonraker" is excellent, even in terms of special effects, but in this case, it serves as an example of how special effects can look bad. Unnecessarily exaggerated in terms of acting and uninteresting in terms of the screenplay. Never again. For me, the weakest Bond of them all. (03/15/2014)