Matt S wrote:It always surprises me when I hear that people don't like this one. It has always been my favourite Brosnan Bond film since it was released. Apart from some issues with Dr Jones and a dull look overall (though Bilbao looks great), I think it's fantastic. I think it has some of the best action sequences of any Bond film. I think the story is quite compelling.
+1. It's my favourite Brosnan Bond, too, and here's why:
THE CAST
It's in this film that Pierce Brosnan gives his best performance as James Bond. He manages to capture 007 both as cold-blooded (when necessary) killer

(perhaps his best moment ever?) as well as a sentimentalist inside

which lies at the heart of Bond's character. He also gets to say The Line twice, the first (and best) time

closely followed by his convincingly ducking a question on Tracy, ie playing the subtext. The second time is just for laughs:

Robbie Coltrane is better here than in GE (not that he was bad there, of course) and his Valentin fits right in with previous quintessential Bond allies such as Kerim, Draco and Columbo. They're all Fleming, while he isn't, but easily could be.
Sophie Marceau has the trickiest part in the film, and successfully conveys both victim and villain.
Robert Carlyle is not a one-dimensional heavy as Renard; there's a lot going on there, and again he plays the subtext (his scene with Marceau for example). I'm
Plus, of course Dame Judi- need I say more?

THE MUSIC
Music always plays a very big part for me in how much I enjoy a James Bond film. It took me a long time to appreciate GE because the music was so bad, for example. Not the case here- David Arnold gets to compose the main theme and it's a stunner (aided by Bond lyricist supreme, Don Black), and in addition provides a beautiful theme for Elektra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1M1zy2M5oE
which with Black's lyrics becomes "Only Myself To Blame" sung by Scott Walker. Almost the old John Barry days.
THE STORY
James Bond falls in love with a tragic heiress, only to have his heart broken when she turns out to be the villain and he has to kill her? Here's my wallet, take my money.
THE FAULTS
It isn't a perfect film, of course. No Bond film is, no film is. The most obvious fault is Denise Richards. Judi Dench, Sophie Marceau, Samantha Bond and Serena Scott Thomas all act rings around her. I tend to agree with SilentSpy above- Serena Scott Thomas should have played Dr Jones while Richards should have played Dr Warmflash. Problem solved. And yes, Dirty Punker, the pacing could be improved. I can live with those flaws though.
Finally, in a shameless bit of self-plugging, this thread https://www.ajb007.co.uk/topic/44307/su … nd-themes/ has more of my deeper thoughts about this story and its subtext which might explain why I love it so much.