Review of Tomorrow Never Dies

This action spy movie directed by Roger Spottiswoode originally had the title of 'Tomorrow Never Lies'. It was call that in order to represent the megalomaniacal Rupert Murdoch, William Randolph Hearst & Robert Maxwell like media mogul Elliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce) quest to make tomorrow news come true by any means; even if it cause a world war between the United Kingdom and China. However a fax typo changed it forever and MGM found the error so attractive that they insisted on using it, although that it make little sense. Don't get me wrong, it sounds cool, but the title is very confusing. I never really got what it was supposed to mean. The only idea I can get is that the filmmakers wanted the new title to represent ego death, much in the same way the LSD heavy Beatles' song "Tomorrow Never Knows" did. This is why the film try to make James Bond (Pierce Brosnan)'s constant attempts to atone for the women whose lives he failed to save as a strong personal manifest to keep others alive. Yet that subplot involving ex-girlfriend Paris Carver (Teri Hatcher) lack any establish backstory. We're never really show any of their lovely dovely past through flashback. Nor does the dialogue give them much comedic charm with one another. If anything, it's seem like the duo really hate each other with their lack of on screen chemistry. It doesn't help that Brosnan and Hatcher feuded briefly during filming due to her arriving late due to pregnancy. You can tell that Brosnan didn't have fun talking to her. It also sucks that Teri played her so artificial and plain to the point that they cut her screen time after test audience's negative reactions toward how boring the character was. Honestly, the movie could work better if Monica Bellucci was case in that role or better yet Izabella Scorupco reprised her role as Natalya Simonova from 1995 Bond film 'Goldeneye'. That relationship was well established. Nevertheless I did dig Michelle Yeoh's role as Colonel Wai Lin, a skilled Chinese spy and Bond's ally. Bond and Lin did had some charm whenever they put together. Yet I found the whole them falling in love with each other in the third act, a bit unrealistic and rushed. I really don't think they should had made her into a clichés Bond girl that need to be rescue. She was pretty capable by herself with her martial arts skills. To add on that, I like Yeoh did all her own stunts. To tell you the truth, most of the movie action pieces were pretty awesome even if they were a bit over the top & a little impractical. The motorcycle escape while being pursued by a helicopter was very well choreographed and intense. The whole parking garage ambush & the opening weapon bazaar scene was also a lot of fun to see. If anything the climax was the only thing that was a bit lackluster as it fell into standard overdone recycle ending of an terrorist group trying to start a war between two powerful countries by nuking one of them; often seen before like in the 1967 film 'You Only Live Twice'. Plus it made Elliot Carver seem even hammier. Don't get me wrong, Pryce is great actor and he was mostly fine during most of the movie. I just found the last scenes with him to be just awkward. However original choice Anthony Hopkin would be killer in the role. It could had been awesome. As for the sociopathic henchmen Herr Stamper (Gotz Otto). I agree with critics and say that he was indeed a disappointing over the top one dimensional cartoony version of a 'Red Grant' rip off from 1963 'From Russia with Love'. In truth, I would rather have more scenes with Vincent Schiavelli as Dr. Kaufmann. At least he seem realistic whenever he takes great pleasure in shooting people. As for techno terrorist Henry Gupta played by magician Ricky Jay. I kinda glad they kept him as the tech guy as the whole throwing playing cards as weapons felt a little too 1960s gimmicky for the modern era of Bond films. Regardless it still kinda suck that this movie came out in the 1990s before the internet became a thing because to tell you the truth, it could had really work in today's society where misinformation from news outlets and social media is ever so presence especially when it comes to relationship with China. They could even reused the original plot for this movie where terrorists were trying to stop Hong Kong's turnover from British to Chinese control; which later became the bases of author Raymond Benson's 007 novel 'Zero Minus Ten' and update it to match the current crisis over there with the Water Revolution. Still it was a miracle that this movie was even made. After all, this 18th Bond film and second starring Brosnan had a troublesome production where filming started with no finished script nor key supporting characters cast. Even the music was somewhat of a mess as there were around twelve submissions with Sheryl Crow winning out in the end. Nevertheless I found composer David Arnold's composition "Surrender" performed by K.D Lang to be the best. This movie is also famous as the first film in its cinematic history to be entirely financed by advertisement endorsements from its sponsors. It really had way too much excessive product placement. Regardless it was also the first film to have nothing to do author Ian Fleming's work or life and the only one not to open as number one at the box office as it was going against James Cameron's masterpiece 'Titanic'. Even its clunky video game didn't have the same success as 'Goldeneye' did. Overall: While the movie is not as good as the first Brosnan's era Bond film. It still worth grabbing a martini shaken not stirred and seeing either today or tomorrow. So bond with it.