TOMORROW NEVER DIES (1997)

MORGAN'S GRADE

A   B   C   D   F

Elliot Carver, a rich press Baron, attempts to start World War III by convincing the British and the Chinese that they are making hostile advances towards each other. M orders Bond to use his previous relationship with Carver's wife as a way of infiltrating his international organization, but Carver soon realizes Bond's intent. However, with the help of Wai-Lin, a female Chinese Army agent, Bond gets closer and closer--but will he get close enough to stop Carver from directing a UK missile at Beijing?

Pierce Brosnan (James Bond), Jonathan Pryce (Elliot Carver), Michelle Yeoh (Colonel Wai-Lin), Teri Hatcher (Paris Carver), Ricky Jay (Henry Gupta), Gotz Otto (Mr. Stamper), Joe Don Baker (CIA Agent Jack Wade), Vincent Schiavelli (Dr. Kaufman), Judi Dench (M), Desmond Llewelyn (Q), Samantha Bond (Miss Moneypenny), Colin Salmon (Charles Robinson), Geoffrey Palmer (Admiral Roebuck), Julian Fellowes (Minister of Defence), Terence Rigby (General Bukharin), Cecilie Thomsen (Professor Inga Bergstrom), Nina Young (Tamara Steel), Daphne Deckers (PR Lady), Colin Stinton (Dr. Dave Greenwalt), Michael G. Wilson (Tom Wallace, uncredited).

YESTERDAY IS A MEMORY, TODAY IS HISTORY, TOMORROW IS IN THE HANDS OF ONE MAN: BOND...YOU KNOIW THE REST!

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

DIRECTOR: Roger Spottiswoode (The 6th Day).  WRITER: Bruce Feirstein. PRODUCERS: Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. LINE PRODUCER: Anthony Waye. ORIGINAL MUSIC: David Arnold and Frank Denson. DISTRIBUTOR: United Artists.

QUOTES

Elliot: Mr. Wallace, call the President. Tell him if he doesn't sign the bill lowering the cable rates, we will release the video of him with the sheerleader in the Chicago motel room. Mr. Wallace: Inspired, sir. Elliot: And after he signs the bill, release the tape anyway. Mr. Wallace: Consider him slimed.

FACTS

RELEASE DATE: December 19th, 1997 (USA) BOX OFFICE OPENING: $25.1 million (USA) BOX OFFICE RESULT: $125.3 million (USA) WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $335.3 million BUDGET: $110 million (USA) - James Bond has a new gun in this film. It is the Walther P99, which is the replacement for his trademark Walther PPK. He picks up the gun in Wai Lin's apartment. - The number plate of Bond's BMW 750iL is "B-MT 2144". This ties in with his Aston Martin DB5's number plate "BMT 214A" (used in this film and GoldenEye). The original movie ASton Martin (from Goldfinger, had "BMT 216A", which could not be used for legal reasons. - At one point during filming in Bangkok, a helicopter was mistakenly hovered over the American Embassy, causing fears that it was spying. - Michelle Yeoh did almost all of her own stunts. - The film made particularly heavy use of gadgetry because some fans thought there was to little of it in GoldenEye.

Elliot: The distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success.

Paris: I used to look in the papers every day for your obituary. James: Sorry to disappoint you.

Admiral Roebuck: With all due respect, M, I don't think you have the balls for this. M: Perhaps. The advantage is I don't have to think with them all the time.

[Making love to his language tutor.] James: I always enjoyed learning a new tongue.

Q: Your new BMW. Will you be needing collision coverage? James: Yes. Q: Property damage? James: Definately. Q: Personal injury? James: I hope not, but accidents do happen.

CRITICAL COMMENTS

[Paris slaps James Bond] James: Was it something I said? Paris: How about the words, "I'll be right back"?

"The action never flags, though it becomes somewhat mechanical after a while." -- Leonard Maltin

"Tomorrow Never Dies gets the job done, sometimes excitingly, often with style. The villain, slightly more contemporary and plausible than usual, brings some subtler-than-usual satire into the film, and I like the chemistry between Bond and Wai Lin. The look of the film is authoritative..." -- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times

Elliot: You're too late again, Mr. Bond! It's a bad habit of yours! There's nothing you can do. The missile's fully programmed; it can't be stopped! In a matter of minutes, my plan will succeed, and, thanks largely to your efforts, the British Navy will destroy the evidence! And I'll be out of here, in a Carver news helicopter, covering the event! It's going to be a fantastic show! James: I may have some breaking news for you, Elliot! [attacks him] You forgot the first rule of mass media, Elliot: "Give the people what they want."

"Tomorrow Never Dies is a better film than GoldenEye. In fact, it's the best Bond film in many years. For the first time since the legendary Sean Connery left the part, this movie feels like a Connery Bond adventure." -- James Berardinelli

Jack Wade: You know that, officially, Uncle Sam is completely neutral in this turkey shoot. James: And unofficially? Jack Wade: We have no interest in seeing World War III -- unless we start it!

"Though Bond may never die, this time he's on life support." -- USA Today

"What is disappointing about this film is the degree to which director Roger Spottiswoode and screenwriter Bruce Feirstein fail to make even the vaguest attempt at transcending the formula, much less make adequete use of their two very capable female "leads." -- Box Office Online

James: You were pretty good with that hook. Wai-Lin: Thanks. It comes from growing up in a rough neighborhood. You were pretty good with the bike. James: Thank-you. It comes from not growing up at all.

James: It won't look like a suicide if you shoot me from over there. Dr. Kaufman: I am a professor of forensic medicine. Believe me, Mr. Bond, I could shoot you from Stuttgart und still create ze proper effect.