Directed by Lee Tamahori, Die Another Day (2002) provided a few landmarks in the history of the James Bond franchise: It is the 20th film in the series and coincided with the 40th Anniversary of the first Bond film, Dr. No (1962), and contains numerous references to past films. It is the last film in the original storyline, with the next one, Casino Royale (2006) going in a different direction. And Die Another Day was the last film to star Pierce Brosnan as James Bond, Agent 007. In a fitting, sensuous finale, the enchanting Halle Berry was chosen as the "Bond Girl" for Die Another Day, adding her to the long list of beauties who have provided love for 007. With knock-your-socks-off special effects and more than enough bravado to go around, Die Another Day is a great addition to this illustrious franchise.
Illegal conflict diamonds are being traded by Colonel Tan-Sun Moon and his assistant, Zao, on a North Korean military base, when James Bond infiltrates the compound. A fight ensues, in which Moon is killed and Zao is disfigured, with diamonds splintering his face. Bond has been betrayed, however, is caught and thrown in jail for 14 months...
Pierce Brosnan: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007
When he is released, he is quite angry and ready for revenge. He tracks Zao to to a clinic in Cuba, where he is recuperating. While in Cuba, Bond's aggressions are put on hold when he meets Giacinta "Jinx" Johnson (Halle Berry)...
Halle Berry: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007
Halle Berry: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007
Halle Berry and Pierce Brosnan: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007
But Jinx isn't as nice as she seems...
Halle Berry: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007
Halle Berry: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007
She has an agenda of her own...
Halle Berry: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007
and James Bond is only a small part of it...
Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007
A new, mysterious villain, billionaire Gustav Graves, pops up in Iceland with the same conflict diamonds as before...
: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007
James Bond tracks him down, and they fence, accompanied by Graves' instructor, Verity (Madonna)...
Madonna and Pierce Brosnan: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007
Madonna and Pierce Brosnan: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007
There is something odd about Graves, and that's not just because he is building a solar mirror satellite that harnesses the sun's energy to be used as a weapon. He is involved with Zao...
: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007
Now James Bond and Jinx must work together to stop their evil plan...
Directed by Andrei Konchalovsky, and developed as a made-for-TV movie, The Odyssey (1997) does wonders within the television format. Split as a two part miniseries, the film follows Homer's Ancient Greek epic poem pretty closely, focusing on Odysseus' long and troubled journey home to Ithaca, hindered by the Gods, after the Trojan War. Some of the special effects are a bit dated, but the overall feel of the movie remains fresh over 15 years later. Francis Ford Coppola produced the film and Jim Henson's workshop supplied the "monsters". The cast does a great job, including Armand Assante, Greta Scacchi, Isabella Rossellini, Vanessa Williams, Eric Roberts, Geraldine Chaplin and Christopher Lee.
