HE’S NEVER BEEN COOLER.

After being tortured by the North Koreans for 14 months, James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) is released and clashes with a British adventurer, Gustav Graves (Toby Stephens).

The 20th Bond movie is a 40th anniversary bash with plenty of memorabilia for the fans. But the film is overlong, Stephens’s baddy less than terrifying and some elements too silly, including a sloppily designed CGI scene and the invisible car (which belongs in Harry Potter movies).

On the other hand, Halle Berry is a gorgeous Bond girl and, interestingly enough, the title song sequence is an active part of the story.

2002-U.K.-U.S. 132 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Lee Tamahori. Music: David Arnold. Song: ”Die Another Day” (performed by Madonna). Cast: Pierce Brosnan (James Bond), Halle Berry (Jinx), Toby Stephens (Gustav Graves), Rosamund Pike, Rick Yune, Judi Dench, John Cleese, Michael Madsen. Cameo: Madonna. 

Trivia: Brosnan’s final film as Bond; Pike’s first feature film. Michael Apted, Brett Ratner, Tony Scott and John Woo were considered as directors; Salma Hayek for the part of Jinx. Followed by Casino Royale (2006).