Something Completely Different

Rating: 8/10 (6 December 2006)

This is different from the previous Bond films. Daniel Craig has none of Roger Moore's cool invulnerability and he actually bleeds and cries out in pain. This film is also much darker than the previous Bonds and it is a return to Ian Fleming's original concept. Everything is a lot more low key. One shortcoming, though, is that there isn't as much humour as there has been in previous Bond movies. Other Bond films have always included references to earlier films, such as the fights aboard trains in Live and Let Die and The Spy Who Loved Me which are tributes to the fight on the Orient Express in From Russia With Love. Die Another Day deliberately includes references to all the previous Bond films. There is absolutely no deja vu in this film despite the action moving to Venice, a city which featured in From Russia With Love and Moonraker. There is a scene in Venice which would never have featured in earlier Bond films because the special effects technology used for this scene has not existed until now. I liked this film but I think I speak for many who have seen it when I say that I'd like to see a return to the style of previous Bond films.