Whenever I wander around my web site, I’m struck with how incomplete it sometimes is. What I mean is that I’ve seen much more flicks than I’ve reviewed. What’s missing is basically either classics I haven’t taken the time to rent, films I don’t remember well enough to review properly and flicks that, if you ask me, aren’t even worth reviewing all that much. I mean, I’ve seen all those damn James Bond flicks, but who needs my opinion? We all know that any of the 18 movies of the series is just the same. The only difference I see is that the Bond films are more action oriented and less glamourous than in the Connery days. And then again, I don’t even like the series all that much, even in it’s “classic” days. In fact, I prefer the brilliant spoof that is “Austin Powers” or James Cameron’s Bond-style actionner “True Lies” to the original films.

Basically, here’s what Bond is about these days. 007 starts in the middle of a dangerous situation, here a terrorist supermarket. He kicks some ass, steals a plane or something and gets the hell outta there. Then you’ve got the opening credits, which are always enjoyable with their extremely politically incorrect blend of firearms and babes, as well as a hit song. My favorite ever is Paul McCartney’s “Live or Let Die”, a much superior number than Sheryl Crow’s forgettable “Tomorrow never Dies”. The film then slows down for some exposition, with M briefing Bond for a seemingly impossible mission: stopping an evil genius seeking world domination. It’s often said that the villain makes the film, and it sure is true. Hence, Jonathan Pryce’s boring media baron doesn’t help this so-so film, which keeps cutting away from more or less enjoyable action scenes to barely watchable story development. Of course, Bond sips a few martinis (shaken not stirred) and bones a few chicks, notably Teri Hatcher. And then, when enough clichés, cheesy one-liners and explosions have been jammed down our throats, it’s all over until next time.

Okay. Depending of how inspired the cast and crew were, each film can be more or less fun. “Tomorrow Never Dies” ain’t the best nor the worst film of the series. What helps the film a lot is the presence of Asian superbabe Michelle Khan. She’s criminally underused, but whenever she’s on screen, the film gets real cool. Insane stunts and all-out fights abound, and it’s fun to finally have a chick who doesn’t succumb to Bond’s charms. Unfortunately, like most Bond films, this entry is directed by a no-talent hack who never really crafts the action into anything more than effective yet unoriginal bing-bang-booming that you forget quickly, which also describes the whole film.