Customer Reviews

Die Another Day (Full Screen Special Edition)

5 star:		(143)
4 star:		(134)
3 star:		(86)
2 star:		(96)
1 star:		(102)

 

 

One thing for sure about "Die Another Day": the writers well understood (and paid tribute to) the great Bond movies of the past. The end result is a movie that, while not perhaps as great as the films it honors, certainly takes its place as one of the best modern Bond films made.

Nearly every previous Bond classic is represented here: there is, of course, the acknowledged nod of the head to Dr. No and the famous bikini sequence. But you don't have to look very hard to see many other references. There are depressuring fights on a plane ("Goldfinger"), a great car chase on ice sequence ("The Living Daylights"), Bond leaving the service as a rogue ("License to Kill"), diamond weapon in the sky ("Diamonds are Forever"), the list goes on and on (I would even venture to say there is a tribute of sorts to the foolishness that went on during Roger Moore's Bond days; the unbelievable wind surfing stunt Bond pulls about halfway through is exactly the sort of silliness that Moore did all the time).

Cynics might say this is true of any Bond film nowadays; they are so derivative they resort to stealing from themselves. But I don't think that's the case here. It's pretty clear the writers knew what they were doing when John Cleese even quotes some of the great "Q" lines from the past in his excellent sequence where he provides Bond his new Aston Martin (and now we've come full circle there as well, returning to the car that made Bond famous).

I'm not a big Halle Berry fan, but she's very good here. More to the point are the villians. Toby Stephens and Rick Yune are terrific, as so is Pierce, who ironically is hitting his stride and seems totally comfortable in a role he's soon to give up.

If you've enjoyed the great Bond movies in the past, you're sure to appreciate this one. Even those new to Bond should have fun with the action and adventure.

The second DVD of "Special Features" doesn't have near as much as the regular release on DVD. The packaging says this DVD has the "Ministry of Propaganda" with original trailers, TV Spots, and Radio Communications.

NEWS FLASH: IT DOESN'T !!!

How annoying !

The first hour of DIE ANOTHER DAY is very good and we see James Bond get involved in and out of some situations we thought we would never see on the screen. Not since ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE have we seen this amount of engaging insight into the psyche of James Bond. True to the best films in the series, Bond is not infallible but he is resourceful and loyal and will not be deterred from seeing duty and justice served. The second hour reverts to the superhero version of Bond this time aided by gadgets and computer generated effects that defy all credibility. Where I felt this part of DIE ANOTHER DAY failed in the theater and on the widescreen version, it seems to work much better in Full Screen. The film certainly took a curious turn once the story shifted to Iceland. Looking at it closer I just found the action hard to follow. This Full Screen version seemed to clear a lot of that up. I also thought Toby Stephens gave an excellent performance as Gustav Graves up until the story moved to Iceland. Stephens' character faltered once the film made that shift. Halle Berry as Jinx was adequate as a Bond girl. John Cleese as the new Quartermaster looked more at home than many of the other regulars. I suppose Cleese has some of the best lines in this film. Even though his scene is brief it does make a lasting impression. Madonna's cameo as Verity the fencing coach was a pleasant surprise. Also, her main title song went appropriately well with the film's opening. As for David Arnold's score, I'm beginning to think he can't sustain an entire film on his own compositions. He deliberately seemed to stay away from emulating John Barry's style. You have to give Arnold credit for that. Arnold does seem to demonstrate moments of brilliance especially in his love scene compositions but he should follow the rule of "less is more" when it comes to scoring the action scenes. I like the deluxe packaging and since I am a James Bond fan you can give me a DVD with two discs any day. Of all the extras I thought the segment on the location filming of Spain for Cuba was excellent, as was the overview of the digital imaging process. DIE ANOTHER DAY will remain as one of the most discussed Bond films in the series. That's always good for business.

The greatest Bond film since On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Brosnan is brilliant and has become a very credible 007. To me he is the second greatest Bond - my favorite still remains Timothy Dalton. The film's action scenes are probably the greatest in Bond history while the first half of the film is very Fleming like. The first half could be a Fleming novel - it is that good. The teamwork of Brosnan and Berry is brilliant. She is the greatest Bond lady since Michelle Yeoh and among the greatest Bond girls ever. Pike is excellent although it is maybe too obvious she is a villain. I'm from Iceland and it is brilliant to watch Bond in action in my home country. Seeing him drive the all famous Aston Martin in Iceland gave me the chill. But the greatest aspects of the film is all the known items from previous films that appear throughout the film. From the novel Bond picks up in Havana (written by a James Bond) and Brosnan's "stealing" and eating a grape (a la Thunderball) to the emergence of Jinx from the ocean (Dr. No) and all the old equipment in Q branch. Brilliant stuff that will keep the hardcore Bond fans happy.
Die Another Day is a fantastic Bond adventure that should please both hardcore Fleming fans and the average action film fan. A must for all Bond fans.

This is by far the most interesting and best-produced of the recent James Bond movies, with an interesting plot, breath-taking photography, and a smart, sassy, and able cast making it work. Pierce Brosnan has finally made the part his own, escaping the long shadow of our much-love Mr. Connery by creating a new visage and a new, hipper style for the intrepid Mr. Bond. Here he is joined by the eye-popping Halle Berry, whose emergence from the surf is a welcome sight for these old male eyes. They connect well on the film, with the twist that she is the first Bond conquest ready to love him and leave him, too.

The story here is credible and appealing; sent in to assassinate a North Korean general, Bond is captured after successfully and rather spectacularly killing the target. By the time he is exchanged for an opposite number months later, his reputation has been sullied, his loyalty questioned, and his -00 sanction to kill revoked. Bond decides to take things into his own hands, and stepping away from his guarded hospital ward where he is being held under security, begins to unravel the mystery to regain his reputation and his job. Brosnan and Berry are ably aided by a top-notch supporting cast, including Dame Judi Dench, John Cleese, Rick Yune, and a number of notable others.

I was, for example, amused to discover the material girl, Madonna herself, popping up in a brief cameo appearance mid-film, and she played her part well enough, but hardly lit up the screen. As usual for a Bond-flick, the action and the pyrotechnics are superb, especially an intriguing use of multiple lasers in a fight scene that has an unusual rhythm to it that is quite well shot, and also a number of interesting and diverting chase scenes that I found quite entertaining. The script is well written, and the usual Bond banter and repartee is as good as ever. All in all, this is a great evening's entertainment, and the only disappointment I had with it is that the credit only alluded to the fact that James Bond would be back, but without mentioning the name of the next film. For we die-hard Bond devotees, that was a disappointment. Otherwise, enjoy!

People, from one "veteran" Bond fan to another, let me just say that if you felt any reservations concerning "Die Another Day" whatsoever, rest your minds at ease...Bond #20 is in a word...AWESOME!!

Brosnan is at his best as agent 007, John Cleese appears to be a worthy successor to the role of Q (made famous by the beloved Desmond Llewelyn...who will forever be missed), Judi Dench and Samantha Bond have by now firmly rooted themselves as the perfect choices to bring the characters of M and Money Penny into the new millennium, and lets not forget the ever important "icy" villains and ever alluring women that complete the tried and true formula that is the classic Bond film!

Throw in a wonderful title song performed by Madonna, another amazing score by composer David Arnold, delightful references to the Bond films of the past, and what you get is simply the best Bond movie to be released in nearly 20 years!

"Die Another Day" is everything that 007 fans have come to expect, and just goes to show that when it comes to pulse-pounding action and adventure, beautiful women and fiendishly diabolical villains...nobody does it better...than the one and only Bond...James Bond!!

Enjoyable James Bond film--one of the best. The opening credits and special effects are brilliant, as well as the fitting song "Die Another Day" performed by Madonna. Halle Berry is, of course, a babe as evident from her first scene opener. The plotline is solid and the acting is humorous but never cheesy. Overall, a thoroughly entertaining film.

BEST ACTION MOVIE OF THE YEAR!-Fox Radio

ONE OF THE BEST BOND FILMS EVER-Chicago Sun-Times

This movie is really good.It has action and alot of excitement.This James Bond movie is good. Anybody a fan of it, should see it RIGHT NOW!

IMAGE:
The 2.40:1 anamorphic image transfer is a wonder to behold. The overall aesthetic is pristine, appearing smooth and lifelike throughout. The opeining sequence boasts an intentoinally cold and subdued color palette, consising of cooll,bluish tones that are nicely contrasted by the warm, vibrant hue evident later in the film. The picture conveys a commendable level of detail with a soothing touch of film grain that adds significantly to the film-like appearance. The only distraction is a noticeable amount of edge enhancement. While easily detectable,its presence is never bothersome enough to detrack from the sheer splendor of this winning transfer.

SOUND:
Attention audio fanatics:prepare to be dazzled. The outstanding Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks both feature 6.1 matrix processing,allowing those with rear surround capability the option to become completely immersed in audio nirvana. Being able to apply this technology, I was amazed by the robust energy generated from the rear soundfield. I did feel,however,that the format is underplayed a bit. While the rear speaker certainly helps tighten the sense of 360-degree imaging,I felt as if the sound designers were somewhat reserved in fully utilizing the back surround speaker. Nevertheless,this is an insignificant gripe for what is otherwise a supreme soundtrack. Whil the Dolby Digital EX track is excellent, the DTS-ES reigns superior with a more neutral high end,warmer mid-range and tighter,deeper bass. Both tracks feature aggressive split surrounds during the many action sequences,enceloping the viewer with the surrounds of speeding vehicles and crackling gunfire. Perhaps the most impressive element of the soundtrack is the natural tonal quality of the dialogue,particularly on the DTS track. Spoken words possess an incredibly warm characterustuc,sounding so clear and natural that I could close my eyes and believe that the actors and I were in the same room. Delivering a brilliant display of the 6.1 matrix format and featuring perhaps the finest fidelity I have heard thus far on DVD,the Die Another Day DTS-ES soundtrack is unquestionably my new demo matrial.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
Full Motion menu with music
Scene Acess with 36 cues and remote acess
1 Original Trailer
4 Other Trailers
10 TV SPOTS/TEASERS
20 Multiple Angles with remote acess
1 Documentary
5 Featurettes
Storyboard
2 Feature/Episode commentaries by director Lee Tamahori and producer Micheal G. Wilson; Pierce Brosnan and Rosamund Pike
Weblink/DVD-ROM Material
2 discs
Picture Disc
Trivia Track with Video Streaming
Equipment Briefing
Image Gallery
Music Video

IMAGE:A
SOUND:A+
SPECIAL FEATURES:A-

The 20th and most fantastic movie to enter the series in a long time! Packed with evil villians, sexy girls, gadgets galore and the classic one-liners from the most famous spy of all time- it doesn't get any better than that. First the villians- Gustav Graves is a snotty, arrogant and show-off to the public and is bent on world domination with his super weapon- the Icarus. He duels 007 with fencing swords and lives in style in his Ice palace in Iceland. Zao is the henchmen who is scarred with diamond shrapnel and has a personal goal to kill 007. And, finally is my favorite character in the movie- the stunning Miranda Frost! She is the athletic, cunning, mysterious, extremely sexy ice princess that gives Bond the ice treatment in her regard to her extreme hate of him. a world-class fencer, and collaborator with Gustav, she battles with Jinx aboard the Antonov plane, and ultimately meets her end. (Darn!, I really liked her, She really is hot!) The other main Bond girl is Jinx, who works as a team with Bond, and battles along with him. David Arnold gives his finest perfromance, with his best 007 soundtrack ever! Madonna gives the most different, but one of the best title songs ever also.
This film has many references to the past because of the 40th anniversary of the films. Here are a few---
-look for 007 holding the book Birds Of The West Indies by James Bond.
-007 steals a grape a la` Thunderball
-the WWII cigarettes poster that Domino loved from Thunderball

-Duke of Wellington statue in teaser a la` like the picture in Dr. No
-fencing club called Blades, like the gentlemen's club in many 007 books
-Jinx entry like Honey Ryder in Dr. No
-MANY past gadgets in Q's lab from past Bond films.
-Q's quip to 007, "Here's your new watch, this will be your 20th I believe." Ha Ha Ha.
Also be on the lookout for the classic cameo of Michael G. Wilson in the film as General Chandler. Madonna also does a cameo as fencing instructer Verity in the Blades Club.
A long awaited film, that I have had the pleasure of seeing, and GOD! it is one of the best in the series!!!

This was, I believe, the twentieth Bond movie ever made. Starring Pierce Brosnan as Double - Oh, and Halle Berry as "Jinx" this movie was supposed to take James Bond to the next level. Well, it did, but probably not a very high level... When the movie started with an extended surfing scene (I kid you not, James Bond surfing), I started to worry a little bit about the movie. Actually, I ended up slightly surprised...it wasn't that bad!

The movie starts out with Bond being captured and tortured...and after Bond returns to MI6, his own government refuses to back him up (believing he leaked information to his captors). The movie is full of cool explosions, cool cars, cool fight scenes, and cool sets. In fact, I think the fencing match turned sword fight between Bond and Graves (played by Toby Stevens), is one of the best fighting sequences I've seen in a Bond movie.

Once again, John Cleese plays "Q," providing several moments of non-stop hilarity while providing Bond with some cool new gadgets (and an invisible car). The movie was pretty good, but towards the end, the sexual innuendo was getting pretty extreme. The one-liners really weren't that funny, and most of the joking seemed far too contrived. Aside from that (and the poor blue-screening done during Bond's two surfing incidents), the movie was great and a lot of fun to watch.

This won't win as my favorite Bond movie (sorry, there wasn't any skiing!), but some of the new film techniques that were used certainly make this film stand apart from the rest.