Review of Tomorrow Never Dies: (James Bond)

Video

Tomorrow Never Dies features both the widescreen 2.35:1 anamorphic and the 4:3 standard versions on one side of the DVD, presumably on separate layers as I did not notice the layer change when viewing the widescreen version. There are 28 chapters used throughout the film, and are thankfully positions at key points so navigation to your favourite Bond action sequence is easy. The video quality is excellent as you can expect from a recent film transfer to DVD. Although this disk is NTSC (as Region 1) that is known to offer inferior picture quality to our PAL system, this was hardly noticable as the picture was superb (I viewed via RGB connection). The colours were vivid but not overly saturated.

Audio

As with GoldenEye, this is another movie that simply asks for a Dolby Digital sound system. The opening sequence both visually and audially is a total home cinema experience, especially the missiles skimming the snowy terrain, with good use being made of the rear channels. The jet fighters seemed to be literally flying behind me, and the explosions had my subwoofer pounding away. Good job the neighbours were out when I viewed this disk! Good use of the left and right front channels is also eveident, especially during the sequences aboard Carver`s Stealth Ship, and it`s subsequent demise.

Features

This disk features the original theatrical trailer, 8 page booklet on the production, and totally static menus. Not too bad extras, but you would have to buy the Region 1 Tomorrow Never Dies Special Edition version to get all the documentaries and other goodies. However if extras do not concern you, and you just buy DVDs for the film content alone, then this is a good package.

Conclusion

This is Pierce Brosnan`s second outing as James Bond 007, and the latest released 007 movie at the time of writing (The World Is Not Enough is eagerly awated in this house to be released before Christmas!). He was very well received in GoldenEye and this movie capitalises on this. Although a weaker story to GoldenEye, there was more action sequences in this film, as the 8 page booklet proudly states "To create the explosive action sequences, Tomorrow Never Dies used twice the pyrotechnics as GoldenEye". Joe Don Baker makes a welcome reappearance as Wade with his familiar catch phrase "Yo! Jimbo!" but this time doesn`t get to roar off in Bond`s new car (a BMW 750 in this film for the car fans). Judi Dench once again plays `M` and often steals the scene with some of the best lines in the film. There is no `gadget` scene as such, but Q (Desmond Llewellyn) makes a reappearance to demonstrate Bond`s new remote control car, and ends up whacking the rear bumper in the process!

So overall, although not quite up the standard as GoldenEye, Bond fans and owners of Dolby Digital sound systems attached to their DVD player should enjoy this disk. If it`s more extras you are looking for, then you can always pay a little more cash and buy the Region 1 Special Edition version.