Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

The producers of the 18^th Bond movie “Tomorrow Never Dies” used modern technology and weapons to overcome the enemy from initiating World War III.  The film connected well to our current world where words are now weapons and information and technology supported by satellites are the new artillery. Our fast paced technological world keeps changing and Bond’s world also had to reflect this change of high technological and latest innovations.  Even the pace of the film needed to meet the fast pace of the new world order driven by technology.  This was the first Bond film to run less than two hours in duration since 1971.  This is also the first film where Bond had to work with another character Wai Lin, a secret agent from China, who was considered as an equal partner to Bond in order to survive and complete the mission to save the world this time.

The creation of this film was an enormous task as this film needed to compete for resources against the production of James Cameron’s Titanic at the time.  Both Pinewood and Leavesden Studios, the traditional studios used for previous Bond films, were fully booked.  As a result, a former grocery warehouse in Frogmore England was converted into a production facility for this film.  Long time production designer Peter Lamont could not work on the film due to his commitment with the Titanic movie so Allan Cameron was given the job and he gave the film high-tech but realistic sets.  The lack of traditional resources lead to the use of untraditional sites throughout the film and many remarkable action scenes were included in the film.  One example of using realistic events was the use of an actual Khyber Pass terrorist arms bazaar which added realism to the film.  In addition, Brent Cross Shopping Centre car park was used for the car chase using 17 BMWs for a four minute scene.  Four BMW 750iLs were driven with a stunt driver crouched on the back floorboard driving via a video monitor the same way Disney filmed Herbie.  The hair-raising motorcycle-helicopter chase used in the Banglok location which also included the English sets to fill in the post production gaps was effective.  At Frogmore, the BMW R1200 motorcycle leap between two buildings was performed by expert bike driver Jean-Pierre Goy by leaping between two real buildings over a prop helicopter.  The unique and untraditional approach in creating this film added more spectacular settings making the film even more realistic and exciting for the viewers.

Music for this film was written and recorded in sections to keep pace with the film production.   Once again a newcomer, David Arnold replaced long time Bond composer John Barry.  David immediately added excitement to the music for a new generation of Bond fans.   Actually, David Arnold was a young Bond fan growing up so he seemed to fit in with the production quite well in producing original Bond music with more creativity.  The music score sounded fresh but it had references to the great Bond scores of the past.  Sheryl Crow was chosen as the writer and performer of the opening song while David worked with a group of Bond alumnus to create the ending credit song “Surrender” performed by K.D. Lang.  The music blended in well with the film, making this Bond film complete and exciting.

Miniature effects merged with real life action were a major part in this shorter Bond film making the visual effects and illusions remarkable.  The film’s special effects supervisor John Richardson took advantage of the Baja Studios water tank in Mexico after Titanic finished its production to add realism to both the stealth ship and the HMS Devonshire. The HALO jump was conducted with 80 real parachute jumps using the skills of parachute specialist B.J. Worth.  The director Roger Spottiswoode used all his skills to obtain the Bond and Wai Lin leap from a Saigon skyscraper, using only a banner on the building to slow their decent.  This short freefall scene used the real building, a miniature replica, real actors, stunt actors, miniature actors, and the magic of digital compositing to make the scene as real as possible.  Underwater scenes in the film were realistic as they were completed using the 007 stage water tank.  Underwater filming was so complex and real that sequences had to be filmed with different electrical power setups and at different times of the day to prevent injury to the film crew.  There was a huge amount of publicity made about the filming effects.  The film opened during Christmas 1997.  The theatres were packed all around the world making this Bond film internationally a world event.  

BMW Vehicles and Bond

During the 1990’s Bond moved away from his classic Austin Martin to embrace BMW products.  Perhaps it was the technology of BMW, the variety of vehicles to choose from, or the locations that Bond was traveling to for business but in reality it was due to the royalties BMW paid to get the products on the screen.   BMW did not let the audience down.

Bond’s BMW Z3 convertible roadster was the first BMW outfitted with Q’s innovative enhancements.  It was a small car packed with many “Q inventions”.  There was a manual transmission and a convertible roof installed so that it would fit its role on a Caribbean Island.  Improvements included an all points radar with a pop up screen between the front seats to alter Bond’s path to approaching planes.  There was a parachute available to discharge out the back to allow the car to jump out of airplanes when his vehicle had to follow Bond to his assignment.  Stinger missiles were located behind the headlights.  Finally, there was a built in self destruct system.  None of the enhancements other than the radar were ever shown in use, but the BMW Z3 made a great impact with all its Q additions.

The next BMW car to be used in the film was a BMW Z8 customized by Q. This car was considered “fully loaded” even by Q’s standards when all the interceptive countermeasure equipment was installed.  To keep both the equipment and Bond safe, Titanium armour was added.  Drivability for Bond was enhanced with a heads up display familiar to Bond’s jet fighter pilot skills complete with enough fire power to blast any helicopter from the sky.   Firepower comes from a target locking missile system located behind the car’s exterior air vent.  Remote driving through key fob control was introduced on this model.  Bond remotely drove this car, blasted one Eurocopter AS-355F1 Ecureuil II “Twin Squirrel” helicopter out of the air just before the second one cut the car in two with the five blade tree cutting rig.  This car was sacrificed by Bond to save his life.  It was too bad Bond did not get to drive this car through a Tim Horton’s drive through to test out the six cup holders installed.

The final and largest appearance of BMW vehicles came next in 1997 when the BMW750IL Sedan and the BMW R1200 motorcycle appeared in large roles within the film.  The motorcycle may not have had the Q installed enhancements but it performed some of the best chase scenes speeding along streets, walkways, rooftops, and jumping buildings moving fast enough to protect Bond and his rider from a row of bullets.   This is likely the only motorcycle to take out a helicopter with a washing line.  Totally different from the motorcycle, the sedan was a symbol of refinement packed with Q options.  This car showed up as a banker’s car to act as a cover for Bond when playing the role of a banker.  This car was like a safe to its contents just as a bank vault is a safe to our valuables.  The sedan had a glove compartment acting as a safe, complete with a spare Walther PPK gun.  The top level security of the car showed in its glass which was sledgehammer and tire iron proof.  Door handles were electrified.  A touch pad on a specially modified Ericsson mobile phone acted as a state of the art remote control for the vehicle complete with a stern German female voice assistant.  Secret gadgets included a tear gas system, rockets hidden in the sunroof, caltrop in the rear bumper, re-inflatable tires, and even the hood badge was a cable cutting device.   It was too bad this car did not have a parachute installed to save it from falling to the ground.  It was a good thing Q issued this car with full collision damage waiver.

Miss Moneypenny

Miss Moneypenny was the long time serving secretary to James Bond’s boss, “M”.  She was portrayed as a welcoming, easy-going secretary to M who flirted with Bond and indirectly promoted Bond’s image of irresistibility to women.  Her qualities were many:  highly efficient, tolerant, loyal, and had a good sense of humour.  She was totally different from the rest of the Bond girl characters who appeared on missions with Bond.  Miss Moneypenny dreamed hopelessly about Bond, but was never successful to establish a relationship with him.  On a serious side, Miss Moneypenny used to deliver important information about the movie plot.  Her character was unique as Ian Fleming based her on two real women.  The first woman was “Paddy” Bennett who worked with him in Naval Intelligence.   The second woman was Miss Pettigrew, the private secretary to SIS Chief Stewart Manzies.  Her character was based on these two women and her name came from his brother’s book.  She supported Bond in many movies.

Moneypenny had never been addressed by her first name by Bond other than her nickname Penny in one of the Bond films.  Her first name was never revealed but there was no secret that her relationship with Bond varied from film to film with some gradual amorous development over the years.  Moneypenny flirted with Bond, never showing hopelessness.  She had actively attempted to interest Bond in a relationship even making comments about marriage.  She even wanted Bond to use “I love you” as a recognition code, which Bond quickly dismissed.   She helped Bond write his letter of resignation.  She had attended Bond’s wedding with a look of tenderness and admiration.  She could be considered his sexual equal, flirting on her terms as much as his.  The only time she had been alone with Bond is in virtual reality.  She can only imagine a relationship with him. 

There have been many actresses playing different roles of Miss Moneypenny over the years.  Lois Maxwell was the author’s favourite choice of Miss Moneypenny in the first Bond movies as she was tall, elegant and was described as having the most kissable lips in the world.   Next was Caroline Bliss who brought beauty hidden behind large spectacles with a taste for Barry Manilow songs.  Samatha Bond was another actress who was Bond’s sexual equal. Currently, Naomie Harris in “Skyfall” portrayed the Miss Moneypenny character with more of a field agent role than a secretary. In this last Bond movie, her first name Eve was revealed.  The character Miss Eve Moneypenny had evolved and grown to become part of the secret agent team in the latest Bond movie. 

In the last “Skyfall” Bond movie, Eve Moneypenny was also portrayed as a professional sniper.  After being asked to “take the shot” when there was little hope of not hitting Bond, she obeyed the order as part of her loyalty to the job.  She “killed” 007 and ended up with a suspension until she took the job of assisting the Intelligence and Security Committee Chairman Gareth Mallory in a time of transition between M’s retirement and the next successor’s announcement.  In the role of Eve in the last movie, she still was an aid to Bond and flirted with him as she had in all the movies.  She acted as Bond’s backup in the field and completed a gun battle against Silva (the Bond villain) at M’s board of inquiry hearing.  After presenting Bond with the last M’s bequest of her Royal Doulton British Bulldog, Eve announced her desire to work as M’s secretary.  With her background, M was well protected with his own unassuming body guard at the front desk. Eve’s promotion and change of duty during the last Bond movie seems to hint that she will lead a larger role in Bond’s life and that she will have a bigger part in future Bond movies.

Pierce Brosnan – Born to be Bond

Pierce Brosnan was chosen by director Cubby Broccoli personally as the “fourth” bond.   The plan was to replace the retiring Bond actor Roger Moore with Pierce because Pierce had the looks and a way about him that was all “Bond”.  At the time, Pierce was married to Cassandra Harris who coincidently was one of the Bond girls who was starring in the Bond movie “For Your Eyes Only”.  Broccoli probably met Pierce when Pierce went with Cassandra to have dinner at Broccoli’s house.  When The New York Post announced that Pierce would be the replacement for Roger Moore, Pierce’s popularity rose to new heights which actually caused Pierce to lose the Bond role.  Pierce was already acting in the role of a private detective in a series “Remington Steel” and when news of him becoming the next Bond was announced, his popularity increased to record breaking levels in the reruns, that NBC decided to renew the series it was initially cancelling and even asked for three TV movies to be created based on the series.   Pierce was devastated that he had to turn down the role of Bond due to a signed long term contract that obligated him to stay with NBC. 

Numerous public polls taken at the time indicated that Pierce would be perfect playing the character of Bond.  Pierce would eventually get his chance to play Bond the next time around.  Nearly a decade later, Pierce was called upon to bring Bond into the 1990’s and help the character live into the next millennium through the trials and tribulations of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  Although, there was a long wait Pierce had the chance to make four classic Bond films and make a name for himself.  In addition, Pierce also earned a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy and he was even honoured with the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for his outstanding contribution to the British film industry.  These awards even surpassed any accomplishments of the other Bond actors such as Sean Connery.  It is apparent that Pierce still has a long career ahead of him in acting, even after playing Bond.  He also started his own production company known as Irish Dreamtime.  Pierce was definitely very successful in playing the role of Bond, leaving a hard act to follow.

Unlike the Scottish roots of the first Bond Sean Connery, Pierce comes from an Irish background.  He was born in 1953.  His father left him after birth and Pierce ended up being raised by his maternal grandparents who died when he was only six years old.  Various relatives then raised him until a boarding house owner took him in until the age of 11.  It turned out on the day that Ian Fleming died, Pierce arrived in London to live with his mother who had moved away after his birth to study nursing in London.  It was his mother’s husband who introduced Pierce to James Bond by taking him to see his first Bond movie “Goldfinger”.  This movie left such an impression on Pierce that he always had an interest in playing Bond.

Pierce was destined to have an acting career.  He attended Elliot School in London.  He later worked as a commercial artist and circus fire eater up until he attended London Drama Centre.  Upon graduation in 1976, he became a stage manager at the Theatre Royal York where playwright Tennessee Williams picked him to star in a play.  The rave reviews he received started his acting career.  Acting led Bond to meeting Australian actress Cassandra Harris and he married her when she completed playing her role as a Bond girl.  She entered the marriage with two children and then had a son with Peirce.  He left acting to care for Cassandra after her diagnosis of ovarian cancer.  He took care of her until she died. This situation led him to become an advocate for women’s health issues.  Eventually, Pierce remarried and is currently married to Keel Shaye-Smith.  They have two children.  When not acting, Pierce is an advocate in many environmental and worthwhile initiatives.  He also continues to be devoted to his family life and children, as well as acting.  

Dr. Christmas Jones: One of Bond’s Girls

All of Bond’s girls have always been known for their beauty but some have extreme intelligence.  One of those girls was Dr. Christmas Jones who was one of the most brilliant girls Bond ever met.   She was a gifted scientist who had confidence in her skills working in a male-dominated profession and always showed her strong-willed bravery under pressure.

Dr. Christmas worked for the International Decommission Agency (IDA) acting as an environmental scientist for nuclear weapons.  She had a peace tattoo design which symbolized her role as a peace activist.  She was also fluent in Russian and an expert in nuclear physics.  Her sense of style in clothing often allowed her to promote her diverse nature and personality, especially when she could dress casually in a tank-top, shorts, and then paired the outfit with heavy duty work boots.  She had a tactical fission HP Jornada 430SE hand held computer which she used with ease and expertise in using high end technology.

Dr. Christmas’ intelligence almost ended up in stopping Bond from carrying out his mission to stop an anarchist terrorist as she believed Bond was the suspect.  She detected that Bond had forged credentials and that his Russian was not his first language.  The confusion created by Dr. Christmas to try to stop illegitimate people from entering the site such as someone like Bond allowed the terrorist Renard to escape with a nuclear weapon from the site.  Dr. Christmas then had to work with Bond to try and recover the weapon and destroy Renard.  During the collaboration, they discovered that diversions were being used to cover up a plot to explode the weapon in Istanbul’s harbor and kill at least 8 million people.   This plot would allow Elektra King’s pipeline to have total control over oil supplies from Russia to Western Europe.  Both working together, they successfully stopped the plot.

 

The climax of the relationship between Dr. Christmas and Bond was the prevention of loading the plutonium of the nuclear weapon into a captured nuclear submarine’s reactor located in Istanbul’s harbor.  They had to work together on a sinking nuclear submarine to stop the terrorist.  They stopped the critical nuclear reaction and escaped just in time as hydrogen gas in the submarine reactor destroyed the ship by blowing it apart without a nuclear explosion.  After surfacing with their final gasp of oxygen molecules in their lungs, Bond ended the millennium with Dr. Christmas in his arms.  Bond always got his man and his girl.

The Role of Bond: Sean Connery

Sean Connery is a Scottish actor who defined the role of James Bond in each movie that he stared in as Bond.  He presented a style, grace, sense of self and magnetism in Bond which initially started as a character in a book.  Sean knew that Bond had to be dangerous and street smart but he also knew that he had to care about what happened to Bond so the character would survive.  Sean Connery could be considered the actor who created the success of James Bond and who the famous “James Bond” has become today.

Sean brought the role of Bond to life perhaps because his life was parallel to Bond in many ways.  Sean grew up in Edinburgh in a working class area known as the Fountainbridge neighbourhood which was the opposite of the privileged class.   Novel writer Ian Fleming placed Bond in similar circumstances.  Sean attended the exclusive Edinburgh boarding school which was also where Bond was around but only as the milk delivery man trying to support a family after dropping out of school in his teens.  Sean was in the Royal Navy, and dreamed to see the world but became only a seaman on battleships working as a gunner.  This led to a discharge as he had ulcers.  He next tried to be Mr. Universe but came in with only a Bronze standing, which was not enough to make a future career as a professional bodybuilder.  Sean almost played soccer for Manchester United but again this would be a career without a future beyond the age of 30.  In reality, Sean ended up struggling as an actor and dedicated himself to studying classics.  By growing up on the poor side of the fence and understanding how tough life really was, Sean could provide understanding in the role of Bond because he had the ability to make every dream he had in life a reality.

Sean worked as an actor who struggled to build a reputation by taking on new dramatic roles each week as well as struggling to earn enough money to live and eat.  This hardship resulted in Sean developing skills and a physical presence that few actors could even hope to develop in a lifetime.  He may have been working class, yet this presence allowed him to have relationships with many beautiful upper-class women.   Self-presence and an air of confidence learned from acting lead Sean into having the presence to walk into the Mayfair offices of producer Albert R. Broccoli with a smooth style and grace when they were interviewing for an actor to portray Ian Fleming’s secret agent.  Sean could provide an air of confidence based on his real life of succeeding against great odds just as Bond had to succeed against all odds. It was said by Broccoli’s partner, Harry Saltzman that “he moved like a big jungle cat.”  Sean was the perfect man for the role.

Sean Connery played James Bond for nearly a decade.  He stared in six Bond films which grossed over $600 million turning Bond films into a successful and lucrative enterprise.  His struggles in life lead Sean to move beyond the role of Bond to take on other larger than life roles.  He could bring life to diverse films resulting in work from directors such as Alfred Hitchcock and Steve Spielberg.  Even in smaller roles, Sean earned the Best Supporting Actor Award.   On one occasion, former President Clinton recognized Sean personally for his contribution to the arts.   In 2006, Sean Connery was honoured with the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award as recognition for being an influential and successful actor in the twentieth century.  He was also knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000.  Sean Connery is best known as “Bond” – “James Bond”.

Bond, James Bond’s Skills

Government Secret Agent, James Bond works in a dangerous field working on sensitive government matters and situations.  His job description changes with each assignment but he requires many special innovative skills, along with his quick thinking ability to keep him alive at all costs.  Bond maintains a very athletic routine because his life depends on him being in top physical condition.  He is capable of high tolerance of pain and incredible stamina.  Bond knows that he possesses many of these survival skills which give him great confidence to handle any situation thrown at him.  Bond or 007, as he is known as in the secret agent world, can be a deadly foe to any enemy.

Bond has strong legendary fighting skills that he uses on land.  He trains privately using a manual for unarmed combat titled “Stay Alive!”  Bond is skilled in many areas of combat: karate, judo, jujitsu, tae kwon do, boxing, wrestling and being able to kill a man with a single blow five different ways.  He can defend and kill without the use of a gun, but if he has to use his gun his aim is always right on target.  He combines his combat skills with leisure sports which he learned during his teenage years such as skiing and snowboarding.  Bond practises his sports seriously such as when he practices skiing at a high level of altitude in the mountains so he trains his body not to be fatigued.   He combines sports and combat making it look fun but his fighting skills he develops by training keep him alive.

James Bond is just as dangerous to his enemies in and on water as he is on land.  Bond is a strong swimmer, a fearless high diver and an excellent underwater swimmer.  He has had training in the Royal Navy up to the Rank of Commander.  Bond is a champion scuba diver and is an expert in underwater combat.  He is also a pilot of all forms of watercraft, and skillfully drives large and small boats at very high speeds.  He also operates military and personal submarines with accuracy.  These survival skills have kept him alive when in water.

The Royal Navy trained Bond intensively in air born activities.  He started with parachute training.  007 is remarkable in the air and shows his strong confidence in the air by performing high and low altitude jumps with ease.  Bond has had to put his parachute training to use on many occasions.  He is fearless in the sky!  Fearless piloting skills of any type of manmade aircraft from gliders to rockets are also well within 007’s expertise.  He flies planes from propeller planes to the fastest military jets, both old and new.  Bond shows his confidence in the air by performing high and low altitude jumps getting to his targets. One time, Bond climbed along the exterior of a helicopter to regain control of a seemly hopeless situation. His intense military training made him successful in air activities.