By Ted Baldwin

     The world is never enough for someone with principles.

     The latest outing from the Bond factory is a high tech, breathtakingly action packed riot across the Mideastern nations and bits of Russia. It delivers all it promises, and boasts some added attractions. Wit and style, namely.

     Freshness in the 19th episode of perhaps the most enduring/endearing series ever to take to the screen? Totally.

     Part of the fun of this film is not knowing quite what's going on. It is suitably complicated, taking us into a swirl of double dealings and intrigue - leaving us behind, than catching us up. I was not bored. But forget any lofty ideals, supernations fighting for world domination, spaceships farting around. This is down to earth, solid revenge motive action. A pipeline to disaster.

     Brosnan is reaching into the Bond character to bring more passion and rage to the screen than there has been in the last 20 years. Since it seemed there really was nothing left to discover about the Bond character it is great to see him bring seriousness to the role. He isn't playing around.

     In a word, the direction and editing were "crisp". Not much wasted time. Some good gags with Q, and M and other letters of the alphabet. And the action really gets going when the helicopters see/saw Bond. (There is nothing wrong with the grammer in that sentence.)

     Denise Richards as the Atomic Scientist type brought her ingenue-ity to the fore, and far from helpless, she took an active part. Like Marion in the first Raiders film, but more so. Alive and vibrant, she contributed more than grabbing assets to the picture, and it is appreciated. It's heaven in Christmas every day.

     Judy Dench has an expanded role as M, and puts her time to good use. I'd like to see her exercise more chill, but that is me. The villains are villainous, yet sadly unfeeling, and the supporting players support. God is in His heaven.

     I will forgo destroying your fun in seeing the film, so the only point of the review has to be to say whether it is any good or not. It is. I can highly recommend it to anyone that has any interest in Bond at all, and it will pass as entertainment for those who are merely humoring spouses or loved ones (not that those are exclusive of each other).

     That's all.

     Oh, yeah. Brosnan is the best Bond since Connery, hands down. He is reviving the capability of cruelty Connery had, and it plays well in a for-keeps spy like Bond. Bring on 20.