The World Is Not Enough (1999)

James Bond (Pierce Brosnan in his third outing as 007) is assigned to protect the daughter (Sophie Marceau) of a deceased oil tycoon (David Calder) after M (Judi Dench) suspects she may be the next target of a terrorist (Robert Carlyle). Ably directed by Michael Apted (GORILLAS IN THE MIST), this is probably the best of the Brosnan Bonds. Despite some truly bad punning, there's a strong plausible storyline rather than some of the improbable elements that too often populate the 007 franchise. Marceau's Bond "girl" is also one of the more complex, interesting female characters in the series and she plays it very well. On the other hand, Denise Richards as a 20 something nuclear physicist stretches believability. The pre credit sequence runs 14 minutes which makes it the longest pre-credit sequences in all the Bonds. The serviceable score is by David Arnold who also wrote the title song which is sung by the alternative rock band, Garbage. With John Cleese, Robbie Coltrane, Samantha Bond, Michael Kitchen and in his final appearance as Q, a frail Desmond Llewelyn.