November 4, 1999. Copyright, 1999, Graphic News. All rights reserved

BOND IS BACK FOR THE MILLENNIUM
By Julie Mullins

LONDON, November 4, Graphic News:  BOND BUFFS will remember from On Her MajestyÕs Secret Service that ÒOrbis non sufficitÓ, Latin for Òthe world is not enough,Ó is the Bond family motto, and now The World Is Not Enough becomes the 19th installment in the phenomenally successful James Bond series.
When a rich oil tycoon and friend of James Bond is killed in an explosion at MI6 headquarters, Bond (Pierce Brosnan) takes it upon himself to act as bodyguard for his daughter, Elektra King (Sophie Marceau). The assassin, a psychopath named Renard (Robert Carlyle) Ð who is immune to pain because of a bullet lodged in his brain Ð is intent on taking over the world by controlling the oil supply.
As always, glamorous locations and thrilling stunts play an essential role. The film opens in Bilbao, Spain, where the new Guggenheim art gallery provided just the sort of background that director Michael Apted wanted for the scene.
ÒItÕs beautiful, itÕs exotic, and itÕs also contemporary. This is the Bond film for the millennium and this is the building for the millennium, so thatÕs why weÕre here.Ó
The classic opening action sequence climaxes at another striking new building Ð the Millennium Dome in Greenwich, London, following a chase down the Thames.
This involved a high speed boat chase down one of the busiest waterways in the world, firing off machine guns outside the Houses of Parliament and explosions along the City bankside Ð a tall order, as producer Michael Wilson acknowledged.
ÒEveryoneÕs been really helpful. We had to get the Port of London Authority to make some controversial decisions to allow Bond onto the river at around 40 knots when ordinarily it would be 8-10 knotsÓ. (For non-sea dogs, 40 knots is about 70kph.)
A key scene in the film sees Bond and Elektra ski-ing for their lives to escape mysterious assailants in the French Alps. However, as filming got under way in February 1999 all weather records in Europe were broken and the sheer weight of snow resulted in a series of tragic avalanches across the Alps. The Bond unit, who were in Chamonix when the town was devasted, were able to put their expertise to good use.
ÒThey are all specialists and we were glad to lend them to the rescue effortÓ, said Wilson.
Pierce Brosnan stars in his third James Bond film, as does Judi Dench, who plays M. It was a major break with tradition when Dench was hired to play the head of British Intelligence in Goldeneye.
ÒIt was a complete role reversal because itÕs always been a man. It does bring it up to date and itÕs huge fun to be his boss.Ó
Sadly, veteran Bond star Desmond Llewelyn makes a final appearance as gadget king Q, to be replaced, intriguingly, by John Cleese as R.
Current hot property Denise Richards completes the main cast line-up as nuclear weapons expert Dr. Christmas Jones, who becomes the latest notch in 007Õs belt. 
While many of the cast may be familiar, director Michael Apted is a newcomer to the series. Despite acclaimed films such as Gorillas in the Mist, Gorky Park and Coal MinerÕs Daughter on his resumŽ, Apted admits he found the scale of the Bond films intimidating.
ÒThis is so much bigger than anything IÕve ever done. ItÕs unnerving with so much audience expectation about the film.Ó
Co-producer of The World Is Not Enough is Barbara Broccoli, carrying on the family tradition founded by the late Albert R. ÒCubbyÓ Broccoli, who 37 years ago began the most successful film franchise in cinema history with the groundbreaking Dr. No.
The World Is Not Enough opens in the U.S. on November 19, 1999 and around the world from November 25.
ENDS/
Sources: Internet Movie Database, www.jamesbond.com