November 4, 2002. Copyright, 2002, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Die Another Day
By Mark Samms

LONDON, November 4, Graphic News:  When the 20th Bond movie was scheduled for release on the 40th anniversary of the first one, its homage to the past was certain to prove irresistible. After all, this is a phenomenon that has always refused to take itself too seriously.

Hence we are introduced to Halle Berry as she emerges bikini-clad from the sea in an obvious tribute to Ursula AndressÕs unforgettable debut in the first Bond film, Dr No. Not surprisingly, it is a moment that even Oscar-winner Berry has since described as Òdaunting.Ó

Roger MooreÕs daughter, Deborah, has a cameo role as an air hostess, and plans were said to be well advanced for the original 007, Sean Connery, to appear as BondÕs father before it was remembered that the secret agent was raised as an orphan.

They are moments to delight the millions of Bond fans throughout the world, but Die Another Day -- based primarily on the Korean peninsula -- is far more than an acknowledgment of past glories. It is, in fact, the most futuristic Bond film to date, with more than 400 computer-generated special effects compared to an average of 20 in recent movies.

It is also the first to depict Bond as vulnerable and even shows a dark side to the super spy. But producers are confident it will elevate the genre to another level and attract the next generation of fans.

And perhaps the quirkiest element about the new film? When Madonna discovered that her character -- a fencing teacher -- did not get to canoodle with Bond in the movie, she insisted that she be depicted as a lesbian.

Stars: Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry, Rosamund Pike, Toby Stephens, Rick Yune, Judi Dench, John Cleese, Madonna. Director: Lee Tamahori. Screenplay: Neil Purvis.

Release dates: 
November 22: UK, United States, Canada, France, Spain 
November 27: Belgium, Philippines
November 28: Austria, Germany, Israel, Sweden, Switzerland
November 29: Estonia, Finland, Iceland 
December 12: Australia 
December 19: Argentina 
December 20: Russia 
December 25: Panama 
December 26: NewZealand 
January 2: Czech Republic
January 3: Greece 
January 9: Netherlands 
January 24: Denmark 
January 31: Norway
March 5: Egypt
/ENDS

Sources: www.hollywood.com; www.imdb.com; www.darkhorizons.com