The World Is Not Enough is the 19th James Bond film, released in 1999, directed by Michael Apted, and starring Pierce Brosnan in his third outing as 007. Known for mixing espionage, betrayal, and large-scale action, this installment explores themes of family legacy, manipulation, and the cost of power.
Detailed Summary
Opening: A Deadly Inheritance
The movie begins with James Bond retrieving money for Sir Robert King, a wealthy oil tycoon. But things go wrong at MI6 headquarters in London when King is assassinated by a booby-trapped briefcase. The money Bond had recovered turns out to be rigged with explosives, killing King.
Bond chases the assassin across the Thames in a thrilling speedboat sequence that ends with the assassin blowing herself up. M (Judi Dench), who was close to King, assigns Bond to protect King’s daughter, Elektra (Sophie Marceau), fearing she could be the next target.
Protecting Elektra
Bond travels to Azerbaijan, where Elektra is overseeing the construction of her father’s oil pipeline. She is beautiful, intelligent, and seemingly vulnerable, claiming to still suffer from the trauma of a past kidnapping by a notorious terrorist, Renard (Robert Carlyle). Renard has a bullet lodged in his brain, slowly killing him but also eliminating his ability to feel pain or emotion, making him an incredibly dangerous adversary.
Bond begins to suspect Elektra may not be as innocent as she appears, but he also becomes romantically involved with her, a classic Bond complication.
Renard and the Nuclear Threat
Bond teams up with Dr. Christmas Jones (Denise Richards), a nuclear physicist, to investigate Renard’s activities. They discover that Renard is stealing nuclear materials and planning something catastrophic involving a submarine reactor. The plot thickens as it’s revealed that Elektra is not Renard’s victim but his lover and accomplice. She manipulated both Renard and MI6 to take control of her father’s oil empire.
Elektra’s Betrayal
Bond realizes too late that Elektra orchestrated her father’s murder and is using Renard to destroy Istanbul with a nuclear meltdown. This would wipe out her competitors and give her total control of oil distribution in the region.
⇢ VIRAL RIGHT NOW
Movie Ending
The climax takes place in Istanbul. Elektra captures M, imprisoning her in a tower to force her compliance. Bond escapes and confronts Elektra, who taunts him with her power and emotional manipulation. In a rare moment for the franchise, Bond coldly executes her with a single gunshot after she refuses to call off her plan, saying: “I never miss.”
Meanwhile, Renard hijacks a Russian nuclear submarine to carry out the meltdown. Bond and Christmas infiltrate the sub, leading to an underwater showdown. Bond manages to jam the submarine’s reactor rods and kills Renard by firing a pressurized rod into his chest, impaling him. The reactor is stabilized, and the city is saved.
The film ends with Bond and Christmas spending the night together in Istanbul. Their final romantic exchange is played with typical Bond wit, closing out the story on a classic 007 note.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, The World Is Not Enough does not feature any post-credits scenes. The Bond films traditionally end with the promise: “James Bond Will Return” rather than teasing future storylines Marvel-style.
Type of Movie
This is a spy action thriller in the James Bond franchise. It blends espionage intrigue, large-scale action sequences, and emotional drama, with a slightly darker tone than earlier entries.
Cast
- Pierce Brosnan as James Bond
- Sophie Marceau as Elektra King
- Robert Carlyle as Renard
- Denise Richards as Dr. Christmas Jones
- Judi Dench as M
- Robbie Coltrane as Valentin Zukovsky
- Desmond Llewelyn as Q (his final Bond appearance)
- John Cleese as R (Q’s successor introduction)
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by David Arnold, blending orchestral tension with modern electronic beats. The theme song, “The World Is Not Enough” by Garbage, is one of the series’ moodier and more haunting title tracks, fitting the themes of betrayal and ambition.
Filming Locations
- London, UK – MI6 headquarters and the boat chase on the River Thames.
- Spain (Bilbao & Cádiz) – Opening bank scenes and some exterior locations.
- Azerbaijan & Istanbul (filmed in Turkey and Spain) – Oil pipeline and cultural backdrops.
- France – Studio sets for interiors.
The choice of Istanbul underscores the theme of East-West tension and oil power politics.
⇢ KEEP UP WITH THE TREND
Awards and Nominations
- Won a BMI Film Music Award for David Arnold’s score.
- Nominated for several Saturn Awards, including Best Action/Adventure Film.
- Nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award (Razzie) for Denise Richards’ performance, often criticized as one of the less convincing Bond girls.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- This was Desmond Llewelyn’s final film as Q before his passing. His farewell scene is poignant and beloved by Bond fans.
- Sophie Marceau was praised for bringing depth and complexity to Elektra King, making her one of the franchise’s standout villains.
- The Thames speedboat chase was filmed with real boats at full speed, causing chaos in central London traffic on the river.
- Brosnan injured his knee during a stunt and had to take time off filming, delaying production.
Inspirations and References
The film borrows from classic spy novels and Cold War politics, particularly focusing on energy control and oil distribution, a highly relevant topic in the late 1990s. Elektra’s manipulative villainy takes inspiration from femme fatale archetypes in literature and cinema.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
- Early drafts featured Elektra dying during the submarine climax rather than being executed by Bond.
- Several deleted scenes included extended character interactions with Renard to highlight his lack of pain.
- A longer opening sequence in Bilbao was cut for pacing.
Book Adaptations and Differences
Unlike many earlier Bond films, The World Is Not Enough is not a direct adaptation of an Ian Fleming novel. Instead, it’s an original screenplay borrowing Fleming-esque themes. The novelization by Raymond Benson expands on character psychology, especially Renard’s suffering and Elektra’s manipulation of Bond.
⇢ MOST SHARED RIGHT NOW
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The speedboat chase on the Thames.
- Bond’s tense mountain ski pursuit with Elektra.
- Elektra revealing her betrayal.
- Q’s farewell scene: “Always have an escape plan.”
- The final submarine fight with Renard.
Iconic Quotes
- Bond (to Elektra): “I never miss.”
- Renard: “There’s no point in living if you can’t feel alive.”
- Q: “I’ve always tried to teach you two things: First, never let them see you bleed. Second, always have an escape plan.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- Elektra’s name is a nod to the Electra complex, referencing her twisted relationship with her father’s legacy.
- Renard’s inability to feel pain mirrors classic Bond villains with physical handicaps.
- The film subtly references past Bond adventures, with gadgets from earlier films visible in Q’s workshop.
Trivia
- Denise Richards’ casting was heavily criticized; producers defended it, saying they wanted a Bond girl who was both “brainy and sexy.”
- The title is taken directly from Ian Fleming’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, where Bond explains his family motto.
- Brosnan named this film one of his favorites from his tenure, despite mixed reviews.
Why Watch?
This is one of the more character-driven Bond films, with a complex villain in Elektra King, who blends charm, tragedy, and ruthlessness. It also has some of the series’ most memorable set pieces, including the Thames chase and submarine finale. And Q’s emotional farewell alone makes it essential viewing for Bond fans.
Director’s Other Movies
- Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
- Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980)
- Nell (1994)