"THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH" is a disappointing entry to the Bond canon, inferior in many ways to its' predecessors "Goldeneye" and "Tomorrow Never Dies" and certainly the worst Bond film since 1981's "For Your Eyes Only", and the film it most resembles in terms of atmosphere is the 'unofficial' film "Never Say Never Again".

The overall impression is one of a confusingly plotted series of set-pieces which are often illogical or incoherently plotted, set in-between some ridiculously over the top action set-pieces, which often play to the camp and overt humour reminiscent of many of the more ridiculed Roger Moore films and diminish the power of many sequences. Whilst boasting some impressive stuntwork and cinematography (especially in the opening sequence, which has moments of hilarity mixed with pure tension), every other second there is a punsome payoff which more often than not grate against the grain of the more serious atmosphere of Bond.

Many of the confusingly and illogically plotted sequences are incoherent and overall the film has less the feel of a Bond film than average Hollywood blockbuster fare such as "The Peacemaker".

Overall, whilst it would be a fairly good standard piece of Hollywood film fare, certain parts of this feel more like excerpts of "Lethal Weapon 4" or (in the tunnel sequence particularly) "Mission Impossible" than Bond. If "Tomorrow Never Dies" was Bond in the style of John Woo, then "The World Is Not Enough" is Bond in the style of Austin Powers parody, which many of the set-pieces and sequences seems to descend to. Crushingly disappointing, though far better than most. Some more quick editing in particular sequences and a rewrite or 5 would have improved this film immensely. The best thing about the film - the title. I know it's harsh but this film will surely rank as part of the nadir of Bond films, down there with Moore's later films which almost began to descend into self parody.

Character development is minimal and casting is overall good for secondary roles but poor for major roles. Bond is merely a cypher for the action to progress with no depth or knowledge added into his character - he simply reacts to situations he seems to come across by coincidence whilst killing as many people as possible. Q's final film is tragically wasted and underwritten, and Brosnan's portrayal of Bond is one of smugness, one of "I am James Bond, and God do I know it" whilst on autopilot. The female characters are poorly written, especially Elektra King who comes across as naïve and trusting, a little girl lost yet criminally insane. The role is played by Sophie Marceau competently, yet with the character being little more than a skeleton it is very difficult to make it convincing or believable.

Zukovsky (Robbie Coltrane) is a buffoonish, unbelievable character in comparison to his previous appearance who is poorly and sterotypically written. Christmas Jones (Denise Richards) is little more than a clothes horse who wears skimpy crop-tops and shorts yet who does nothing more than be an airhead, but we are meant to believe she is a nuclear physicist, however having the brain of an LA mall hangout means this is simply impossible to convince. For many key sequences (especially in the finale) Christmas just hides away in the corner and does nothing, looking on whilst the action happens and she acts cowardly - a far cry from the recent more tough and active Bond girls.

The relationship between Elektra and her father is never sufficiently explained, and her precise motives unclear. The relationship between Renard and Elektra however is also vague yet somehow defined, and difficult to try down, but once again the motives are unclear. More history here would have been very useful.  Robert Carlyle is superbly cast and very convincing, yet the idea of his invulnerability is a hangover from an idea from Stamper in "Tomorrow Never Dies". Ultimately the film is more succesful in its' parts than as a whole. The whole ethic of "Bigger and Better" has degenerated into parody and disbelief.  This film, whilst superior to much blockbuster action fare, cannot even be classed in the same league as the Die Hard Trilogy and is derivative,taking many elements from previous Bond films.

For example, the finale is a complete ripoff of "Never Say Never Again" and the central idea: using a stolen nuclear bomb to destroy the worlds oil supplies from an underwater submarine is identical, and the cavier sequence almost a shot for shot retake on the "Licence to Kill" bar sequence. It is unimaginative, overplotted and overcomplex with little motivation. This film actively detracts from the Bond Canon. This film often descends into knowing self-parody and some of the dialogue and puns come thick and fast, at the expense of tension or drama, like a "Carry On 007". and ultimately, will lead to diminishing box office returns.

The legend at the end "James Bond Will Return" irrelevent of whether the film will sink or swim at the box office just shows how much of a cashcow the producers feel this series is and will soon go the same way as the Batman series unless serious action is taken.

This film is unfit to carry the name Bond, and will surely be  remembered as the nadir of 007's cinematic adventures to date.

Until "Die Another Day" at any rate. Which is, unbelievably, even worse. Though again, two commentaries on the DVD and some 'making of' material make it a little more palatable, the film isn't as bad in hindsight...not once you've seen "Die Another Day" anyway.

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