As usual in a Bond film there is no lack of sexist character/gender representation. Of course, Bond being male is represented as the strongest of all the characters and no woman could match him. This is also seen in the boat chase sequence. Bond gets the smaller, more versatile, faster and ultimately better boat. The woman gets the leisure cruiser/ speedboat, although she handles it well and is the victor throughout much of the race. “Bond women” are seen as weaker, and whether they’re on Bonds side or not they always seem to give in to his devilishly, “irritating” charm. And of course he wouldn’t be “James Bond” if he didn’t sleep with at least one woman, so that was always guaranteed. There is no sign of stopping those corny, sexist comments made by the man himself. For examples when a receptionist asks Bond “How are my figures?” he replies “Oh, I’m sure they’re perfectly rounded.” Referring to her figure rather than her numbers. The Bond girls, look as if they have been created on a virtual reality program, perfect in every way. The latest model sports a figure-hugging red catsuit but uses a variety of weapons adeptly proving herself to be a worthy adversary.
There is a wide range of use of different camera angles to suit the action or surroundings. The best shot scene in the whole movie, must be the boat chase sequence. This scene uses just about all the camera shots possible. It has many panning and tracking shots, to set the momentum of the chase and also to show the setting is London as these camera angles show The Tower of London, Westminister and other famous landmarks. There are also many points of view and close up shots to emphasise emotions and feelings and extreme close ups for the effectiveness of Bonds gadgets. Low angle shots force us to see Bond as unusually vulnerable as he ends up on the edge of the balloon rope booking up at his powerful competitor. This creates tension until she conveniently blows herself up.
The editing in “The World Is Not Enough” is superb. The chase sequence is excellent; it contains an important variety of camera shots. This variety of changing camera shots has made for an interesting hook that keeps the audience enthralled in the rest of the movie. It is very important that the scene is fast and exciting, many cuts to different camera angles ensure this. Editing is so important in the movie industry, and the editors of “The World Is Not Enough” have really “hit the nail on the head.” The constantly changing camera from Bond to the assassin helps increase the sense of competition. It also creates suspense, confusion and chaos, which keeps the audience riveted to the edge of their seats. The majority of cuts in a section where Bond’s boat miraculously transforms itself into a road vehicle and drives through a café. Humour and tension are retained through the chaos through effective editing.
Lighting is important because it is used to lighten up the atmosphere and relieve the tension. Darkness and shadows represents a lurking evil for example when the power (lights) goes out in the MI6 Head Quarters there seems to be a “phantom menace”. So the lighting is important and works in “The World Is Not Enough”. The more open combat between Bond and his femme fatale is by contrast in broad daylight.
There are two parts of the sound I look at. First being “diagetic sound”, without this then the movie would be like a silent movie from the 1920’s. Which is not necessarily a bad thing the comic genius Charlie Chaplin is considered one on cinemas legends and is far more popular than Pierce Brosnan, however silent movies would not appeal to modern audience. Diagetic sound includes; explosions, gunfire and engine noise, the sound-track is the “non-diagetic sound”, the classic James Bond theme music for example. This also includes suspense music, which is used to make the atmosphere more intense.
I think on the overall basis, the hook of the opening scene of “The World Is Not Enough” is fantastic. Put together by the editing, sound, and “mise en scene”. It is this combination that sets for such an effective opening to the rest of this marvellous “Bond flick”. This has stayed within the limits of the classic “Bond genre” with modern technological additions… “Double O Heaven” indeed. Race to a cinema near you now!
