Die Another Day (2002)
Die Another Day (2002) 
As the 20th Bond film and the last of the Pierce Brosnan era, Die Another Day aimed to be a grand celebration of the franchise’s 40th anniversary. It starts strong with a gritty opening, as Bond is captured and tortured in North Korea—one of the most realistic and intense sequences in the series. However, after this promising setup, the film veers into over-the-top territory, packed with CGI excess, outlandish gadgets, and an invisible car that many fans found too unrealistic.
The plot follows Bond as he investigates the villainous Gustav Graves (Toby Stephens), a North Korean colonel who has undergone DNA reconstruction to appear British. With the help of NSA agent Jinx Johnson (Halle Berry) and MI6’s Miranda Frost (Rosamund Pike), Bond uncovers a deadly space weapon, Icarus, capable of destroying anything in its path. While the sword fight scene and action sequences deliver excitement, the heavy reliance on digital effects weakens the film’s impact.
On the positive side, Halle Berry’s Jinx adds charisma, and the film includes nostalgic nods to past Bond adventures. Brosnan delivers his usual charm, but the film’s excessive campiness makes it one of the weaker entries in the franchise.
While Die Another Day is entertaining in a guilty-pleasure way, it ultimately marked the end of an era, leading to the much-needed gritty reboot with Casino Royale (2006).
