The World Is Not Enough

James Bond is pulled into a tangled plot of greed, revenge and high-tech sabotage when he is assigned to protect Elektra, a glamorous oil heiress who narrowly survives an assassination attempt. As Bond follows leads from London to snowbound Caucasus landscapes and through glitzy European settings, he uncovers links between the attack and a mysterious terrorist with a muted past. Loyalties are unclear, old enemies reappear and the stakes grow as plans to control the world’s oil supply come into focus. The story builds toward a tense, waterbound confrontation that tests Bond’s resourcefulness and forces him to weigh duty against personal ties, without giving away how the final gambit plays out.

Directed by Michael Apted and released in 1999, the film features a screenplay credited to Robert Wade, Bruce Feirstein and Neal Purvis, and stars Pierce Brosnan as Bond alongside Sophie Marceau, Robert Carlyle and Denise Richards. It continued the late 1990s Bond reboot, keeping the glossy production values and international locations that defined that era of the franchise.

The picture enjoyed solid commercial returns on release and helped maintain the franchise’s box office momentum. Its international appeal and star power ensured it reached a wide audience, reinforcing James Bond as a viable summer action draw heading into the new century.

Scenes such as the Thames boat chase, the ski sequences and the submarine set pieces have become touchstones for fans, and the film’s title track, performed at the time by a contemporary rock act, added to its pop culture footprint. The characters of Elektra and the enigmatic antagonist contributed memorable, if debated, additions to the Bond gallery.

Critics were mixed, with praise for production design and action choreography balanced by notes about plotting and tone. Viewers tend to rate it as a watchable, stylish entry that leans into franchise staples like gadgetry, seduction and geopolitical intrigue. Themes of family loyalty, corporate power and the human cost of energy politics run under the surface, giving the action a sharper edge than a simple chase movie.