--- title: "Tomorrow Never Dies: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/tomorrow-never-dies/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/tomorrow-never-dies" critics_score: 61 critics_reviews: 10 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Tomorrow Never Dies (1997): what the critics said Critics' score 61 from 10 reviews: 5 positive, 3 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics like it without loving it. The praise gathers around Pierce Brosnan, who several find settled and confident in his second outing, and around Michelle Yeoh, whose Wai Lin is repeatedly singled out as a partner who fights rather than waits. The action is generally approved of, the motorcycle chase in particular, and Jonathan Pryce’s media-mogul villain strikes several reviewers as timely and enjoyably hissable. The reservations cluster on formula. Radio Times and Time Out both find the first hour strong and the second half sagging, and Radio Times thinks the villain never quite threatens. The AV Club complains of over-scripted banter and a wasted Yeoh. The spread is wide: Empire calls the series firmly back on form, while Film Stories thinks the rushed script leaves it closer to pastiche, and The New York Times sees Bond reduced to a pitchman. The disagreement is whether the familiarity is a comfort or a failing. ## Empire — Andrew Collins Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic finds that after a shaky period, Bond is firmly back on form with Pierce Brosnan in the lead. The film is praised as fast, funny and very British, with Brosnan excelling and Roger Spottiswoode delivering a thrilling addition to the franchise. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/tomorrow-never-dies-review/) ## Radio Times — Adrian Turner Rating 4/5. For the first hour this Bond entry matches the best with terrific pace, strong Brosnan and Yeoh chemistry, and a gripping story; the second half loses momentum and the villain feels unthreatening. It was the best Bond since Connery at the time. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-i5ek9s/tomorrow-never-dies/) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 19 December 1997. The critic finds the film a solid, stylish Bond entry that gets the job done with exciting action and some contemporary satire in its media-mogul villain. He singles out the strong chemistry between Brosnan's Bond and Michelle Yeoh's Wai Lin, along with impressive stunt sequences like the motorcycle chase. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/tomorrow-never-dies-1997) ## Time Out — NK Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. The first half builds promisingly with depth to Bond's character and the usual mix of action, but the second half falters with standard tactics and underwritten roles. Brosnan's Bond is strong enough to make it flawed but fantastic fun. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/tomorrow-never-dies) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 15 December 1997. The review calls it a solid but by-the-numbers Bond entry heavy on action, distinguished by an imaginatively conceived media-mogul villain and an unusually active female partner. It highlights the effective casting of Jonathan Pryce and Michelle Yeoh while noting the emphasis on bang-bang over kiss-kiss or humor. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/tomorrow-never-dies-1117339901/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 19 December 1997. The critic sees the film as aware of its franchise position but ultimately stodgy and derivative, with a been-there feeling despite efforts to update it. He praises the addition of Michelle Yeoh as a lively sidekick who brings successful energy to the proceedings. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-dec-19-ca-36-story.html) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 19 December 1997. The review describes the film as a generic action event that turns Bond into a pitchman, with shallowness reflected in its title, though it acknowledges a lively villain in Jonathan Pryce. It criticizes the lack of the character's unique suaveness and notes the supporting turns and BMW gadget as highlights amid the cartoonish elements. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/19/movies/film-review-shaken-not-stirred-bond-is-in-business.html) ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 29 March 2002. The critic finds the film a predictable and formulaic Bond entry that squanders opportunities despite familiar pleasures like stunts and one-liners. They single out the over-scripted banter and the underutilization of Michelle Yeoh as points of complaint. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/tomorrow-never-dies-1798196231) ## Den of Geek — Max Williams Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 20 December 2019. The critic views Tomorrow Never Dies as a solid but lesser Brosnan Bond entry than Goldeneye, praising its muscular action sequences, hissable villain Elliot Carver, and strong supporting turns like Paris Carver while noting formulaic elements and an over-the-top climax that hint at issues ahead in the series. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/james-bond-007-revisiting-tomorrow-never-dies/) ## Film Stories — Mark Harrison Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 11 August 2022. The critic views the film as a generic nuts-and-bolts actioner hampered by a rushed, underdeveloped script that makes it both forward-thinking and instantly dated, closer to pastiche than a strong second outing. They single out the strong action set-pieces, assertive Wai Lin character, and David Arnold score for praise amid the flaws. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/features/tomorrow-never-dies-a-james-bond-film-ahead-of-its-time/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/tomorrow-never-dies.md