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In the James Bond film collection, there are a total of 28 movies. The invincible 007 character has been portrayed by seven distinct actors, with whispers about potential new cast members always swirling around. Given the extensive range of films in this iconic spy saga, it’s inevitable that some movies might not meet expectations. One film that stands out as particularly controversial is “Die Another Day” (2002), which was the 20th Bond movie and starred Pierce Brosnan as James Bond for the last time. Although “Die Another Day” doesn’t hold the poorest critical reception among its peers (that title goes to 1967’s “Casino Royale”), it is notable for one of the most debated and extravagant choices in the franchise: the inclusion of an invisible car.

Wait, What?

Indeed, the film Die Another Day starts with James Bond getting apprehended by the North Korean armed forces during their diamond hunt. After spending 14 long months in captivity, he is swapped for another prisoner and is sent back to M (portrayed by Dame Judi Dench). M informs Bond that there are suspicions about his breaking point under North Korean interrogation and potential information leak, causing a temporary withdrawal of his 00 status.

As a cinephile on a mission to unravel mysteries and regain my reputation, I found myself in the vibrant city of Havana. Here, I stumbled upon a questionable link between the alluring diamonds and a British tycoon named Gustav Graves (Toby Stephens), along with his assistant Miranda Frost (Rosamund Pike). In this very city, I also encountered the Die Another Day‘s female lead, Halle Berry. Yet, my detective work led me to uncover a plot far darker than diamonds, one that I had to stop, for humanity’s well-being.

In the memorable chase scene from “Die Another Day,” set upon an icy lake in Iceland, Zao, one of the movie’s antagonists, chases Bond as he navigates a customized gray Aston Martin. What sets this car apart is its extraordinary ability to vanish, thanks to some truly groundbreaking and authentic science. Earlier in the film, Q (who, interestingly, only appears in this particular Bond installment) briefs Bond on this remarkable vehicle, referring to it as “the Vanquish” but more accurately as “the Vanish.” He explains that tiny cameras installed all around the car transmit images they capture onto a light-emitting polymer skin on the opposite side.

In a similar vein as Bond’s response to Q, “You’ve got to be kidding!” Indeed, in an icy pursuit, Bond utilizes the invisibility feature on his Aston Martin, successfully eluding Zao without being detected. And so, the story continues, another day awaits.

The Invisible Car That Won’t Disappear

At the time of its release, Die Another Day held the record as the highest-grossing Bond film ever. Fast forward 23 years, and most conversations about this movie revolve around the mysterious invisible car. Given the vast array of outlandish spy gadgets in the cinematic Bond universe, one might wonder why fans remain so captivated by the inclusion of an invisible car in Die Another Day. The general sentiment seems to be that it veered a bit too much into the realm of camp. In essence, the introduction of this invisible car served to transform their otherwise realistic hero into something over-the-top and unacceptable.

As a devoted Bond fan, I can’t help but speculate that the backlash against the iconic invisible car might have paved the way for the transition out of the Brosnan era and the arrival of something new, starting only three years later. The team behind Die Another Day has been quite open about their remorse regarding the “invisible car incident,” with Chris Corbould, the special effects supervisor, openly admitting that he wasn’t a fan of it from the very beginning.

While many might attribute the cheesy vibe of Die Another Day to its invisible car, the truth is, the entire movie borders on the absurd. Pierce Brosnan’s space adventure (which, let’s not forget, was also done by Roger Moore) is just one example of the film’s outlandishness. The 20th Bond film demands a level of suspension of disbelief that isn’t typically required in other movies given its over-the-top stunts and gadgets.

In a different phrasing, here’s how the text could read:

The invisible vehicle might have served as a convenient target for a bigger problem – namely, audience disinterest in an aspect that didn’t truly embody the beloved Bond character. However, if you’re skeptical about this explanation and want to delve deeper into why fans continue to adore the invisible car, or simply fancy watching Madonna (yes, Madonna) in a 007 movie, Die Another Day is available for rent on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+.

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2025-05-31 21:32