In The World Is Not Enough, after Bond is asked by “Cigar Girl” Giulietta da Vinci if he would like to check her “figures” before retrieving money from the Swiss bank, Bond responds with this weak sexual innuendo and the only negative in an otherwise compelling opening sequence to the movie. After this forced quip, the movie quickly recovers when Bond returns the ransom money to Sir Robert King, only for the banknotes to trigger a devastating explosion and King’s assassination through the lapel pin detonator. It’s a cleverly orchestrated plotline and visually striking to see MI6 itself become a target.

Bond’s subsequent pursuit of the returning Cigar Girl assassin on the river Thames stands out amongst all Bond movie boat chases in particular because of the boat Bond commandeers from Q branch. It’s a small and nimble watercraft that’s almost like a go kart in water that gives more excitement to boat chases that are often restricted by clunky and slow moving boats. The boat is easily the star as it delivers a kinetic, inventive chase with audacious stunts, some even where the action leaves the water entirely.

Cigar Girl’s last-ditch effort to escape via hot-air balloon borders on the implausible, but her choice to end her life rather than face her handler after her failure introduces an interesting, darker note that sets up the villain Renard and the rest of the movie nicely.