Chinese star adds feminist touch to James Bond series

(December 18, 1997 1:42 p.m. EST http://www.nando.net) Don't start printing T-shirts that declare "Women need 007 like a fish needs a bicycle," but the newest Bond movie offers the most contemporary, and some would say well-adjusted, female Bond characters.

For the first time, Bond has a real partner -- energetically played by Michelle Yeoh, China's biggest female movie star, who has been in several Jackie Chan action movies. In "Tomorrow Never Dies," she plays a Chinese secret agent who comes to Bond's aid.

Yeoh, who was well aware of women's subservient roles in Bond movies, said she had one question for United Artists executives who asked if she would like to be in one.

"Can I play Bond?"

And Yeoh said she was only half-joking. "In the past, all of the feminine roles were victim roles, really. The woman had to be protected by Bond. I just think that is very outdated, passe."

Yeoh, 34, is a native of Malaysia who went to London to study dance. Her dreams of being a ballerina ended with a back injury, so she switched to studying acting. She moved back to Malaysia (she was even Miss Malaysia) and did some film acting.

She studied some martial arts and landed roles in the Chan movies, becoming a top action star. She started getting substantial notice in the United States in Chan's "Supercop" in 1992. In one scene in "Tomorrow Never Dies," Yeoh chops, kicks, punches and otherwise decimates a half-dozen or so Asian street thugs. The scene has a heritage that goes back through Chan, recent John Woo-directed films and the martial arts glory days of Bruce Lee.

Pierce Brosnan said he is a big fan of Yeoh, for both the action she provides and the message she sends.

"I think it is a great idea," Brosnam said of Bond having an equal partner. "For the first time, we actually have a woman doing something on her own, fighting her own fights. It updates Bond, keeps the movies contemporary."

Brosnan said he enjoyed watching the choreographed mayhem of Yeoh's big fight scene, which was arranged by Philip Kwok, who has worked with Woo and featured stuntmen from Yeoh's Chinese movies.

"Man, I love that stuff because it reminds me of Bruce Lee," he said. "And if I could be Bruce Lee, I'd be Bruce Lee."

Brosnan also noted that Bond not only has a partner who shares the fights, but he also has some vulnerability.

Teri Hatcher plays the wife of bad-guy media mogul Elliot Carver, played by Jonathan Pryce. Hatcher's character used to be in love with Bond, and still is despite Bond's leaving her without notice. Bond leaving women with broken hearts certainly is nothing new. In fact, it's part of the Bond package.

But this time, we find, Bond's heart was also broken by the breakup.

"Teri plays a woman who meant something, and still means something, to Bond. It is someone who got too close to Bond and made him feel vulnerable," he said.

Director Roger Spottiswoode said he had a strong desire to change the women's roles in this, his first, Bond film.

"I wanted women who were strong, independent and had a mean kick," Spottiswoode said. "I think she has such a tremendous energy and she really gives the movie a boost when she's on the screen."

So Bond may be moving toward a more contemporary, dare we say sensitive, existence. Let's not forget that the new M, the head of foreign intelligence, is played by Judi Dench for the second time, and Bond has been far less promiscuous in his last four or five movies.

But let's not go so far as to say that documenting social change is the main goal of this franchise.

"I mean, ultimately, it is a Bond movie," Brosnan said. "And we all should have a good romp with it."

By JOE HOLLEMAN, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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