BBC's Nick Higham : "Fifteen boats were destroyed making the opening sequence"

The film's stars, including Pierce Brosnan, Denise Richards, John Cleese and Desmond Llewelyn, were there for the screening, 10 days before the film's official opening in the US.

The 19th movie, directed by UK film-maker Michael Apted, sees Bond battling against murderous terrorist Renard, played by Robert Carlyle of Full Monty fame.

Pierce Brosnan with fiancee Keely Shaye Smith (left) and Rene Russo

Renard is impervious to physical pain - and his plans include seizing the oil reserves in central Asia, as well as using nuclear weapons and a stolen Russian submarine.

John Cleese plays an assistant to Desmond Llewelyn's Q character. He said: "I love doing strange, off-the-wall things, and when somebody said, be in a Bond movie, you've got to say yes, you don't have a choice. It's fabulous."

BBC's Robert Nisbet reports on premiere

Dame Judi Dench returns as Bond's boss M, while Sophie Marceau plays Elektra King, the daughter of a murdered oil tycoon who Bond is sent to protect. Starship Troopers actress Denise Richards plays glamorous nuclear scientist Dr Christmas Jones.

The film is Brosnan's third outing as Bond, after Tomorrow Never Dies and Goldeneye. Brosnan told reporters: "I would love to do a fourth. This one was a joy to do, for many reasons. Michael Apted is such a fine director."