GOLDFINGER is an exciting, thrilling movie, the first ever "event" film,
and the movie that started the spy craze of the 1960's. So entertaining is it to
watch this movie today, that one can easily forget the huge impact it had when
first released. It was a BATMAN-like phenomenom, the first major blockbuster.
Third in the James Bond series from MGM/UA, this film stars a young and catlike
Sean Connery, who is assigned to investigate the gold-smuggling operation of a
certain millionaire. I will not give away any important plot points, but suffice
it to say, this is a classic, must-see of the highest order. Highlights include the subtle
performance of Harold Sakata as Oddjob, a Korean henchman. Also: John Barry's
soundtrack is a classic. (PG)
007 Series
The James Bond movies are rigorously formulaic, filled with cliches which
they invented. I for one never tire of watching them, though. Here are my ratings for ALL of the Bond movies, revised and including a "grading" system I saw on other sites (For Fans Eyes Only).
DR. NO (1962) ***
Bond: A+ Heroine: A- Villain: A Henchmen: B Soundtrack: B- Plot: B+ Direction: A+ Locations: A
A great first adventure in the legendary series, setting the tone for the many things to come. Jack Lord makes a good sidekick, and Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman) is a memorable villain. Sean Connery's star-making film. With Jack Lord.
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963) ****
Bond: A Heroine: A Villain: A Henchmen: A+ Soundtrack: A Plot: A+ Direction: A Locations: A+
One of the best, an all-time classic with spectacular action and memorable characters. A classic fight on the Orient Express is the highlight. With Robert Shaw and Sean Connery.
Bond: A Heroine: B+ Villain: A Henchmen: B+ Soundtrack: A+ Plot: B+ Direction: A Locations: A
For some reason this film struck me as routine. It never got me that exited, unlike the preceding adventures. This does feature the best underwater battle ever filmed. (Note: Upon a second viewing, Thunderball grew on me. My initial distaste was probably due to the fact that I saw too many Bond films in too short a time. One of the best, with a strong plot.) Starring Sean Connery.
YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967) ***
Bond: B+ Heroine: B Villain: B+ Henchmen: B Soundtrack: A Plot: B- Direction: B Locations: B+
This Bond has one of the more dated storylines and slows in the second half, but has enough vintage Bond moments to keep it going. Unfortunately, the lack of a strong henchman makes Bond (Sean Connery) never seem in danger. For fans only. James Bond's adversary Blofeld (Donald Pleasance) shows his face for the the first time here. Connery quit after this, only to return in 1971.
ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE (1969) ****
Bond: B+ Heroine: A+ Villain: A Henchmen: B+ Soundtrack: A++ Plot: A+ Direction: A- Locations: A
Amateur Australian actor/model George Lazenby had his only fling at the role of James Bond, and did pretty well, but he's no Sean Connery. Even so, not even that can hold down this amazing story. This would be the best if Connery were in it. With Diana Rigg, Telly Savalas.
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971) **1/2
Bond: B+ Heroine: B- Villain: B- Henchmen: A Soundtrack: B+ Plot: C Direction: B Locations: B
Despite Sean Connery's presence, this film's style makes it feel as if it would be more aptly named something like "Smokey and the Blofeld" or "The Dukes of England." Blofeld (Charles Gray) comes off terribly, but his henchmen Wint and Kidd are camp classics, and well portrayed by Bruce Glover and Putter Smith.
LIVE AND LET DIE (1973) **
Bond: B Heroine: A Villain: A- Henchmen: B+ Soundtrack: C+ Plot: C Direction: B- Locations: B
Roger Moore's first movie as James Bond is pretty much a dud. There's very little of everything here, and Moore makes the chases feel tired. Well played by Jane Seymour and Yaphet Kotto, however.
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (1974) ***
Bond: B Heroine: C Villain: A+ Henchmen: B Soundtrack: B+ Plot: B- Direction: B Locations: A
This is considered a low point in the series, but I enjoyed it, maybe more than I should have. Christopher Lee puts in a good performance as a million dollar hitman with a Golden Gun. Good thriller, starring Roger Moore.
This movie was a wake-up call after the most recent installments. Great action, the best stunt ever filmed, and a great henchman make this one of the best Bonds. True, it is often an exercise in overkill and borrows from previous Bonds, but all seems fresh this time around. Roger Moore is in good form.
MOONRAKER (1979) **
Bond: B+ Heroine: C Villain: B- Henchmen: B Soundtrack: A- Plot: C- Direction: B- Locations: B+
A cardboard attempt to cash in on Star Wars, is pretty good until it heads to outer space. By the end you realize how comic it all was. A low point for 007.
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY (1981) ***1/2
Bond: A+ Heroine: B+ Villain: A- Henchmen: B+ Soundtrack: B Plot: A Direction: A Locations: A-
A return to a bit of realism for James Bond, if those two words can be used together, this movie is a good mixture of the Bond formula, with a great opening sequence. Perfectly paced with only mild letdowns, this is probably Roger Moore's finest Bond effort. With Julian Glover.
OCTOPUSSY (1983) ***
Bond: A- Heroine: A- Villain: B+ Henchmen: B+ Soundtrack: A Plot: B- Direction: B+ Locations: B
A real action movie, this one never lets up. The plot is huge- hugely confusing, but that is what James Bond is about: the moment, not the plot. Still, too many fantasy elements in here for my taste. With Louis Jourdan, Maud Adams, and Roger Moore.
NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (WARNER BROS. 1983) **1/2
Bond: A Heroine: B- Villain: B+ Henchmen: A- Soundtrack: C Plot: C+ Direction: B+ Locations: B
This movie is the exact opposite of Octopussy- it spills out it's plot halfway through. That is the point where I lost all interest, not even Connery's final fling at the role could sustain this movie, which fails to live in the moment. Once you realize what Bond has to do, you find yourself waiting for him to do it, and that's not the point.
A VIEW TO A KILL (1985) **1/2
Bond: B+ Heroine: C Villain: B+ Henchmen: B Soundtrack: A+ Plot: C+ Direction: B Locations: B+
Despite showing promise early on, and despite apparently huge action scenes, this movie feels tired and shopworn. This was Roger Moore's last Bond movie.
One of my favorites, this is Timothy Dalton's first Bond movie and it's amazing how more human he seems after Roger Moore in A View to a Kill. Some of his mannerisms remind one of Connery. Good spy story.
LICENCE TO KILL (1989) **1/2
Bond: B- Heroine: B- Villain: B Henchmen: B- Soundtrack: B Plot: C- Direction: B- Locations: C+
Timothy Dalton's second and last Bond movie feels like a slowing train, and plays out like some sort of eighties drug-bustin' T.V. series.
GOLDENEYE (1995) ***
Bond: B+ Heroine: B+ Villain: B+ Henchmen: A Soundtrack: D Plot: B Direction: B+ Locations: B+
This movie is sort of a hybrid between classic Bond and what the producers want to be the new Bond. Often it feels like a typical action movie, but it's exciting, with a nice touch of edginess between Bond and the villain that has been missing for a time. Pierce Brosnan's first Bond film. With Sean Bean.
All movies listed are rated PG, except the last two, which are PG-13.
TOMORROW NEVER DIES (1997) ***
Bond: A Heroine: B Villain: B+ Henchmen: B Soundtrack: A Plot: A- Direction: B Locations: B
Well, the new Bond film has arrived, the first without the late producer Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli. Tomorrow Never Dies is terrific entertainment, and definitely puts Bond films on a par with other actioners for the first time in decades, in terms of special effects. But the original Bond is dead for good; in Tomorrow Never Dies, and to a lesser extent GoldenEye, he has moved into the nineties. Of course throwbacks like the Aston Martin, Q, the gunbarrel sequence, and the James Bond theme have all been included in Tomorrow Never Dies, but without these it would be a simple action movie. The nonstop action in the second half swamps the story, Michelle Yeoh has no romantic chemistry with Brosnan, and Jonathon Price's timid character is surprisingly a major letdown; his henchmen, with the exception of an absolutely great gunman played by Vincent Schiavelli, are standard Bond fodder. The movie does have several pluses despite being disjointed; a chase involving a motorcycle and helicopter stands out, and Brosnan's Bond this time out tops his and Dalton's efforts in all three preceding adventures. The soundtrack, by David Arnold, is an excellent John barry imitation/tribute and is a welcome change after Eric Serra's coldly calculated GoldenEye music. With Teri Hatcher, looking out-of-place and acting fairly poorly.
DR. NO (1962) ***
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963) ****
THUNDERBALL (1965) ***
YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967) ***
ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE (1969) ****
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971) **1/2
LIVE AND LET DIE (1973) **
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (1974) ***
THE SPY WHO LOVED ME (1977) ***1/2
MOONRAKER (1979) **
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY (1981) ***1/2
OCTOPUSSY (1983) ***
NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (WARNER BROS. 1983) **1/2
A VIEW TO A KILL (1985) **1/2
THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (1987) ***1/2
LICENCE TO KILL (1989) **1/2
GOLDENEYE (1995) ***
