The third Bond film is Goldfinger (1964):
Dave's review:
Goldfinger rests right at the center of the golden age of James Bond, no pun intended, This is the film that to many fans, epitomizes the franchise. It's got a little bit of everything. You have the larger than life villain, a henchmen wielding a lethal metal derby, a Bond girl with the name of Pussy Galore, and the introduction of the Aston Martin DB5. Connery is in tip top shape and appears to be having the time of his life. Unlike the first two films, Goldfinger features a healthy dose of humor, which some critics lament for setting the stage for the more tongue in cheek entries like Diamonds Are Forever and most of the Moore films.
Details wise, there are so many iconic moments in this film, such as a girl painted in suffocating gold and the famous line "No Mr. Bond I expect you to die!" It is also refreshing that after Bond saves the world and engages in high level espionage in his first two outings, he is now tasked with simply trying to stop someone from stealing gold in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Goldfinger is one of the most entertaining films you'll ever see.
TT's review:
Dr. No was too rough. From Russia was too artsy. Goldfinger might be just right. I have to watch Thunderball to refresh my memory, but Goldfinger might be my favorite Connery film. Everything is perfect-- the pudgy villain, Random Task Oddjob, the Q Branch tour, the Aston Martin DB5, the theme song.
Having given From Russia an A+ already, grade inflation for this series might become a problem. I can't give Goldfinger A+++, so I'll just stick with the highest grade, A+. There are plenty of Bs and Cs in the future, I assure you.
I can forgive the Pussy Galore name only because it inspired the character Alotta Fagina.
Dave's response:
It's true that you can run out of accolades when describing the first three films of the series, particularly the last two in my opinion. In retrospect, Goldfinger may be the most meaningful film of all, in that it ensured the longevity of the world's most beloved secret agent.
TT's response:
This is the part where Siskel and Ebert agree with each other on everything.
Dave's grade: A
TT's grade: A+
Please rate Goldfinger:
— Tamerlane's Thoughts (@TamerlaneBlog) December 15, 2020
1 comment:
The movie that made me a lifelong Bond and Connery fan.
Also - Harold Sakata, aka Oddjob, was a sketchy bodybuilding champ with a fascinating story including deep ties to the yakuza and all sorts of government scandal.
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