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As for your final suggestion: I once had a friend ask to borrow a copy of Goldfinger. She was just in a mood to watch that particular movie. I lent her both GF and FRWL, explaining that many Bond fans found Russia to be a better film. Naturally, I went into a detailed explanation of WHY I personally agreed with that assessment. When she returned the films a week or so later, my friend explained that she could understand the value judgment -- but that she had simply enjoyed Goldfinger more. That was the one she wanted to see and that was the one she liked the best!
As for your lady friend, did she have any strong responses for why she loved Goldfinger so much? She had to mention Sean, surely, as I find that to be his greatest performance as Bond when it comes to playing a lascivious sex panther. I would very much be interested to get the casual female perspective of him in that film, as I find him to be undeniably magnetic in that, the true alpha male. I just worry that in discussions with them-despite my heterosexuality-I would sound more attracted to him than they would be!
;)
Thanks for the kind words, @0Brady. You do make one obvious assumption, however, that being: Sean’s animal magnetism being the factor that attracts my friend’s attention. You seem not to remember that I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. This meaning: it could be Pussy Galore and her Flying Circus that is the main factor influencing my friend’s preference for Goldfinger! I can’t really speak to that point. I can, however, attest that when she is watching an episode of the Avengers (British TV series, not Marvel movie series) it is Mrs. Emma Peel that is the focus of my friend’s attention, and not Mr. John Steed.
Still, if my memory of her stated opinion from over a decade ago can be given any credence at all, my friend’s preference for GF over FRWL had to do with the weight of iconic moments in Goldfinger. The golden girl, the Aston Martin, the laser pointed at 007’s crotch, Oddjob and his flying bowler, etc. etc. etc. I think many of this series’ younger fans tend to underestimate the tremendous impact that Goldfinger and Thunderball had on ‘60s culture. DN and FRWL were interesting movies and a nice set-up for an ongoing series of films. GF and TB were absolute unparalleled landmarks for western storytelling. These films were a box office bonanza and cultural touchstones that went unmatched until the Star Wars films of a decade later. U.N.C.L.E., Mission Impossible and the like simply would not have existed without Goldfinger. It’s hard to understand the impact of these two films if you didn’t live through their releases. The “Goldfinger Phenomenon” and “Thunderball Phenomeon” featurettes (narrated by Patrick Macnee and included with some DVD releases of the films – also available for viewing on YouTube) give some indication of the impact these films had on society at the time – but if anything, they underestimate the case.
Brady, you have several topic questions. Let me go with this, for today:
What Bond girl did you think you were most like in younger days when it comes to overall temperament, attitude and outlook on life, and which do you think you're most like now? - my answer is Honey Rider (book even more than the film, of course) and a combination of Honey/Melina/Natalya for since I've been securely lodged in the "adult" category. If I had to say which of those 3 seems to be more "me" than the other 2, well let's go with Natalya. For today, anyway. As a child, teens, and in my 20's more like Honey, though. Definitely. Nature Tomboy is what I was (though my reading material certainly differed from Honey's). And also I suppose I'm rather summed up as "... wild, you know a rocknroll child ..." ;) So there's that. Yes, to all of that.
All the other things I speculate about, and there are some, don't compare to that one. That's the big change I would have made, for sure.
I thin Dan would have been perfect for that,personally,and he has the emotional range to carry it off.
When you are this old you'll want to spend your time sleeping too.
@CommanderRoss, I guess with 4Ever away from the forum, this thread hasn't really found its footing.
Hey, I resemble that remark!
Resemble, or resent?
Exactly. I like the way it went in HBO's "The Larry Sanders Show": Larry (played by Gary Shandling) invites Artie (Rip Torn) to a party on Saturday night, telling him to "Be there or be square"; Artie responds with gusto, "I can do BOTH!"
Met other people too.
This thread really should be cared about. I will have a word with some Originals ha!
@BondJasonBond006, I completely forgot that the September trip was already here. How time flies. Hope you all had a blast!
It was just perfect. The kindness and friendship I was allowed to experience from various people have mended my heart quite a bit. I don't take it for granted. This was such a special time with special people and I will never forget it and needless to say, 4EverBonded is the best friend I ever had or will have outside my army circle.
When someone can love me the way I am and can put up with me then it's special. I feel blessed.
I'd be interested in hearing of any significant changes in opinions over the years from other members out there. For instance, I was not at all of fan of Roger Moore's rendition of Bond when he first took over the role. Moore's Bond was charming, cultured and so forth -- but I could never really believe that he was a dangerous fellow with a license to kill. I was VERY pleased when Dalton took over the role with TLD -- at last, after more than a decade, here was Bond that I could believe in the action sequences! But as the years have gone by, I have realized that Moore was the best possible Bond for his time period -- a fairly silly time when people were trying their best to forget the dangers and tribulations of the post-Vietnam era. For those of us who qualify as "originals" it seems fairly obvious that Sir Sean was of course the definitive Bond -- but he couldn't remain in the role forever. Others had to pick up the Walther as time went on, and each of them has had their share of both fans and detractors.
Are there any other significant changes of opinion over the years that folks would like to discuss? Any Brosnan bashers that have become boosters? Any variation in your opinion of Craig from one film to the next? Or is there already a thread for these sorts of topics? As I say, other suggestions are welcome!
Perhaps those that haven't answered the questions, or variations of other questions related to them, would be interested in responding?
And, obviously, Brosnan was sort of the saviour of the frenchise. A very enjoyable Bond, fit for the nineties and, as we were all living at the end of history, true escapist fun where it was only deranged multi-millionaires who could do evil.
When I was a student I started collecting the Bond DVD's, and more and more I started to enjoy Daqltn's take. Especially after I discovered the books. (funny thing, I once gave a translated version of FRWL to my brother on his birthday, I was probably 15 or 16).
Dalton still isn't my favorite, but I do appreciate his trying to bring Bond back to Fleming.
At the same time, with the advance of the Craig era, Brosnan's tenure feels rather dated. We didn't end up in a very peaceful world after the collapse of the Iron Curtain, but instead found ourselves in a far more distorted world where good and bad were no points on a map anymore. I still like him, especially in GE, but it's still a long fall from 'saviour' to 'not that bad actually'.
And Craig? Well, I still think he's at least one of the best actors that've played Bond, perhaps even THE best. Above that his return to Fleming and especially capturing the atmosphere of Fleming in CR and QoS made his tenure worthwhile. The latter two films I think have been a bit off, especially the latest. But let's see what happens in the next one. Perhaps we can only truly judge his effect in 20 years.
All in all I've gotten to like all interpretations. Just not yet every film that much. I will say this though: I think Moore grew from just the Bond-actor to an icon for me, as a human as well as an actor. More then any of the others.