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All right, as most of you are aware, I have not exactly been known to be the most passionate GF fan. My disgust for both it and OHMSS have been the source of much controversy in my Bond opinions around these parts. However, as of today, there has been a drastic change. That's right- let it be known that, today, 00Beast is, indeed, a Goldfinger fan.
Sometimes you just have to take a breather, step away from the franchise, let your opinions cool off, and take some time to re-evaluate. To be perfectly frank, I have ZERO ideas as to why I ever disliked Goldfinger. Other than the characters (which I will discuss here in a minute), what's not to like? The plot is absolutely inspired (as Bond says to Goldfinger while drinking the mint julep), the action scenes are fitting to the movie without being too bombastic, Connery is in top notch form in basically every scene, and I even found myself enjoying several cues from the score, believe it or not! It's a very brassy and occasionally swingin' score; I should have been enjoying it long ago. Perhaps some of the softer tracks threw me off previously. No matter!
The problems that, unfortunately, still persist with GF to me include the location work, some of the characters, and the rushed ending. The locations are fairly drab and unappealing, even the Swiss ones, which, I assume, are supposed to be the "cream of the crop." As for the characters, Miss Galore still gets on my last nerve, and Goldfinger himself can be rather irksome at times, particularly when he's upset with 007 or trying to "show off." Perhaps it's that terribly overdubbed voice actor that doesn't seem to do the character too much justice! Most everyone else is fine, with obvious top marks going to Sean as our man and Oddjob, a class act in villainy all his own! Now, this ending- the Fort Knox stuff is splendid, but as far as the Air Force One sequence is concerned, how tacked on can one finale be? There's no room to breathe after the bomb is defused before Goldfinger sabotages Air Force One. I wish that one of two things had happened. Either (A), some transition scenes had been placed between Fort Knox and Air Force One as a sort of cool down to prepare for the final attack, or (B), the movie had simply ended with something like Miss Galore being the surprise pilot onboard for her help in thwarting Operation Grand Slam, resulting in her and Bond going to the White House together to be thanked by The President (not actually shown, but implied as the credits roll). Yes, this would mean that Goldfinger would escape, but hey, doesn't that leave a little room for fan fiction? Hahaha- one can dream. I will say this though- I have come to appreciate Goldfinger's final attack on Air Force One a little more for this reason: it shows how far he is willing to go just to cover his own back. Most villains would have been ecstatic to have escaped the clutches of 007, but not the Man with the Midas Touch! Perhaps I've gained a new appreciation for one of Bond's most iconic enemies. Certainly that can be said for the movie as a whole.
2014/2015 Winter/Spring Bondathon
1. From Russia with Love
2. Tomorrow Never Dies
3. Goldfinger
4. For Your Eyes Only
5. Diamonds Are Forever
6. The Man with the Golden Gun
7. Thunderball
8. Live and Let Die
9. The Living Daylights
10. The Spy Who Loved Me
11. You Only Live Twice
Pacing is the other issue I have. The first hour of this movie has flawless pacing. It elegantly glides along in a carefree sort of manner. Then bond wakes up on the plane and the film slows considerably. I think part of the problem is that Goldfinger's plan is already fully realised and Bond is captured, so the film really has nothing else to do until Fort Knox. For the next twenty minutes regardless of what is happening onscreen a few things must remain true. Goldfinger's plan is ready, and Bond is helpless. We know from instinct that nothing about this can change until the climax, so all we can do is wait.
I like the showdown at Fort Knox but, like has been commented, the end does feel rushed. The reveal of GF on the plane and being foiled by gesturing with his gun is kind of lousy. It feels more like something to quickly rap up the story as apposed to a worthy demise for such a wonderful character.
First seeing GF. As a kid, it blew me away one Christmas. ;)
The problem is that everything that happens in that half hour space before the climax is deliberately pointless because all the pieces are already in place. Bond escapes his cell and is recaptured. Mr Solo (with Bond's note) is killed. The gangsters are told about the operation and swiftly gassed. There is no actual plot progression. Everything is static, waiting to start up again with Fort Knox. That's why the scenes in Kentucky bother me, nothing actually happens.
Unlike your posts.
I agree wholeheartedly about the pacing issues in the second half; in all honesty, that's what used to kill the movie for me back in the day. You're spot on about there being really no plot progression- however, there is the pivotal "Mint Julep Scene", which brings Goldfinger's plot to full realization, whereas before it was just known to Bond in the generic "Operation Grand Slam." Still though, I agree with you that the second half comes to a dull drag after such a swiftly moving first 50 minutes or so. What saves the second half for me is Bond trying to outwit that cell guard and the Mint Julep scene- those are classic 007!
By the way, does anyone else feel like the scene where Goldfinger briefs his gangster clientele is terribly corny? I mean honestly, "You owe me ONE MILLION BUCKS!!!"
It's funny, I actually think that part is legitimately humorous and not too cheesy, frankly. Not quite sure why!
I love that bit. "Hey what's with that trick pool table!?" "Hey I don't like this!"
Hilarious.
That was nothing in compare to how the Honey Ryder character was utilized in "DR. NO". Talk about useless. What was the point of her role in the story anyway, other than looking good and being the damsel in distress?
"OCTOPUSSY" is my seventh favorite Bond movie. Despite the minor silliness, it featured a first-class story. As for "NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN", I can only shake my head in dismay and resume watching the original version, "THUNDERBALL".
That whole scene is hilarious. Reminds me of the gangsters in Looney Tunes:
"Goldfinger, I made a delivery. Where is my money?"
CR
OHMSS
FRWL
Damn! They were all pretty darn good this time aswell =)
I do hope that SP will make us forget the next two installments.
Every time I hear someone voice this opinion It makes me so happy. I too think the ending of CR was mostly botched and let down the rest of the film to some degree and I have a hard time seeing my more people don't feel this way. It's frustrating when drama and character take the back seat to allow for another unnecessary, zip-bang action set piece, but because the first two thirds are so good I rarely see this receive the criticism is deserves from fans.
;)
[-X
I was sure that your unfortunate experience a few weeks back was just a strange anomaly that would correct itself with the next viewing, and sure enough that's what happened .
TMWTGG & LALD are both great fun imho. Moore at his best.
As for my most recent Bond viewing, be prepared for the shock of a lifetime.....
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
I don't know what's happening to me. First Goldfinger, now this.....
For what is probably the first time in, well, ever, I actually sort of enjoyed OHMSS. :-S
I feel like the world has, quite literally, turned upside down. My infamous, consistently least favorite Bond movie has managed the impossible. It's too much for words to accurately describe.
I'm not so much as disappointed in its improvement as I am concerned that my entire Bond opinion is loosening itself and heading straight for complete, utter disassembly. All I can say is stay tuned for my further viewings and reviews, because, at this rate, surprises are probably inescapable!
So, yeah- OHMSS wasn't that bad. I actually enjoyed following the plot, and in a total "blind side" move, the pacing didn't concern me. Perhaps that was because I watched it over at least three days (due to college obligations), but nonetheless, I found the movie divided into three distinct parts with very good flow in between each one. The first begins at the PTS and ends with Bond's meeting with Hilary Bray. This sequence of events is slightly marred by all the lame love stuff with Tracy (still don't enjoy that!), but I highly enjoy the plot progression involving Draco giving Bond vital information about Blofeld and SPECTRE. The second begins with Bond's train arrival in Switzerland and ends with his late night ski escape from Piz Gloria. This is possibly the most satisfying portion of the movie for me, which I don't understand whatsoever, because it contains the least amount of action. Those scenes at Piz Gloria are just so elegantly handled that it's easy to overlook the lack of action and embrace the "calmed down" feel. The third begins with the ski escape and ends with the credits, and although it contains the greatest action, there's a huge roadblock with that foolish barn scene. Yuck! Still not a fan of Bond and Tracy's romance. I suppose some things never change (thankfully). That aside, how epic is the ski chase, the derby car chase, and the final attack on Piz Gloria? Pretty sweet stuff!
My main "beef" with OHMSS is sort of a two-part grievance. The first half lies in the soundtrack, which, I know is considered one of Barry's best, but frankly, except for the main theme and all its renditions used throughout the movie, I'm not too keen on this one. Some tracks simply make me cringe and quickly reach for the remote in an effort to hit the mute button before I lose my mind. The second half of my "beef" is with Tracy. Granted, in the second half, she is much more tolerable, but good grief, in that first half, she's unbearable!
The biggest surprise came with my slightly changed opinion on ol' George Lazenby. It pains me to admit it, but he wasn't too shabby. Other than a few poorly written lines of dialogue and some terrible dubbing for the "Sir Hilary Voice", Lazenby himself really did a fine job. Scenes like the fight with Draco's thug in the hotel room, the confrontation at the Christmas Tree with Blofeld, and even the sappy barn scene stood out to me as solid representations of Lazenby's 00-potential. He's still my least favorite Bond actor by default, but hey, he's getting somewhere!
I surprised myself a great deal today as I wrapped up OHMSS. I wouldn't be so bold as to claim it'll stay in this raised position, but I wouldn't be so foolish as to say that it'll ever hit rock bottom again either!
2014/2015 Winter/Spring Bondathon
1. From Russia with Love
2. Tomorrow Never Dies
3. Goldfinger
4. For Your Eyes Only
5. Diamonds Are Forever
6. The Man with the Golden Gun
7. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
8. Thunderball
9. The Living Daylights
10. Live and Let Die
11. The Spy Who Loved Me
12. You Only Live Twice
You are starting to grow up, young lad, that's what's happening! ;)
No, seriously though... I struggled to like OHMSS in my teens as well. Now it's one of my favourites. These things can change over time. And that is what makes the world of Bond so rich and appealing!