Goldfinger

_**Iconic 60’s Bond film**_ Released in 1964 (or January, 1965, in the USA), "Goldfinger" was the third Bond film in three years. This was the film that pushed 007 over-the-top and is rightly considered a classic. It's very iconic of mid-60's cinema -- the title song, the gold-painted woman, Oddjob's deadly hat and the breaking into Fort Knox. The next two films in the series are just as great and IMHO better -- "Thunderball" (1965) and "You Only Live Twice" (1967). "Thunderball" made more at the box office than any other Bond flick from the Connery era and "You Only Live Twice" upped the ante with the action & spy stuff and is just all-around entertaining. Yet "Goldfinger" continues to be the Bond film that's most highly regarded of the 60s and this should be respected. But don't expect the wall-to-wall action that was introduced with "You Only Live Twice" and remains to this day. Yes, "Goldfinger" has some quality action sequences, but less than what you'd typically get from a 007 flick post-"Thunderball.” In fact, one clash in the film is a simple game of golf between James and Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe). An earlier scene involves Bond forcing Goldfinger to lose a card game. This doesn't make "Goldfinger" bad, of course, just different. "A View to a Kill" (1985) is notable for the same reason. Other positives include a fairly long sequence in the magnificent Swiss Alps, where it was shot, and quality Bond women like Shirley Eaton (the ‘golden girl’) and brief appearances by Margaret Nolan (Dink) and Nadja Regin (Bonita); Honor Blackman is cool as Pussy Galore, but she never tripped my trigger. Despite all the good, there are some negatives. For instance, the gas fly-over by Pussy Galore's girls and the falling-over of the troops comes off lame. There's also a little too much "down time" in the second half that's not all that interesting. Nevertheless, "Goldfinger" is a James Bond classic, full of iconic imagery and scenes. When it was released it was extraordinary, but it may now strike some viewers as tame or even lame in ways. Regardless, it's definitely a worthy Bond flick and has its unique charm. The film runs 1 hour, 50 minutes, and was shot in Miami Beach, Florida; England; Switzerland; and Kentucky. GRADE: A-

Yeah... I'm solidly in the "From Russia With Love is the greatest Bond Movie" camp. And if there was ever a point of contest in the Bond franchise, it's not really who the best Bond was (Roger or Sean) it's which is the best Bond film, From Russia with Love or Goldfinger. Goldfinger isn't the best... It's the SECOND BEST. What it is is the most unique. And it's the most fun. Bond sort of Pooches it in this one and still manages to Forrest Gump his way to victory, and you haven't seen that in any 007 movie since. This is the movie about a mission that SHOULD have been in the lose category. At the time of this release, by the end of the movie Bond's record should have been 2 and 1... only he still manages to claim victory. And he kind of does it through no fault of his own. Sure, the final battle he comes out on top, but all the events that come before it go horribly wrong, he should have died, Goldfinger should have won, and the only reason he didn't was because of the cunning of other people who are NOT James Bond. I know, it sounds like I'm ripping into it, but really, seriously, I'm not. All of that is what makes it such a loveable and memorable and unique Bond film, one like you have never seen before and probably never will again. The only other one that comes remotely close to it is Skyfall, and even then Bond isn't as bumbling as he is in Goldfinger... and of course it's Sean Connery, so he's still dapper, still suave as he sort of stumbles to victory. It is all probably why this is so hotly contested as the Best 007 film among die hard 007 fans, the pure uniqueness of this particular outing, the fact that you will never see Bond in such a light again. The fact that ONLY Connery can pull off a suave and confident almost failure in a way that makes you think he's anything BUT a failure despite nothing going his way. And then, of course, it is absolutely fun. It is absolutely entertaining. And those are two reasons why people watch movies.

I have a special affinity for this 007 film. I was born in Louisville in 1956, and I actually have vague recollections of much of the scenery. That scenery didn't last long. Louisville is an ever changing city in scenery. The story seems to be more of a story of 007 against one man, Goldfinger, but there is a connection to the Specter group, and to all the mobs in the U.S.. The tragedy of Jill Masterson is something 007 wants to avenge, because she helped him and was killed by Odd Job, Goldfinger's insane top man. While Goldfinger is labeled as insane, Odd Job is twice as insane. He's totally kill crazy. I read this book, and the alterations are fairly minor in my opinion. The biggest alteration is the alteration of anti heroine Pussy Galore and Jill Masterson's sister Tilly. Goldfinger wants to pull a "job" on Fort Knox, Kentucky. This is a very fun film, and I don't think there is any lull in it for more than a few seconds. as usual, Bond shows great humanity. Some say he's cold, but I differ. In almost every movie, he has great affection for humanity and for human life. He kills people who are trying to take away human life. I rank this as about the fourth greatest Bond film, but that's because I was born in Louisville, where much of this is set, and much of it takes place in Fort Knox.