Funny how I love this film but don't care much for DAF, even though both were directed by Guy Hamilton.
Then again, Connery's performances in each of those films were very different.
He was a god in GF, and a mere mortal in DAF.
Plus I love Auric Goldfinger and Oddjob, but don't like Grey's Blofeld nor do I care much for Wint & Kitt.
And I like Pussy Galore and the Masterson sisters, but despise Tiffany Case and Plenty O' Toole.
So yeah, it's easy to see why I like one film much more than the other, despite the fact that the same guy directed them.
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
Funny how I love this film but don't care much for DAF, even though both were directed by Guy Hamilton. Then again, Connery's performances in each of those films were very different. He was a god in GF, and a mere mortal in DAF. Plus I love Auric Goldfinger and Oddjob, but don't like Grey's Blofeld nor do I care much for Wint & Kitt. And I like Pussy Galore and the Masterson sisters, but despise Tiffany Case and Plenty O' Toole. So yeah, it's easy to see why I like one film much more than the other, despite the fact that the same guy directed them.
Kinda shows what director he is then and what other influences might have been there to put together a great film.
Didn't want to start a thread for this question and knew they'd be a
"Pros and Cons" thread.
Given that Connery never set foot in America filming Goldfinger, last
Night I watched it again and for the first time, I thought. Where did they
Film Goldfinger's Kentucky ranch ? Was that a purpose built set or was
there an American style farm in the south of England ?
Funny how you can watch a film hundreds of times before something
strikes you ! )
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Given that Connery never set foot in America filming Goldfinger, last
Night I watched it again and for the first time, I thought. Where did they
Film Goldfinger's Kentucky ranch ? Was that a purpose built set or was
there an American style farm in the south of England ?
I believe it was a Ken Adam set, built near Pinewood, IIRC.
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
- PTS
- Connery still looks great, nice haircut
- Pussy Galore is very sexy
- Auric Goldfinger is a classic villain, well acted by Gert Frobe even with dubbing
- Plot is interesting and different
- Ken Adam's sets are great, especially depository - wow
- Oddjob is cool
- Switzerland is beautiful
- Golf scenes, meeting of Pussy are done very well
- Laser scene is tense, well shot, Laser looks impressive - well acted by Connery
- Connery's hilarious towelling jump-suit
- Title song - iconic
- "Classic" elements of the film - decent PTS, larger than life villain, henchman etc.
- The way SC says "Pussy"
- Improvement on soundtrack from FRWL
Cons:
- Becomes boring after meeting Pussy, very boring
- "Explain the plot" is dragged out for far too long
- Goons are cliched, humour is out of place (even though "What's with that trick pool table" makes me laugh)
- Goldfinger gets away on the plane to encounter Bond again! Stupid!
- Gassing scenes are
- Overuse of sets in some scenes are obvious, too much green screen at times - particularly in Miami
- Clearly no body in Lincoln that gets crushed
- Dodgy plane model
- "Beetles without earmuffs" is a very strange line - is Bond a granddad?
- American locations are dull
- Bond doesn't really do much at all after the fights in the woods - adds to how it becomes boring
Observations:
Is that Honey Ryder's dubbed voice, the hotel lady in FRWL turning up again to dub the girl in the PTS?
Major differences between Guy Hamilton and Terence Young, less sophisticated.
BluRay:
Not as amazing looking as DN and FRWL, seems as if the filming generally in GF is not as well done, duller locations may have something to do with this. Still good though.
Overall:
I love elements of GF, but over-time am finding myself enjoying the film less and less. It seems to be dating and it isn't re-watching well - I find myself getting bored. Still, it is the classic Bond and I understand and can appreciate its place in the series.
Funny how GF hasn't aged well with you, oh well, we all experience Bond differently.
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
The first part is simply brilliant - PTS, theme song, Miami, Golf game, Switzerland and on plane to US. The backgroud score when Oddjob captures 007 and TM is awesome.
The US parts may appear slow now but it has its moments. We also learn how clever GF is. Once 007 reaches Fort Knox, movie picks up again.
Overall, this is an amazing film which looks brilliant on BR.
Ok so I've just watched Goldfinger, and have forgotten how good a film it is.
Interesting point in the film that it's the first time another 00 is mention not once but twice, and thats 008.
The only plot question mark is why does Bond make Tilly run from the safety of a bullet proof car, with a metal rear protective screen, into the woods where Oddjob throws his hat. Surely she would have been safer to stay with Bond just doesn't make sense to me.
The first Bond movie I ever saw in a double header at the cinema with Thunderball in 1966, those two films are the reason i became a James Bond fan.
The first part is simply brilliant - PTS, theme song, Miami, Golf game, Switzerland and on plane to US. The backgroud score when Oddjob captures 007 and TM is awesome.
The US parts may appear slow now but it has its moments. We also learn how clever GF is. Once 007 reaches Fort Knox, movie picks up again.
Overall, this is an amazing film which looks brilliant on BR.
I like it a lot, but it really does sag. Also Bond is pretty much incarcerated for much of the film and has little impact on the outcome
Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
The first part is simply brilliant - PTS, theme song, Miami, Golf game, Switzerland and on plane to US. The backgroud score when Oddjob captures 007 and TM is awesome.
The US parts may appear slow now but it has its moments. We also learn how clever GF is. Once 007 reaches Fort Knox, movie picks up again.
Overall, this is an amazing film which looks brilliant on BR.
I like it a lot, but it really does sag. Also Bond is pretty much incarcerated for much of the film and has little impact on the outcome
Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
It's a true classic, and quite well redone from the book. Loved the road trip scenes, but then I loved that section of the book, bond checking engine oil?!
It may sag a little, but bond being held prisoner works better for the film than bond becoming goldfingers secretary and taking notes as in the book.
I will say, as a female, is lovely to see Bond pursue a lady who was age appropriate *maybe even older SHOCKER* than him.
Agreed - helps that the chemistry between Blackman/Connery was golden too. The only tarnish is the forcing and lesbian sub-plot - but hey, it's an old movie.
- Becomes boring after meeting Pussy, very boring
- American locations are dull
- Bond doesn't really do much at all after the fights in the woods - adds to how it becomes boring
I love elements of GF, but over-time am finding myself enjoying the film less and less. It seems to be dating and it isn't re-watching well - I find myself getting bored. Still, it is the classic Bond and I understand and can appreciate its place in the series.
I feel very much the same way about GF, especially Bond's lack of real involvement in the story and how much everything drags after they get to Kentucky. Once Bond is taken prisoner the film loses all of its momentum.
I hesitate to call it "dated" because I do not agree with the concept that films "age," but it is certainly one of the most overrated films in the franchise.
Pros:
.Connery looks like he's having fun.
.Gert Frobe.
.Oddjob.
.Pussy Galore.
.Score and theme song.
.PTS is iconic.
.Everything from the gunbarrel to Pussy's intro is fantastic.
.The DB5.
.One of my favorite M scenes.
.The crushed car is stupid but hilarious.
."Are you having lunch at the WH too?".
.The fact that Hamilton says you're not supposed to take it seriously makes it easer to ignore the ridiculousness.
Cons:
.The back projection during the Miami scenes. I know Connery wasn't available but it looks lazy.
.Finale is a little silly.
.The second half isn't as good as the first. Its still entertaining so i cant complain too much.
9.5/10 -{ . While not as great as the Young films, it's hard not to like this movie.
because of two of the changes from the novel, Tilly actually has no function in the plot
in the book:
1. Jill is murdered after Bond leaves her, Tilly is the one to tell Bond what happened. If filmed that way, the murder would have happened offscreen. The filmmakers rightly saw the cinematic potential of painting a girl all in gold, thus there is nothing for her sister to tell when she finally meets Bond
2. she is in the story all the way til Fort Knox, and would appear to be the primary Bondgirl of the adventure until Pussy Galore is introduced, much later than in the movie. The filmmakers chose to introduce Pussy much earlier, and give her many more scenes, again correctly (especially since she was being played by TV star Honor Blackman). Also Tilly was a lesbian too and both females were more interested in each other than either was in Bond. The filmmakers chose to leave that aspect out altogether, the cowards.
so that means all that was left for her to do in the film was the iconic race across the alps, great visuals, iconic Bond moment, but adds nothing to the plot. Fleming himself repeated a near identical scene in OHMSS (he liked women who could drive crazy sportscars, Domino is also a crazy driver in her book), so even that scene did not need to be in the Goldfinger film.
A golden Bond film for sure, but just not as much in my opinion.
Pro's:
* Connery's epic performance
* The first half of the movie - just pure gold right throughout, especially in Switzerland
* The introduction of the Aston Martin DB5
* Goldfinger and Odd Job's performances
* The amazing car chase in the dead of dark
* A hell of a great build up
* Honour Blackman's performance
* The entire plot to times Goldfinger's gold value by x10
* The score by John Barry shines yet again
* The golf scene in the UK - very suspenseful and funny at times
Cons:
* As someone above mentioned, it wasn't as good as the previous two films directed by Terrence Young
* Bond has no real ally throughout. This is tough considering he had heaps in the previous films, and here it really feels like he's on his own. Leiter doesn't count as he is not even with Bond most of the time
* The second half of the film can be very slow, and at one or two moments a little boring
* Bad plot holes that I couldn't understand - Goldfinger gassing the room *after having explained his plan
* Goldfinger's death on a plane
* I felt like Bond and Galore didn't have much chemistry as the previous films
* Tilly Masterson. Really bad personality and bad character, at least compared with her amazing sister
* The car chase was great, but the fact that Bond did not escape scott free was a letdown, compared with future car scenes
I would give it a 7/10. I would put Dr No ahead, and From Russia With Love as the 'perfect' Connery film.
I think it's there for US, the audience, not everyone has read the book and it helps to set up in the mind.
What this gas will do to the thousands of men, women and children living near by. ?
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Comments
Then again, Connery's performances in each of those films were very different.
He was a god in GF, and a mere mortal in DAF.
Plus I love Auric Goldfinger and Oddjob, but don't like Grey's Blofeld nor do I care much for Wint & Kitt.
And I like Pussy Galore and the Masterson sisters, but despise Tiffany Case and Plenty O' Toole.
So yeah, it's easy to see why I like one film much more than the other, despite the fact that the same guy directed them.
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
Kinda shows what director he is then and what other influences might have been there to put together a great film.
"Better make that two."
"Pros and Cons" thread.
Given that Connery never set foot in America filming Goldfinger, last
Night I watched it again and for the first time, I thought. Where did they
Film Goldfinger's Kentucky ranch ? Was that a purpose built set or was
there an American style farm in the south of England ?
Funny how you can watch a film hundreds of times before something
strikes you !
I believe it was a Ken Adam set, built near Pinewood, IIRC.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
The man with a Midas touch!
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
Pros:
- PTS
- Connery still looks great, nice haircut
- Pussy Galore is very sexy
- Auric Goldfinger is a classic villain, well acted by Gert Frobe even with dubbing
- Plot is interesting and different
- Ken Adam's sets are great, especially depository - wow
- Oddjob is cool
- Switzerland is beautiful
- Golf scenes, meeting of Pussy are done very well
- Laser scene is tense, well shot, Laser looks impressive - well acted by Connery
- Connery's hilarious towelling jump-suit
- Title song - iconic
- "Classic" elements of the film - decent PTS, larger than life villain, henchman etc.
- The way SC says "Pussy"
- Improvement on soundtrack from FRWL
Cons:
- Becomes boring after meeting Pussy, very boring
- "Explain the plot" is dragged out for far too long
- Goons are cliched, humour is out of place (even though "What's with that trick pool table" makes me laugh)
- Goldfinger gets away on the plane to encounter Bond again! Stupid!
- Gassing scenes are
- Overuse of sets in some scenes are obvious, too much green screen at times - particularly in Miami
- Clearly no body in Lincoln that gets crushed
- Dodgy plane model
- "Beetles without earmuffs" is a very strange line - is Bond a granddad?
- American locations are dull
- Bond doesn't really do much at all after the fights in the woods - adds to how it becomes boring
Observations:
Is that Honey Ryder's dubbed voice, the hotel lady in FRWL turning up again to dub the girl in the PTS?
Major differences between Guy Hamilton and Terence Young, less sophisticated.
BluRay:
Not as amazing looking as DN and FRWL, seems as if the filming generally in GF is not as well done, duller locations may have something to do with this. Still good though.
Overall:
I love elements of GF, but over-time am finding myself enjoying the film less and less. It seems to be dating and it isn't re-watching well - I find myself getting bored. Still, it is the classic Bond and I understand and can appreciate its place in the series.
"Better make that two."
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
The US parts may appear slow now but it has its moments. We also learn how clever GF is. Once 007 reaches Fort Knox, movie picks up again.
Overall, this is an amazing film which looks brilliant on BR.
and as you say, it looks fantastic on Bluray.
The BR has the special feature "On tour with the Aston Martin DB5" which is interesting as well {[]
Interesting point in the film that it's the first time another 00 is mention not once but twice, and thats 008.
The only plot question mark is why does Bond make Tilly run from the safety of a bullet proof car, with a metal rear protective screen, into the woods where Oddjob throws his hat. Surely she would have been safer to stay with Bond just doesn't make sense to me.
The first Bond movie I ever saw in a double header at the cinema with Thunderball in 1966, those two films are the reason i became a James Bond fan.
"Do you expect me to talk? "No Mister Bond I expect you to die"
I like it a lot, but it really does sag. Also Bond is pretty much incarcerated for much of the film and has little impact on the outcome
I like it a lot, but it really does sag. Also Bond is pretty much incarcerated for much of the film and has little impact on the outcome
It may sag a little, but bond being held prisoner works better for the film than bond becoming goldfingers secretary and taking notes as in the book.
Agreed - helps that the chemistry between Blackman/Connery was golden too. The only tarnish is the forcing and lesbian sub-plot - but hey, it's an old movie.
"Better make that two."
I hesitate to call it "dated" because I do not agree with the concept that films "age," but it is certainly one of the most overrated films in the franchise.
Bond: Pierce Brosnan Villain: Hugo Drax Girl: Pam Bouvier
Pros:
.Connery looks like he's having fun.
.Gert Frobe.
.Oddjob.
.Pussy Galore.
.Score and theme song.
.PTS is iconic.
.Everything from the gunbarrel to Pussy's intro is fantastic.
.The DB5.
.One of my favorite M scenes.
.The crushed car is stupid but hilarious.
."Are you having lunch at the WH too?".
.The fact that Hamilton says you're not supposed to take it seriously makes it easer to ignore the ridiculousness.
Cons:
.The back projection during the Miami scenes. I know Connery wasn't available but it looks lazy.
.Finale is a little silly.
.The second half isn't as good as the first. Its still entertaining so i cant complain too much.
9.5/10 -{ . While not as great as the Young films, it's hard not to like this movie.
Her sister Jill was quite likeable. But Tilly was just rather plain and forgetful.
in the book:
1. Jill is murdered after Bond leaves her, Tilly is the one to tell Bond what happened. If filmed that way, the murder would have happened offscreen. The filmmakers rightly saw the cinematic potential of painting a girl all in gold, thus there is nothing for her sister to tell when she finally meets Bond
2. she is in the story all the way til Fort Knox, and would appear to be the primary Bondgirl of the adventure until Pussy Galore is introduced, much later than in the movie. The filmmakers chose to introduce Pussy much earlier, and give her many more scenes, again correctly (especially since she was being played by TV star Honor Blackman). Also Tilly was a lesbian too and both females were more interested in each other than either was in Bond. The filmmakers chose to leave that aspect out altogether, the cowards.
so that means all that was left for her to do in the film was the iconic race across the alps, great visuals, iconic Bond moment, but adds nothing to the plot. Fleming himself repeated a near identical scene in OHMSS (he liked women who could drive crazy sportscars, Domino is also a crazy driver in her book), so even that scene did not need to be in the Goldfinger film.
Pro's:
* Connery's epic performance
* The first half of the movie - just pure gold right throughout, especially in Switzerland
* The introduction of the Aston Martin DB5
* Goldfinger and Odd Job's performances
* The amazing car chase in the dead of dark
* A hell of a great build up
* Honour Blackman's performance
* The entire plot to times Goldfinger's gold value by x10
* The score by John Barry shines yet again
* The golf scene in the UK - very suspenseful and funny at times
Cons:
* As someone above mentioned, it wasn't as good as the previous two films directed by Terrence Young
* Bond has no real ally throughout. This is tough considering he had heaps in the previous films, and here it really feels like he's on his own. Leiter doesn't count as he is not even with Bond most of the time
* The second half of the film can be very slow, and at one or two moments a little boring
* Bad plot holes that I couldn't understand - Goldfinger gassing the room *after having explained his plan
* Goldfinger's death on a plane
* I felt like Bond and Galore didn't have much chemistry as the previous films
* Tilly Masterson. Really bad personality and bad character, at least compared with her amazing sister
* The car chase was great, but the fact that Bond did not escape scott free was a letdown, compared with future car scenes
I would give it a 7/10. I would put Dr No ahead, and From Russia With Love as the 'perfect' Connery film.
1. Dalton 2. Moore 3. Connery 4. Lazenby 5. Craig 6. Brosnan
Then we wouldn't have heard "Hey! What's with that trick pool table!?"
"Better make that two."
1. Dalton 2. Moore 3. Connery 4. Lazenby 5. Craig 6. Brosnan
What this gas will do to the thousands of men, women and children living near by. ?