Review of The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) by Stuart K — 19 Nov 2009

He 9th James Bond film, Roger Moore's second and adapted from Ian Fleming's final Bond book. The humour is increased, even if Moore's Bond does seem a bit moody and savage at time, closer to Connery's Bond.

But, the films saving grace is one of the best Bond villians of them all. James Bond (Moore) is sent a bullet with 007 engraved into it from Scaramanga (Christopher Lee), a ruthless hitman who charges $1 million a hit, and he uses a novel device, a Golden Gun, made from a pen, a cigarette lighter and a cufflink, plus he uses golden bullets.

This mission takes Bond to Macau, where Scaramanga's golden bullets are made, to Hong Kong, where Scaramanga steals a Solex Agitator, used for harnessing solar energy, Bond follows him to Thailand and to his home in the South China Sea, along with Mary Goodnight, (Britt Ekland).

The film is trying to cash in on the recent craze of kung-fu films coming out at the time, it's a flawed film, with plotholes galore. It feels rushed and the camp overtones were a warning things to come from Bond.

But, it's still fun while it lasts...