Review of The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) by Jason N — 15 May 2011

Okay, of you had to try to get non-Bond fans to like James Bond movies, then please< God, do not have them sit through this one. LOL. While I like this one to a certain extent, it doesn't stack up to From Russia With Love and For Your Eyes Only.

The humor is not bad, the performances aren't horrible, and the villain isn't very threatening. I mean, it seems like a low key adventure with it's under the top pacing and, um, what was I talking about? Oh, yeah.

I remember now. This Bond movie just feels lax, and doesn't feel heavy like some of the others. This might be a good thing to prevent critics from branding these movies as being the same all the time, but this one seems like a random episode of Star Trek where nothing important happens, but is then followed up by one to 8 really good episodes.

Who knew that the next Bond film would be spectacular? This one gives no hints of the brilliance that would follow in the next one. The Man With The Golden gun is just there to be there. This a filler film that sorta meanders just like my review.

I mean, it's no-big-deal plot is just that. Who cares if some guy from a Hammer film has a Solex thing that can harness solar energy just so he can power a damned laser cannon? I mean, Goldfinger had one of those in a game room at a horse ranch years before this one.

It's kinda coincidental that both films have an auric theme, too. I just didn't feel the threat of Christopher Lee (Ian Fleming's cousin, btw) harnessing solar power to be that big of a deal.

Like, what was he gonna do with that power? Shoot his laser beams 30 yards away? Whoa, big threat to a planet that's about a gagillion miles in circumference! But whatever, TMWTGG is not a total loss.

The best part of this one was the corkscrew jump featuring an AMC Javelin. This incredible stunt is what helps me through a viewing of this flick. I liked the car chase, too; but the jump is really thrilling.

I haven't seen anything like it since, and feel that the fact that people risked their lives to do such a crazy assed stunt makes it all the better. Other than that, the J.W. Pepper scenes were silly, but good.

I would be a moron if I didn't mention Britt Ekland and Maud Adams as pluses, and Tattoo was amusing and annoying at the same time. I know that I really haven't sold everybody on this movie, but there's not too much else to say when there's not much happening here.

Just sit back, and enjoy the scenery, the jokes, the corkscrew jump, the Karate school (Is that Karate that they do?), the boat chase isn't bad (even though we already saw one in the last film), and the part where Bond throws six Russian soldiers into a swimming pool full of piranhas is excellent.

Check it out if you're completist, or if you just want to see a lesser know Bond film. I was kidding about the piranha thing, but I made ya look, didn't I?