Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
a classic bond movie, 29 Nov 2006
ok we know this is not the greatest of the series. moore is not as 'cool' as connery, nick nack is crazy and it can be far fetched in places. BUT it is an enjoyable film. It just feels like bond. Moore is my second favourite (Sorry daniel didnt quite displace him) he is funny, charming, whitty even though he wears those shirts! its about a 7.5/10 for me. Buy and enjoy
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
1974 Entry , 8 Jul 2007
Following the success of Live And Let Die in 1973, which had introduced Roger Moore as James Bond, the next Bond film was quickly entered into production, emerging just a year after the previous film had hit the cinemas. Although the series finally had a new Bond for the 1970s, who was accepted by the public in the same way as Sean Connery had been in the previous decade, the stability of James Bond was under threat. Man With The Golden Gun was made under difficult circumstances, with producers Albert R Broccoli and Harry Saltzman now barely on speaking terms, this was apparently related to Saltzman's interests outside of the Bond films. There is no doubt that the Man With The Golden Gun, was affected by the on going backstage disputes. Indeed Broccoli once claimed that if he could alter any aspect of the Bond films, he would re film segments of Golden Gun. Despite sometimes being mooted as the worst Bond film however, Man With The Golden Gun is certainly superior to Moonraker and the worst entry in the series, Die Another Day.
As with Live and Let Die, and for only the third time in the series history, Bond does not feature in the pre title sequence. Early film From Russia With Love also did not feature James Bond in the opening sequence, but rather a Spectre agent disguised as the agent. Instead the sequence introduces Scaramanga, who on his Island near China, is preparing for a duel against a gangster Rodney played by Marc Lawrence and possibly the same character as the one played by Lawrence in Diamonds Are Forever.
Scaramanga win the duel, using his famous golden gun, although as his midget servant Nik Nack comments, Rodney was a good opponent. James Bond meanwhile receives a golden bullet with his name on it, suggesting that Scaramanga is out to kill him. Bond is sent to investigate this. The energy crisis that occurred during the time that Golden Gun was made is also referred to in the film, and it becomes a part of the plotline.
Despite its premise, Golden Gun, is one of the lighter entries in the series, although Moore is probably at his toughest here. There is a sequence in which Bond hits Scaramanga's girlfriend and it does not feel right. Although Connery's Bond could get away with such an action, it does not sit Moore's lighter portrayal.
Christopher Lee as Scaramanga, a role originally offered to Jack Palance, is probably the best villain in the series. Bringing to the role, charm, sophistication and a steel ruthlessness that is always there just under the surface, Scaramanga is as often said, the dark side of James Bond. His duel with Bond is the highlight of the film. Although another key sequence is the famous car roll, in which Bond drives a car on to a broken bridge and then performs a 360 roll across a river to get it to the other side, during a pursuit of Scaramanga. Following the success of Live And Let Die in 1973, which had introduced Roger Moore as James Bond, the next Bond film was quickly entered into production, emerging just a year after the previous film had hit the cinemas. Although the series finally had a new Bond for the 1970s, who was accepted by the public in the same way as Sean Connery had been in the previous decade, the stability of James Bond was under threat. Man With The Golden Gun was made under difficult circumstances, with producers Albert R Broccoli and Harry Saltzman now barely on speaking terms, this was apparently related to Saltzman's interests outside of the Bond films. There is no doubt that the Man With The Golden Gun, was affected by the on going backstage disputes. Indeed Broccoli once claimed that if he could alter any aspect of the Bond films, he would re film segments of Golden Gun. Despite sometimes being mooted as the worst Bond film however, Man With The Golden Gun is certainly superior to Moonraker and the worst entry in the series, Die Another Day.
Alongside Moore, director Guy Hamilton returned to the helm for the last time. In addition Q is back, having been much missed in Live And Let Die, and the stereotypical Southern Sheriff JW Pepper also makes a return having left New Orleans for a holiday in Thailand. In one of the most silly sequences in the entire series, Pepper decides whilst on holiday to test drive the incredible dull Hornet car, only for Bond to get in and promptly drive it through a window. The sequence is only made bearable by the car chase that follows and the incredible stunt mentioned above.
The film has a relatively small cast, with Scaramanga having only his henchman and one technician on his island, alongside his mistress played by Maud Adams. Adams is very good in her role, it is apparent why she was later asked back for the title character in Octopussy. In comparison, Britt Eckland is less successful as Mary Goodnight, playing a somewhat irritating and unlikely secret agent.
The title song is one of the weakest and certainly campest Bond songs and the score is not John Barry's best, something the composer has acknowledged. The energy crisis gives the film a somewhat dated feel as well, and the Hornet car that Bond drives does not quite rival the classic DB5, although it comes very close. Only joking here.
Despite the misgivings Man With The Golden Gun still has some memorable sequences and this DVD features some great extras, such as a documentary on the film and a new commentary by Roger Moore himself.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Drastically Underrated Bond Film!, 31 Mar 2007
The Man With The Golden Gun for me is an excellent Bond film and one of the best ever made.It comes as a big surprise to me that a lot of Bond fans do not rate this film. Although it is a little cheesy in places,( e.g. the JW Pepper scenes ) it has really stood up well over the years.
James Bond ( Roger Moore,who again plays the part well )is assigned to recover the Solex Agitator device, a device that can convert radiation from the sun into electricity. Early in the film there are indications that Bond has been marked for death by the notorious assasin Fransisco Scaramanga but both men have been used by pawns by Scaramanga's mistress Andrea Anders who hopes Bond will kill her lover, thus freeing her from virtual captivity. Bond is assigned to work with beautiful but bumbling MI6 agent Mary Goodnight to recover the agitator, which has fallen into Scaramanga's possession.
Like all of the early Bond films and the latest, ( Casino Royale ) The Man With The Golden Gun is full of classic scenes that everyone remembers, e.g. the enjoyable pre credit sequence, the car stunt over the bridge, the funny scenes at the Martial Arts school, the boat chase and of coarse, the final showdown with Bond and Scaramanga. Although Mary Goodnight is an all around irritation for most of the film, TMWTGG has some well written characters in Scaramanga and his little friend Nick Nak, who are both played excellently by Christopher Lee and Herve Villchehaize, two of the most memorable Bond villains.
All in all, a great film packed with excellent special features at a really low price.Well recommended for any Bond fan or film lover!
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