As the title says, I do not care much for 007 Goldfinger. It’s not awful, better than like Thunderball, but it’s a very strange film. It’s got this weird car crusher scene, James does like nothing in the third act, and he’s a freakin creep. I mean, more than usual. He gets so freaking lucky, again, more than usual. I do like Goldfinger as a villian, and Oddjob is pretty cool. But I just think this movie has a very weird tone and at the same time, is kind of bland.

Bonus opinion: I really like On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The tone and atmosphere are top notch, and I really like George Lazenby as James.

  • cuboc@lemmy.worldEnglish
    20·
    7 days ago

    I would like to post an actual unpopular opinion: the James Bond franchise died along with the cold war, both because the Enemy ™ disapeeared and because it got turned into a very loud commercial for whoever had the money (seriously? James Bond drinking fucking Heineken?).

    For the time being, I have no opinion on whether I agree with OP.

    • trslim@pawb.socialOPEnglish
      8·
      7 days ago

      I still remember that shaver product placement in 007 Nightfire PS2 and I was always confused as a kid why I had a shaver in my gadgets.

      • hendrik@palaver.p3x.deEnglish
        6·
        7 days ago

        Also crazy how early they started with product placement and this isn’t just a modern thing. According to the internet even Goldfinger had a nice long list of product placements: Aston Martin, Aviation Traders Caviar, Bentley, Dunlop, Harris Equipment, KFC, Lotus, Mustang, Rolex, Sunoco, Rolls Royce, Slazenger, Smith & Wesson.

        Edit: And I wonder whether Mercedes pays any money for all villains in old movies always driving German cars…

        • trslim@pawb.socialOPEnglish
          3·
          7 days ago

          Well, I guess to be fair to James Bond, the films were kind of about how cool James is, and all the cool, fancy stuff that he gets as a secret agent. I tended to like the more grounded movies, at least so far, with OHMSS and FRWL as my two favorites so far.

          • hendrik@palaver.p3x.deEnglish
            4·
            7 days ago

            Yes, those are very good ones. For example OHMSS checks all the boxes. THE villain everyone remembers with a nice cat. A pursuit on Ski in the Alps. Lots of James Bond moments, tragedy…

            I’m not really sure whether I have any clear favorites. Most of them have nice and memorable moments. Fascinating (real-world) locations or good subplots even if the main plot isn’t packed with suspense.

            Idk, I think I share your perspective on Goldfinger. Though Oddball is awesome and Gert Fröbe’s acting is outstanding. Or maybe that’s just me because he’s kind of German culture an appeared in a lot of iconic villain roles in old movies like Edgar Wallace, The Robber Hotzenplotz and whatever.

          • Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafeEnglish
            3·
            7 days ago

            One does not watch Bond to be “grounded”.

            If you want “grounded” spying, read “Iron Spy” by Ethan Quinn, or John Fahey’s autobiographical books “Kremlin Capers” and “Passage Prohibited:Behind the Iron Curtain”. Real spies don’t announce it to the world.

            Fahey was a real Cold-War spy. Brilliant man, with a calm demeanor while under pressure. He just passed away in 2024, I think.

    • ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      4·
      7 days ago

      Goldeneye proved this. M calling Bond a dinosaur, a relic of the cold war, was so self aware and apt to set the movie off. And I think that was the ‘last’ Bond that ‘worked’ for thebreason you described.

      • DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.socialEnglish
        3·
        6 days ago

        And that setting is also what made The Man From UNCLE work, including the unlikely alliance against the remnants of the Nazis…

        Better times.

      • accideath@feddit.orgEnglish
        3·
        7 days ago

        Goldeneye is definitely one of the best.
        But I do like casino royale and skyfall a lot. They work, in my opinion, because they tell much more personal stories and have less classic spy-action.

        • ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          2·
          7 days ago

          I don’t think I have seen Skyfall, but I remember watching Casino Royale and thinking ‘Why did this have to be James Bond though?’ It felt like a liability more than anything.

          • accideath@feddit.orgEnglish
            3·
            7 days ago

            I mean, I agree, that the story would also work within a different franchise but Craig-Bond still works well, imo. At least in Casino Royale and Skyfall.