Goldeneye
Goldeneye
Directed by Martin Campbell
I love James Bond, you love James Bond (yes you do), we all love James Bond. The gadgets, the women, the iconic action set pieces. One of the longest running franchises, and showing no signs of slowing down. So just in time for "James Bond Day" comes the spectacular 4K remaster of 1995's GOLDENEYE.
Serving as the kickoff for Pierce Brosnan's run as Agent 007, GOLDENEYE firmly keeps the usual Bond tropes in check. That's no surprise, as I've seen this flick a dozen times on TV as a kid. What I didn't remember is the very subtle occasional moments of self awareness. There's also a couple brief instances of recognizing the sort of ancient ways of MI6, plot points that would become much bigger and deeper once Daniel Craig takes over as Bond.
This is a very fun, sometimes genuinely funny (oh they got jokes) spy caper. The plot is something about the GOLDENEYE (take a shot) satellite being stolen and used as a massive EMP bomb. Famke Janssen plays the evil and outrageously sexy Xenia Onatopp, who crushes men to death with her powerful thighs. My dawg Joe Don Baker shows up later as the loud fat American ally to Bond, and I really miss that character actor. One of the best to do it! It's also so fun seeing a young (and fabulous) Alan Cumming as a smarmy computer tech.
What about Pierce? Girl what can I say about him that you haven't said or thought before. Incredibly handsome with charming charisma oozing out of him. That's a given for Bond, but Pierce also brings a subtle edge amidst the quips and explosions. This is a man that deliberately keeps it cold and distant. For England!
There's something almost quaint about the whole thing. Action blockbusters, even Bond himself, has changed so much in the 3 decades since GOLDENEYE. There's a reason this is often in the same conversation with the Best of Bond. Director Martin Campbell did such a good job they brought him back to introduce Daniel Craig's Bond in 2006's masterful CASINO ROYALE.
James Bond 007 is still here, but things will be different. Amazon/Jeff BOZO now own the rights fully and while I have faith in the filmmakers it's only a matter of time before it's turned into some sort of streaming slop. So enjoy what we have now, shaken not stirred.
☆☆☆1/2 out of 4
