Goldfinger (Guy Hamilton, 1964) Review

Controversal Bond review number 1 (watch that number shoot up in this coming month)! That's right, I have a much different opinion of this film than everyone else. Goldfinger is considered by many to be the definitive Bond film and is the only one featured in the book 1001 Film to see before you die. I beg to differ. I'm going to show you a much different opinion of this supposed 'Best Bond ever'. LET'S DO THIS THING!

For the first time ever, Bond (Sean Connery) must face an indepented villain not funded by Blofeld (should have really mentioned that last time): Auric Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe). Goldfinger wants to eradicate the gold supply stored deep in Fort Knox so that gold will be more limited and therefore increase the value of the gold he currently has. Bond must stop Goldfinger and his henchman Oddjob (Harold Sakata) and try to win over Goldfinger's sexy pilot Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman).

When it comes to parodies, THIS is the one everyone seems to pick on. The Simpsons episode 'You Only Move Twice' had a character loosly based on classic Bond villians (played by Albert Brooks) and even captured Bond in the iconic laser trap. Hell, even Toy Story 2 had Mr. Potato Head throw his hat in the same way Oddjob does. Actually, that right there might be why it's so loved: it's the most iconic. Oddjob's deadly hat is memorable and so is the laser trap that is probably the closest Bond has come to death. Also, Pussy Galore (and her somewhat controversal name) would go down as one of the most iconic Bond girls.

Right, you've heard enough praise, time for the deconstruction. When a film starts with Bond wearing a seagull on his head as a disguse, I think you lose all credibilty. Goldfinger is quite a one dimensional villain ("I'm doing it for the money" is basically his aim) and is easily outmatched by upcoming villains. Oddjob is great, I'll leave him alone but the other people Bond encounters aren't anything special. The Masterson sisters seem irellevent as they are quickly replaced with Pussy Galore (who can come off as bland) and Q's gadgets...I can't even remember.

Goldfinger is in no way a bad film, it's just an incredibly overrated one. Yes, things such as Oddjob and the gold paint suffication are great but the rest is so bland and forgettable that it just doesn't hold up to previous ones. I actually think it looks worse than From Russia With Love. Well, how much hate do you predict I'll get? At any rate, I think the next Bond film is Thunderba-......Oh god...

Verdict:
6/10
A overrated film. There are some great things here but sadly falls short of the expectancy after From Russia With Love.