Goldfinger

Despite all of its blatant sexism and exaggerated set-ups, GOLDFINGER is one of the best of the James Bond films, portraying him as a playful but fallible agent. At the beginning of the film he’s skirting between walls and bars, among foreign agents and floozies, arriving nonchalantly (if ever that word was to be used… it’s to describe James Bond) as a bomb he set up earlier explodes. Next scene, he’s spying on Goldfinger, a fat greasy villain at a resort, leading up to the iconic image of the woman painted gold, lying face down dead on his bed. But what is refreshing about this Bond film is the grandiose and crazy plans of the villain Goldfinger, revealed in a lengthy, and, if analyzed, wanton presentation, and the ease with which Bond is defeated in physical battle. What’s offputting and weird about modern Bond films is the insane abilites of Bond, who, then, eventually loses a fight. How does such a guy then lose? But because Connery’s Bond is illustrated as immediately fragile, his struggles are believable. But there’s fun to be had in great shots in color, crazy car chases, and the smoothness of Bond’s charm.

★★★★★/5