GoldenEye

Rating:
Summary: One of the best Bond films ever
Review: This is Pierce Brosnan's first Bond film (Brosnan as Bond had been many many years in the works, but that's another story) and he proves to be probably the best suited actor for the role since Sean Connery. Pierce Brosnan's take on Bond is exactly the reason why the franchise was resurrected. It had been dying a slow, agonizing death since Roger Moore began taking it in that disgustingly campy direction and Timothy Dalton eventually just killed it altogether. Brosnan, however, captures the suave attitude, the manner of carrying himself, the action sequences and the dialogue more the real James Bond that everyone always thought of but never actually translated onto the screen. Truly, the only bad part about Brosnan as Bond is that by the time all the scheduling problems between him and MGM were worked out he is too old to do more than a few films.

Goldeneye itself now is also one of the best stories told in any of the films. This is more on par with Goldfinger and Thunderball quality, which means there is actually some substance to go along with the great action. It has the perfect Bond girl in Natasha (best since Solitare) and the perfect Bond villian in Xenia (on par with Oddjob anyday). Sean Bean does a masterful job as 006 and is one of the best villians Bond has ever come up against. Besides special effects and action sequences that no Bond film before this was able to create, it actually has real depth to the story. This is a Bond film that will not disappoint any Bond fan and will generate many new ones. It raises the bar on what action films must be made of and forces improvements on the stale Bond empire. Great movie!

Rating:
Summary: all that glitters is not golden...
Review: How they could take sexy Sean Bean put him in a Bond flick as 006 and have a boring movie, I have no idea. But they did. It's not that back, but the film is just so forgettable. I have watched this several times, giving it every chance.

It's still forgettable.

Rating:
Summary: Not just for Bond fans...
Review: I am not a huge fan of the Bond films (I normally watch them only if I'm in need of a huge laugh) but I decided to watch this particular movie because I am the world's biggest Sean Bean fan. I was not disappointed in ANY way. I grew up watching Pierce Brosnan as Remingon Steele and I have to say he does a really credible job as James Bond. In my mind, of course, he is overshadowed by Sean Bean's skillful portrayal of a villian with an actual reason for being so dastardly (gasp!). Goldeneye really came through on the plot, action, and character development I don't usually expect in this franchise. If you enjoy action movies in general, not just Bond movies, you should enjoy Goldeneye's fast pace, great effects, and really great scenery (wink, wink).

Rating:
Summary: Best in years
Review: After years of drought, the 007 Machine finally presented a great story and believable actors in "Goldeneye." This is the best script since "Live and Let Die." Brosnan has his best role since he became famous in the "Remington Steele" TV series, and is light years better than Roger Moore, who portrayed Bond as a souped-up clown. In the last 20 years, the Bond series could be subtitled "Where's the Plot?" "Goldeneye," at long last, has a believable plot and well-written script.

Unfortunately, subsequent Brosnan-as-Bond films have sunken into the Moore-Is-Less Bond style: Silly plot, horrible script, ridiculous characters. Don't they know how Mike Meyers came up with his spy spoofs? The producers ought to examine the old Connery films to rediscover real class and excellent all-around production. One can only hope that they will once again realize that a great plot and script--and solid casts--are essential to good movie-making.

Rating:
Summary: An almost flawless victory.
Review: In many ways, GoldenEye is like the Aston Martin featured in the most recent Bond flick, Die Another Day. It's sleek, it's fast, it's smart, and it's easy on the eyes. And GoldenEye, if I'm going to stick to the car joke, definitely fires on all cylinders.

From the moment Martin Campbell's addition to the James Bond franchise begins to the moment it ends, it's nothing short of superb. The cast is arguably the strongest ever to grace a single Bond film. Pierce Brosnan proves himself to be the best 007 since Sean Connery, and then some. Brosnan looks (though some people say he's too skinny in his debut; he beefs up in the later movies), and sounds like Bond, and radiates that Bond charm devilishly. Sean Bean flat-out rocks as the main villain. Bean, who just seems to be the most under-rated actor of all time, lights up the screen with menace and wonderfully understated charm. Judi Dench, though originally controversial as M, proves herself to be one of the best things to ever happen to the franchise. Her scenes with Brosnan are worth whatever you pay to see this. Robbie Coltrane is hilarious and wonderful in his supporting role, as is Alan Cumming. Izabella Scorupco is handed something of an anemic role as the "good" Bond girl, but she makes the very best of it she can. Famke Jansen is given the more fun "bad" Bond girl role, and she's electric, and definitely "Onatopp" of things. The supporting cast is massive, but fortunately, all impress.

There was much debating as to whether 007 would survive the end of the Cold War and the 90s as a whole. I think the better question is, "Would we survive without Bond?" This film's script is excellent, with some fantastic Bond-liners in addition to just great verbal sparring; dialogue is top-notch throughout. Marin Campbell definitely places an emphasis on action in this flick, and as a result, GoldenEye STILL remains probably the most impressive of all 007 films in terms of kinetics. From the opening dive off the dam (a stunt that still gives me goosebumps each time I see it) to the tank in St. Petersberg to the Brosnan and Bean showdown at the end, this film punches, shoots, and explodes with precision and grace. Few action movies ever manage to create as much excitement as this film does, and fewer still have scripts as sharp as this one. Oh, and to boot, Tina Turner's performance of the title song, and the title sequence itself, remain the best of all 20 James Bond pictures.

The film does falter in two areas. First, Eric Serra's music. While his score is a fine, almost tech-noirish, composition, it's not for a Bond film. The classic themes are missed sorely throughout this entire film, with the exception of the tank chase (which Serra didn't score, incidently). Second, the film lacks a real great car chase. There's a interestingly little teaser in Monte Carlo, the great tank chase, but no gadget loaded chase, which proves disappointing.

"No limits. No fears. No substitute." You'll find that written on GoldenEye's movie poster, and it couldn't be a truer statement. This is the trancendental Bond film, the one to which all others must be compared. From moment the movie begins with the before mentioned jaw-dropping dam jump, one thing is obvious: Bond is back, and back with a vengeance. This flick is limitless in its action and wit. This film is fearless in its stunts and story. And there really is no substitute for 007.

Rating:
Summary: The defining 007 classic
Review:
'Goldeneye' is one of the best James Bond films ever made, a film that really brought the 007 series into the 1990s and revitalised it from the struggling genre that it had become in the 80s to the blockbuster success it was in the 90s and still is today.

The story is an interesting one, and at first we see a mission into Russia go horribly wrong, leaving 006 dead and with 007(Bond) just managing to escape.

From there, the story jumps ahead nine years and we see Bond on the trail of the mysterious criminal syndicate Janus. What Bond discovers during his investigations is a deadly stranger from his past, a man who betrayed Queen and country, 006 (Alec Trevelyan).

From there, Bond pursues Trevelyan through the streets of Russia in an armoured tank, and from there to Cuba, where the deadly plan of Trevelyan is exposed, and the final confrontation between 007 and 006.

The film is simply brilliant, with an engaging story and actors that bring fresh faces and a new spin to the usual Bond characters (except for Q, who is his usual charming self). Pierce Brosnan sinks into the role of 007 effortlessly, he simply IS Bond.

Judi Dench also brings a new twist to the role of M, and it is her character that voices some of the political changes that have swept the world since the end of the Cold War. The scene between M and Bond in M's office is simply electric, probably the best I've ever seen between Brosnan and Dench.

But in my opinion, the actor that really shines in 'Goldeneye' is Sean Bean. As usual, he plays a conflicted antagonist, the bad guy who isn't totally evil, and he does it with real style. His character, unlike other Bond villians, represents a very personal enemy to Bond, a trusted colleague who turned his back on everything that Bond lives to protect, Queen and Country, making the confrontations all the more interesting. In my opinion, the last scene between Bond and Trevelyan is one of the best finales I have ever seen in a 007 film, brilliant writing, fantastic acting, all put together with some beautiful camerawork.

On a more practical note, I must express my sadness that the 'Goldeneye' DVD is no longer available, at least not in Region 4. It was not on the market for very long, and now every shop and website reports the same thing, 'no longer available'. If MGM want to build up the 007 franchise, particularly with a new Bond on the way, then putting 'Goldeneye' back on the market would certainly help.

I recommend the film to all moviegoers, whether Bond fans or not, it is a thoroughly enjoyable movie that can be enjoyed by the whole family.



Rating:
Summary: Good movie GREAT femme fatale
Review: Goldeneye is one of those films that you know, from the first second, is going to please. It is an almost perfect movie from the awesome beginning to the slow unraveling of the plot to the love interest(the Russian) to the woman villianess (Xenia Onatopp - LOVE THAT NAME and what an entrance!!!!). On top of that we get Judi Dench as the new "M" and what a great bit of casting that was! Exciting, beautiful, sexy - the return of the spy himself.