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James Bond - The Man With The Golden Gun (Ultimate Edition 2 Disc Set) [1974]


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a far-from vintage outing, and the only modestly-mounted 70s BOND.
Review date: 2008-09-10 Rating: 4 out of 10

late summer, 1973: 'CUBBY' BROCCOLLI dines eloquently in London's WEST END, enjoying an exquisite menu; in his full-dinner jacket tuxedo, he resembles a LATINO, aging BOND. CUBBY is satisfied as he tots up the worldwide box-office reciepts to 'LIVE AND LET DIE'; it has been a deserved hit with global cinema audiences, and 'CUBBERS' [along with 'partner-in-crime' HARRY SALTZMAN] have successfully steered the once-ailing BOND series back to world-beating status, securing further cinematic mayhem in the same profitable mould.......


------it's a total mystery, then, exactly why BROCCERS and SALTZMAN made a concious decision to scale back the epic scope of the previous winner, and to pare back production values in this next, more modestly-mounted entry. Gone are the extended, exhillerating chase sequences of 'LIVE and let DIE', the elaborate setpieces with large casting, and put in place are less-than-impressive adequate scenarios, representing a definate step backwards from the impressive hyperdynamics of MOORE'S debut opener.

MOORES' BOND is, at this early stage, a reserved, restrained cut-out character, given only to outlandish, absurdist quips, perfectly in keeping in what was required from the character in the sour-edged mid-70s, and an improvement on the ridiculous, preening cypher his character was to regress to come the 'gilt-edged' 1980s.

CHRISTOPHER LEE cuts a suitably sinister dash as the ludicrously 3-nippled SCARAMANGA, with LEE breezingly strolling through the modest [by BOND standards] events in the way only he can. The central GUN in question is assembled from various cosmetic elements, and is no more impressive than a routine 'MAN from U.N.C.L.E.'episode from 1968: however, the exotic location scenes on LEE'S private island [as he demonstrates the power of his solar laser-like destruction blaster] are enjoyable in their tropical eloquence.

BRITT EKLAND decorates the later reels in obligatory bikini [perfectly acceptable in 1974] and one 'genuinely' sci-fi element [a flying car] works well in the take-off scenes, but loses credibility in the mismatched process shots featuring BRITT viewing her sky-high status as she views her whereabouts from the car boot.

All in all, there is not nearly enough spectacle or gripping diversion to satisfy the casual cinema-goer, let alone the die-hard BOND fan, who had cheered the dynamic direction the series had aspired to in the previous outing. WHY BROCCOLLI failed to pull out all stops, and deliver a movie that equalled -----or even better, had topped-----the thrilling escapades of 'DIE' is uncharacteristic of his knowing, hard-nosed business acumen, and it is no co-incidence that the next BOND outing would be more carefully, lavishly executed: ------emerging a full 3 YEARS later.



Also contains an interminably appalling cameo appearance from the squealing redneck 'SGT PEPPER', and a less-than-memorable theme tune belted out at high octave from larynx-busting LULU, which is no better or worse than typical contemporary pop fluff that featured in the UK music charts of 1974.

------hopefully, the series would improve, immeasurably: see later, chronological review.

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Reviews


The Man With The Golden Gun - A Review
Review date: 2007-11-21 Rating: 10 out of 10

Good Bond film following in the saim vain of 'Live and Let Die'. Bond is being traked down by $1,000,000 a hit assasin, Fransisco Scaramanga played brilliantly by Christopher Lee. I don't see why so many people don't like this Bond film. Top Marks.

The era of the silly Bonds begins in earnest...
Review date: 2007-09-25 Rating: 6 out of 10

How did a movie with so many great ideas and locations become so tired in execution? This really was a movie where the ingredients seemed perfectly aligned to create a great movie. Genius casting made Ian Fleming's own cousin, Christopher Lee, play the titular nemesis for Bond. Locations included Hong Kong and Phuket - before it was `discovered', possibly one of the most breathtaking locations in the Bond series. The key crew members are back - John Barry doing the score, sets by Peter Lamont, who worked under the great Ken Adams, Guy Hamilton (director of Live and Let Die and Goldfinger) and even Sherrif J W Pepper making a return for comic relief purposes. And then the eye-popping stunt - the car doing the corkscrew in the air over the river... genius.
However, in execution, the whole thing just seems... well, pedestrian, in delivery. John Barry delivers one of his weakest scores, Sheriff JW Pepper raises more groans than laughs when taken out of the context of the bayous in Louisiana, and Britt Ekland is just plain goofy as Mary Goodnight, Bond's assistant. How do the Secret Service ever get anything done in the Moore era when his supposed assistants are so stupid he has his closest brush with death in the movie because Britt Ekland manages to get her behind pushing buttons by accident...? Much more than in Live and Let Die, Moore lets the side down when it comes to the action scenes - he looks great skulking around corners, but when it comes to running or throwing a punch, he just looks too lanky and unwieldy to be a killer... no amount of acting could make it otherwise. Is it really a plus to say that the best thing in the movie is some of the highly original set designs, such as M's mobile office in the lopsided Queen Mary, and Nick-Nack's fun house killing ground?
Christopher Lee as Scaramanga plays the role as if this was a good movie, straight to the hilt, probably relishing the escape from Dracula typecasting, and Maud Adams has the only decent women's role in the movie.. her acting proving so effective they brought her back as the title character in Octopussy years later. Yes, it's the movie that bucks the rule of thumb, that a good Bond villain makes a good Bond movie..
The final act of the movie as Bond penetrates Scaramanga's lair is pretty preposterous, even as Bond movies go ... after a well executed (no pun intended) sequence in which Bond kills his man, the blowing up of the lair is so contrived as to be embarrassing, especially since the whole darn complex only has one henchman to kill... and it's Goodnight who does that, not Bond.
Great baddie then, and great sets and locations.. but weak plot and lacklustre direction, make this bottom of the pile of Moore Bond outings, along with Moonraker. Rather like one of Scaramangas golden bullets, this movie turns out to be dum-dum.
Rather paradoxically, the Ultimate Edition has excelled itself in its presentation of the movie. Immaculate picture brings out the best of the scenery and detail, and the surround sound has been perfectly mixed, with voices and effects well balanced with just enough surround effects in the dts mix to add to the atmosphere without distracting from proceedings.
For extras, as well as everything in the Special Edition being present, there is an abundance of curiosities here - a whole new commentary from Sir Roger Moore, vintage chat show interview with Moore and Villechaize, chats with the director, outtakes from the girls doing their carefully choreographed karate moves and a vintage featurette on the signature car stunt, as well as a few other small items.
It's a ** movie, elevated to *** for Christopher Lee and the Thai scenery. In the extras department, it's 5 * all the way....


1974 Entry
Review date: 2007-07-08 Rating: 8 out of 10

Following the success of Live And Let Die in 1973, which had introduced Roger Moore as James Bond, the next Bond film was quickly entered into production, emerging just a year after the previous film had hit the cinemas. Although the series finally had a new Bond for the 1970s, who was accepted by the public in the same way as Sean Connery had been in the previous decade, the stability of James Bond was under threat. Man With The Golden Gun was made under difficult circumstances, with producers Albert R Broccoli and Harry Saltzman now barely on speaking terms, this was apparently related to Saltzman's interests outside of the Bond films. There is no doubt that the Man With The Golden Gun, was affected by the on going backstage disputes. Indeed Broccoli once claimed that if he could alter any aspect of the Bond films, he would re film segments of Golden Gun. Despite sometimes being mooted as the worst Bond film however, Man With The Golden Gun is certainly superior to Moonraker and the worst entry in the series, Die Another Day.
As with Live and Let Die, and for only the third time in the series history, Bond does not feature in the pre title sequence. Early film From Russia With Love also did not feature James Bond in the opening sequence, but rather a Spectre agent disguised as the agent. Instead the sequence introduces Scaramanga, who on his Island near China, is preparing for a duel against a gangster Rodney played by Marc Lawrence and possibly the same character as the one played by Lawrence in Diamonds Are Forever.
Scaramanga win the duel, using his famous golden gun, although as his midget servant Nik Nack comments, Rodney was a good opponent. James Bond meanwhile receives a golden bullet with his name on it, suggesting that Scaramanga is out to kill him. Bond is sent to investigate this. The energy crisis that occurred during the time that Golden Gun was made is also referred to in the film, and it becomes a part of the plotline.
Despite its premise, Golden Gun, is one of the lighter entries in the series, although Moore is probably at his toughest here. There is a sequence in which Bond hits Scaramanga's girlfriend and it does not feel right. Although Connery's Bond could get away with such an action, it does not sit Moore's lighter portrayal.
Christopher Lee as Scaramanga, a role originally offered to Jack Palance, is probably the best villain in the series. Bringing to the role, charm, sophistication and a steel ruthlessness that is always there just under the surface, Scaramanga is as often said, the dark side of James Bond. His duel with Bond is the highlight of the film. Although another key sequence is the famous car roll, in which Bond drives a car on to a broken bridge and then performs a 360 roll across a river to get it to the other side, during a pursuit of Scaramanga. Following the success of Live And Let Die in 1973, which had introduced Roger Moore as James Bond, the next Bond film was quickly entered into production, emerging just a year after the previous film had hit the cinemas. Although the series finally had a new Bond for the 1970s, who was accepted by the public in the same way as Sean Connery had been in the previous decade, the stability of James Bond was under threat. Man With The Golden Gun was made under difficult circumstances, with producers Albert R Broccoli and Harry Saltzman now barely on speaking terms, this was apparently related to Saltzman's interests outside of the Bond films. There is no doubt that the Man With The Golden Gun, was affected by the on going backstage disputes. Indeed Broccoli once claimed that if he could alter any aspect of the Bond films, he would re film segments of Golden Gun. Despite sometimes being mooted as the worst Bond film however, Man With The Golden Gun is certainly superior to Moonraker and the worst entry in the series, Die Another Day.
Alongside Moore, director Guy Hamilton returned to the helm for the last time. In addition Q is back, having been much missed in Live And Let Die, and the stereotypical Southern Sheriff JW Pepper also makes a return having left New Orleans for a holiday in Thailand. In one of the most silly sequences in the entire series, Pepper decides whilst on holiday to test drive the incredible dull Hornet car, only for Bond to get in and promptly drive it through a window. The sequence is only made bearable by the car chase that follows and the incredible stunt mentioned above.
The film has a relatively small cast, with Scaramanga having only his henchman and one technician on his island, alongside his mistress played by Maud Adams. Adams is very good in her role, it is apparent why she was later asked back for the title character in Octopussy. In comparison, Britt Eckland is less successful as Mary Goodnight, playing a somewhat irritating and unlikely secret agent.
The title song is one of the weakest and certainly campest Bond songs and the score is not John Barry's best, something the composer has acknowledged. The energy crisis gives the film a somewhat dated feel as well, and the Hornet car that Bond drives does not quite rival the classic DB5, although it comes very close. Only joking here.
Despite the misgivings Man With The Golden Gun still has some memorable sequences and this DVD features some great extras, such as a documentary on the film and a new commentary by Roger Moore himself.

A Drastically Underrated Bond Film!
Review date: 2007-04-01 Rating: 10 out of 10

The Man With The Golden Gun for me is an excellent Bond film and one of the best ever made.It comes as a big surprise to me that a lot of Bond fans do not rate this film. Although it is a little cheesy in places,( e.g. the JW Pepper scenes ) it has really stood up well over the years.
James Bond ( Roger Moore,who again plays the part well )is assigned to recover the Solex Agitator device, a device that can convert radiation from the sun into electricity. Early in the film there are indications that Bond has been marked for death by the notorious assasin Fransisco Scaramanga but both men have been used by pawns by Scaramanga's mistress Andrea Anders who hopes Bond will kill her lover, thus freeing her from virtual captivity. Bond is assigned to work with beautiful but bumbling MI6 agent Mary Goodnight to recover the agitator, which has fallen into Scaramanga's possession.
Like all of the early Bond films and the latest, ( Casino Royale ) The Man With The Golden Gun is full of classic scenes that everyone remembers, e.g. the enjoyable pre credit sequence, the car stunt over the bridge, the funny scenes at the Martial Arts school, the boat chase and of coarse, the final showdown with Bond and Scaramanga. Although Mary Goodnight is an all around irritation for most of the film, TMWTGG has some well written characters in Scaramanga and his little friend Nick Nak, who are both played excellently by Christopher Lee and Herve Villchehaize, two of the most memorable Bond villains.
All in all, a great film packed with excellent special features at a really low price.Well recommended for any Bond fan or film lover!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Roger Moore
Clifton James
Maud Adams
Britt Ekland
Christopher Lee

Creators:
Roger Moore (Primary Contributor)
Christopher Lee (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Mgm Home Ent. (Europe) Ltd.
Manufacturer: Mgm Home Ent. (Europe) Ltd.
EAN: 5035822134492
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: Box set, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2006-07-17
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 119 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1974
Language: Greek (Subtitled)
Language: Dutch (Subtitled)
Language: Norwegian (Subtitled)
Language: Finnish (Subtitled)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Danish (Subtitled)
Language: Swedish (Subtitled)
Language: Hindi (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)

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