Goldfinger

Is "Goldfinger" not the influential James Bond flick? Peter Bracke stated in his review, "As venerable a character and a franchise as 007 is, he was probably never as much in touch with the cultural zeitgeist as he was with this, his third big-screen adventure. James Bond in 1964 was not just a fad, or a predestined blockbuster, or a marketing phenomenon -- he was the very touchstone of all that was hip and now in pop culture. 'Goldfinger' took the elements that had begun to form with his first two film adaptations ('Dr. No' and 'From Russia with Love') and finally synergized them into the template upon which all future James Bond installments would be judged." The opening scene, the brilliant Maurice Binder titles, the theme song, the stunts, the gadgets, a great villain..."Goldfinger" got everything pitched perfect. Put in Sean Connery, who is still considered the best actor to have portrayed Bond, and you have an amazing spy movie. 

The story in the James Bond movies are now so conventional that you can easily forget that they were at first fresh, inventive, and conflicting to the stale, fixed conventions of previous spy movies. The story of "Goldfinger" is, obviously, familiar to everyone, even those who have never seen a 007 movie. There's the classic Bond villain, played by Gert Frobe, and his typically outrageous plan to take over the world (something that involves blowing up Fort Knox – quite believable, really, when looking at future Bond plans). There's his memorable right-hand-man, Oddjob, played by Harold Sakata, who knows how to use his bowler hat as a weapon. The usual assembly of top-notch Bond girls, particularly one covered completely in gold (Shirley Eaton), and Honor Blackman as the perfectly-named Pussy Galore. Bracke mentioned, "And the stunts and the gadgets, including an exciting car chase with Bond's Aston Martin (still the best Bond vehicle in the entire series), some tightly-choreographed hand-to-hand fights, and a very memorable scene with a laser beam pointed at a certain part of Bond's anatomy." 

At last there is Sean Connery. I agree with Bracke when he said, "As much as I enjoy Roger Moore's wry humor, Pierce Brosnan's unflappable cool and Daniel Craig's brute physicality, Connery still remains the ultimate James Bond." He's rough, handsome, stylish, a famous misogynist, and so gosh darn arrogant he's impossibly likable. Bracke mentioned, "Connery in 1963 defined not only Bond, but the very definition of what an English gent was supposed to be and know -- an appreciation for fine food, great booze, impeccably dressed with his own tailor, and absolutely correct in how to present himself with a snobby air yet the touch of the common man. The fact that he worked as what is essentially an assassin for Queen and country only enshrined his vices as virtues." 

Bracke goes on to say, "If there is one thing that 'Goldfinger' has more than any other Bond, and that no other Bond will ever be able to match again, is sociopolitical relevance. It's not only the freshness and vigor in which the filmmakers attack Ian Fleming's greatest novel, nor the smug, brash charisma of Connery, that keep 'Goldfinger' so smart and sharp." "Goldfinger" must have been released during the right place and time – a spy just right for the Cold War environment, whose intimate politics were revolutionary and dependent on technology was ground-breaking. At a time when the new actor to play Bond like Daniel Craig looks like he is following the coolest heroes of his present-day characters (like Jason Bourne) rather than leaving them far behind, "Goldfinger" shows everyone the time when James Bond set the standards rather than following others. Bracke admitted, "I'm glad 007 is still with us, but James Bond will never be hipper or cooler than he is in 'Goldfinger.'" 

"Goldfinger" is not just classic Sean Connery as Bond, it may be the influential spy movie ever – it's a classic that the entire genre is based on. As you can probably tell, the Connery Bond movies just seem to be getting better or just as good. None of them seem to have disappoint fans, and you will see that once you see the movie for yourselves. You will love this one if you have seen the other Bond movies with Connery as Bond. Definitely do not skip this one because it is one of the best. 

Stay tuned tomorrow for more excitement in "James Bond Month."