|
Why It's # 6
Yeah, I know that not a lot of people really like this movie. In fact, I would say that based on what I've heard said about it, that many Bond fans actually hate it. But I can't understand why. For the first time, we have a real match for Bond. Every other villain before Scaramanga was some rich megalomaniac bent on world domination with thousands upon thousands of henchmen and swanky hideouts. Here, we have a simple man who makes his living by killing people. It's not just magically there. In order to prosper, Scaramanga knows he has to kill for money. He makes parallels between his livlihood and that of Bond's, which isn't too much of a stretch, really.
One of the major complaints that people have about this movie is that we are lead to believe that Bond is Scaramanga's next target but the realization that the bullet 007 recieves with his number in it was sent as an SOS by Scaramanga's mistress is a letdown. Well, while this does have some merit, by the time BOnd realizes that Scaramanga isn't after him, well he pretty much does become a target because by then he knows way too much and has gotten too close to the killer. Secondly, I sbumit, why does every villain have to be after Bond? After all, he is a secret agent and it should be the other way around. Something else people have complained rather heavily (and retardedly) about is the slidewhistle that sounds whn Bond performs a loop over a severed bridge to get across. Seriously... that's what I keep reading in the list of complaints about this movie. Uhm... yeah and these tend to be the same people who bought the giant killer satellite in space.
There are plenty of good things about this movie. Christopher Lee, who is distantly related to Ian Fleming and who was mentioned for the role of Dr. No way back when, is great as the bad guy who acts sort of like an anti-Bond. Scaramanga is just as witty and cultured as 007, and their both great womanizers who kill people for a living. Moreso, each has his own weapon of choice: Bond with his ppk and Scaramanga with his trusty golden gun made of a cigarette box, a ligheter, a pen and a cuff link... now that's classy. They're so similar that it's fun to watch the scenes where they go back and forth. But the film does have a few problems. For instance, why was Tattoo...er Nick Nack in this? I mean how does an assassin ally himself with a midget? There's not a clever sob story behind him, being left behind by the circus because he wasn't grotesque enough for the children to throw pennies at. One day, Scaramanga might have spotted him alone in the woods without a friend and saw a bit of himself in the lowly stunted prankster. Nope, none of that. Instead, we learn that he keeps house for Scaramanga while he's out and helps him in his rather lame training missions. Oh well. Then there's Mary Goodnight, who at first seems like she's going to be cool. I mean she's another agent, she's also on the case, she doesn't rush into the sack with Bond... until she does... thrity whole seconds later! What the heck is up with that? Then she goes from being an independant woman of the 70's to a brainless moron who can't do anything right. If only they had snipped her out, this thing could have been so much better.
But I can appreciate some of the funnier moments here, such as Bond's dirty style of fighting. Kicking a guy when he's bowing, that's classic. Oh yeah, and don't forget the scene at the end where Mary Goodnight is holding up a blanket making it look like she's undressed underneath only to release it at the shock of what Bond may have done with Nick Nack to reveal she's wearing a nightgown... weird. I won't even mention JW Pepper's cameo in this. Apparently, he was really popular (enough to deserve a second appearance).
Face it, all Moore films are silly, so you can't evade that aspect of it, save for For Your Eyes Only, but kind of slows down in the underwater scenes and lacks a memorable menace. MWGG has a great villain, an engaging storyline and just the right amount of silliness to keep you going throughout.
| Pre Titles Sequence |
In a disapointing opening sequence, we see Scaramanga hunt this weird mafioso in hs circus lair. Who is he? What was his business there? Where's Bond? |
| Credits Sequence |
Not good and not bad. it does seem a bit out of place as Binder had originally planned to set the naked chicks to a slow ballad, but the title theme got changed at the last minute. Mediocrity will have to do. |
| Bond Song |
This thing alone saves the credit sequence and acts as bait to get through the opening scene. One of the most catchy bond themes ever, The Man with the Golden Gun is just amazing. Once you have it in your head, there really is no way of getting it out. Sung by Lulu and countless viewers of the film, MWGG makes good use of the bond theme, atypical instruments, and a good description of Scaramanga. One of the best. |
|
Bond Gadgets/ Cars |
Goodnight: Somebody locked me in a boot?!!
M: Bond...Bond, are you there? ... Goodnight...?
Bond: She's just coming, Sir!
M: ...Goodnight...? Goodnight...? ...GOODNIGHT!
Bond: Good night, Sir!
Lazar: Mr. Bond, bullets do not kill, it is the finger that pulls the trigger.
Bond: Exactly....I'm now aiming precisely at your groin. So speak or forever hold your peace | This is a somewhat gadget free movie. There's hardly any help from Q, except for the prosthetic third nipple he creates (don't ask). Theres a cool chase involving a car that transforms into a plane- but that belongs to Scaramanga. And I've already described his gun... man this guy gets all the cool toys. |
