The Man with the Golden Gun [1974]

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
The British spy with a licence to kill takes on his dark underworld double, a classy assassin who kills with golden bullets at £1 million a hit. Roger Moore, in his second outing as James Bond, meets Christopher Lee's Scaramanga, one of the most magnetic villains in the entire series, in this entertaining but rather wan entry in the 007 sweepstakes. Bond's globetrotting search takes him to Hong Kong, Bangkok, and finally China, where Scaramanga turns his island retreat into a twisted theme park for a deadly game of wits between the gunmen, moderated by Scaramanga's diminutive man Friday Nick Nack (Fantasy Island's Hervé Villechaize). Britt Ekland does her best as an embarrassingly inept Bond girl, a clumsy, dim agent named Mary Goodnight who looks fetching in a bikini, while Maud Adams is Scaramanga's tough but haunted lover and assistant. Clifton James, the redneck sheriff from Live and Let Die, makes an ill-advised appearance as a racist tourist. He briefly teams up with 007 in what is otherwise the film's highlight, a high-energy chase through the crowded streets of Bangkok that climaxes with a breathtaking mid-air corkscrew jump. Bond and company are let down by a lazy script, but Moore balances the overplayed humour with a steely performance and Lee's charm and enthusiasm makes Scaramanga a cool, deadly, and thoroughly enchanting adversary. --Sean Axmaker, Amazon.com

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Customer reviews

review by: brendoclarke date: 2008-11-07 rating:
Are you dumb?
This wretched 007 movie continued its downhill slide with Roger Moore in the leading role. Eyebrow Moore sleepwalks through the proceedings, which gives Christopher Lee carte blanche in terms of scene stealing. The film starts promisingly, then plummets to absurd depths.
Diamonds are forever is bad but this is nonsense.

Brendan Clarke (not really a Bond Fan).
1/10

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review by: s.vernon date: 2007-05-27 rating:
DEFINITELY UNDERRATED
This film is often derided as one of the worst Bond films. Also some critics' points have merit. There is some ridiculous humour in this and the ending seems tacked on, ridiculous and unnecessary. Just because there are three weak points in the film that doesn't make it as bad a people say. The acting is top notch for a Bond film. Roger Moore convinces you that he is James Bond in his second Bond film, if you were not already convinced by Live And Let Die there is some stellar action scenes. The action scenes are involving, they're not aimless and uninspired. Not to mention that they are EXTREMELY well done, some of the most entertaining action sequences in any action movie.

Scaramanga, played by Christopher Lee, is quite possibly the best Bond villain. That the acting for the character is amazing goes without saying, it's Christopher Lee we're talking about. He's sinister, sadistic and doesn't have a massive plan of world domination. In a way this is the most private of Bond films. In the end it comes down to Bond vs. Scaramanga. Scaramanga to me was the darker side of Bond. Christopher Lee is probably the most evil villain, even without the domination plan.

Nick Nack, the midget henchman is unique. Some people find it over the top, but his humour in the film is quite creepy and understated. He adds to the uneasiness of this movie and that makes it so good.

But there are some weak points: The Sheriff from Live And Let Die returns unnecessarily and his humour hurts the story. There is an awkward point where Bond is being attacked by a sumo wrestler and he grips the wrestler's bum in a close up shot and it just seems a little weird. I also think the ending is tacked on and ridiculous, it just comes out of nowhere and is a little to slapstick for me.

But overall, those few low points don't distract too terribly, and while its not the absolute best of the Bond films, its really good and terribly underrated.

Thank you for reading my review.

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review by: date: 2005-05-29 rating:
It would be good if it was a bit less boring or silly.
This would be a good film if it wasn't for the boring bits and bad jokes. Roger Moore is a bit wooden, but less so than the others. The villain is cool with an amazing weapon, and he causes some violent and bloody scenes. His henchman, Nick Nack, is comical, and not quite villainous enough. His 'surprise' appearance was totally predictable as it happens at the end of every film. There is a lack of action, and Mary Goodnight is the worst female in the series. Scaramanga is quite sinister and the funhouse scenes are good, but otherwise this is one of the least memorable Bond films.

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review by: date: 2005-05-21 rating:
So speak or forever hold your piece...
Roger Moore steps back in as James Bond after a most highly successful debut made in Ian Fleming's Live and Let Die. Critics argue that the main mistake with this film is that the producers were trying to make Moore in Connery's image. I agree, but Moore does a great job either way. His suave and humourous charm add to the fun of the film. A very good buy. The special features are most informative with regard to how the film was made.


review by: C.G. date: 2005-02-07 rating:
The best Bond actor starring in one of the best Bond films!
The suave super cool Roger Moore returns for a second outing as James Bond in what has to be one of the best bond films in the series. The film has all the right ingredients: the best actor portraying Bond, glamourous girls, a great villian (also one of the best in the series), fantastic locations and a script which keeps you on the edge of your seat!!! What more could you ask for?

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Diamonds Are Forever [1971]

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Similar categories

Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Action & Adventure . All Action & Adventure
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Action & Adventure . Heroes & Heroines
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Action & Adventure . James Bond
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Crime, Thrillers & Mystery . All Crime, Thrillers & Mystery
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . DVD
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . BBFC Rating (intended_use_browse-bin) . PG
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Editions (feature_two_browse-bin) . Standard Edition
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Region(feature_browse-bin) . Region 2
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Release Date (feature_three_browse-bin) . 1970 - 1979
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Language (theme_browse-bin) . English

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