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It certainly gives you a new slant
This forced quip from The Man with the Golden Gun is Bond’s response to discovering MI6’s partially sunken ship headquarters in Hong Kong. Despite the hand-waving explanation that the slanted offices are “quite practical” due to real estate costs, there’s nothing remotely practical or plausible about the setup. The concept… Read More →
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Character Spotlight: Christopher Lee as Francisco Scaramanga
Francisco Scaramanga stands among the most iconic villains of the James Bond movies, and Christopher Lee’s performance in The Man With The Golden Gun ranks comfortably among the finest antagonist portrayals the series has ever seen. Lee brings an unmistakable authority to the role, anchored by his commanding, resonant voice… Read More →
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Who signed off on the scorpion CGI?!
I mostly enjoyed Skyfall, but one of my least favorite scenes is Bond’s scorpion drinking game at the bar. The intent is clear enough: Bond’s steady hand is back as he calmly holds a drink while a scorpion crawls over it, signaling his return to form. The problem is that… Read More →
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Most curious product placement? Tabasco hot sauce
Few instances of product placement in the Bond series are as oddly memorable as Tabasco hot sauce. It appears in both The Man with the Golden Gun and The Spy Who Loved Me, each time in the hands of the movie’s villain. Nick Nack dutifully presents it at Scaramanga’s request,… Read More →
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If you win tonight, she will lose
Bond is directly threatened with this line in 1954’s Casino Royale in one of the most effective moments, despite the movie’s many shortcomings. While the movie mostly feels disjointed and Barry Nelson’s portrayal of Bond can come across a bit stiff, this phone call is a bright spot. Occurring just… Read More →
Filed Under: Casino Royale (1954) -
Dr. No exhibits unique Bond movie confidence
As the inaugural entry in the franchise, Dr. No carries a level of confidence unmatched by any other James Bond movie. Much of this assurance stems from Sean Connery’s effortlessly authoritative debut, but it’s also a product of the filmmakers’ freedom to define Bond from the ground up, unburdened by… Read More →
Filed Under: Dr. No