The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

User Review

• 

  Barneyonmovies

  5 / 10

  WHAT I LIKED: The best thing about 'The Man With the Golden Gun,' is its villain. Christopher Lee brilliantly plays the titular assassin (involved in a plot to take over the energy market) who is fascinated by Bond when their paths cross, and the two men at odds makes for what should be a pretty compelling central drama. It also has to be said that it's a relief to hear John Barry back in composer's chair...
  
  WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: The problem is however that, once again, Moore's Bond is hard to engage with because he plays the character so breezily. He seems so at home and at ease, and without Connery's out-of-place bullishness and underdog charm, or the lighter, more comedic writing of Moore's later adventures, you're not really left rooting for him at all. That wasn't such a problem in this film's predecessor 'Live and Let Die,' because the story's mystery propelled things along nicely and kept you hooked, but in this, the script has us party to rather a lot more rather more quickly but for a few twists and turns. With all of that keeping you from properly engaging with the narrative, the hideous silliness of Sheriff Pepper and the irritating Bond-assistant Goodnight will be enough to properly put you off.
  
  VERDICT: Without the unfolding mystery of its predecessor, you're left with a film that relies far more on you engaging with its central character. 'The Man With the Golden Gun,' trips up because of Moore's over-assured approach to Bond which the series hadn't quite perfected at this point.

  Like?

  0 member like this review.