The Man with the Golden Gun

It's interesting to watch this film as I always held it somewhat high in my mind as an "influential" Bond film - even though I'd never seen it. 

When I ask myself why, the answer is simple, of course! Because the Golden Gun is the most powerful, sought after weapon in any old Bond videogame. So it must come from a good film, right?!

Throughout its entirety - and even now once it's over - I can't help but think that The Man with the Golden Gun is screaming for a modern day remake that's more focused and streamlined. The broad strokes are enough to like but the film reminded me of Connery's Thunderball where I felt like I should be liking it more than I was and instead, it kind of felt like a slog. 

It sees Moore in his second turn in the role. If you're keeping score, that's now "officially" the first actor to portray James Bond in more than a single film since Connery. At this point, the series is ~ 12 years old from Dr. No and hoping to continue the success it has seen in the last decade. Not really helping matters is a rather lazy Bond film that feels like a [slight] step down from the starting point Live and Let Die gave Moore.

On paper, The Man with the Golden Gun has a lot of potential, hence my want of a remake. It sees Bond being put on sabbatical once a mysterious, infamous assassin calls him out with a golden bullet. Bond is more or less instructed to find the assassin and take him out while, along the way, another plot unravels surrounding an important piece of technology that could change the game of the energy crisis (which was a key topic in 1974). The villain, Francisco Scaramanga, sees Bond as a worthy adversary and likes to "play with his food" meaning that we get a battle between two of the best killers on the planet. Perhaps it's just me when I read that synopsis, but it excites me and I feel like it could lead to some tense cat-and-mouse chases, awesome action, and a keen study of Bond and the villain as characters. 

Nick Nack was such an odd choice for lots of
reasons. Was he supposed to be menacing? 

The Man with the Golden Gun doesn't deliver on a whole lot of that. Moore feels slightly lazy this time around - even if I still enjoy him as Connery's replacement. The Bond girls are both forgettable aside from one's name, Mary Goodnight. So we're left with the villains, Scaramanga and his henchman, Nick Nack. Nick Nack is somewhat iconic because of the fact that he's a dwarf but I found that choice (along with some others) to be odd. Christopher Lee as Scaramanga is enjoyable with unfortunately limited screentime. It's nowhere near as effective as Saruman, but that's not really what I was expecting either. And unfortunately, much at the annoying request of director Guy Hamilton, Sheriff Peppers is back and annoying as ever. I will say he's not *quite* as bad as Live and Let Die but yeah, this character is the worst in the Bond franchise and he provides no comedic relief despite that being his sole job to do so. Speaking of Guy Hamilton, this is his fourth film directed in the franchise, and would be his last. Given that his tenure includes Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, Live and Let Die, and this film - I suppose it's for the best that he moved on. That track record is...fine...in only for him giving us Goldfinger.

The handful of things I did enjoy were mostly around how exotic of a Bond this felt - similar to You Only Live Twice. Aside from some awkward karate scenes where Bond dominates from stature alone (not skill), the locales are gorgeous and scream: evil villain lair. There's some good cinematography here on Thai beaches and we've also got a very catchy Bond theme that finds itself - along with the iconic main theme - played regularly. From an action perspective, there's a well-done car chase that includes an at-the-time World Record setting corkscrew stunt (unfortunately marred by Sheriff Peppers screaming throughout the scene) but otherwise the action is mostly dull. Scaramanga and Bond's final duel feels epic at first, but is anticlimactic which is become a theme of the last several Bond films.

Feels like it should have been more epic than it was...

The Man with the Golden Gun feels like a missed opportunity more than most Bond films before it because I find the premise so intriguing, especially given how far we are in the franchise. Taking time away from world-dominating villains again to focus on a somewhat personal vendetta against Bond - with an apparent equal villain - sounds ripe for an awesome, standalone tale. What we get is good enough, but definitely not as special of a Bond film as the legacy the titular weapon has created for itself in other mediums. 

CONS

• Mother f**king Sheriff Peppers is the worst. Why/how he made it into this film is beyond me
• Has a lot of weird elements. Bond grabbing a sumo wrestler's ass, Nick Nack, Scaramanga's third nipple...like why?
• Most the action is average and the final battle is anticlimactic
• Forgettable Bond girls and Moore feels lazy 
• The story elements are there, the execution isn't

PROS

• Moore still feels "right" in the role
• Christopher Lee's Scaramanga feels unexplored, but intriging
• Broad strokes of plot are pretty great
• Exciting car chase and stunts
• Exotic locales with above-average cinematography
• Catchy main theme that used often in conjunction with the core Bond theme
• Entertaining, despite its stumbles

Retro Rath's Review Score | 7/10