release year: 1964
genre: James Bond
viewing setting: home DVD, 11/20/99
what I expected: n/a
what I got: one of the best
synopsis: Bond matches wits with gold dealer Auric Goldfinger.
impressions: This was a good one, maybe the pinnacle of the Connery Bonds. It had, among other things, the woman who got killed by being painted all over with gold, the razor-edged-hat-throwing bad guy Oddjob, the first opening scene before credits, the first mass battle at the end...lots of good stuff.
acting: Sean Connery was in top form here. Gert Frobe did a good job as the pompous, scheming Goldfinger. I wasn't overly impressed with the acting of the girl who played Pussy Galore, except for the fact that she was able to resist Bond for quite some time.
car chases: 1.5 (the first one wasn't really a chase as much as a game of tag)
mass fight at end: Goldfinger's men vs the Army, in and around Fort Knox.
neat gadgets: the loaded Aston Martin!!!
confirmed Bond kills: 6
confirmed Oddjob kills: 4
confirmed Bond nooky: 2
obnoxious female name: Pussy Galore
defining Bond moments:
- uses treacherous woman as shield for bullets
- slaps Dink's butt
- multiple messing-with-foes'-minds: Goldfinger at card table, golf range, and Mai Li on the plane
- takes the maid's keyring, along with her, to open the suite's door
- gets out of Goldfinger's plane and just wanders off
quotable:
Bond: "Auric Goldfinger...sounds like a French nail polish."
Bond: "Do you expect me to talk?"
Goldfinger: "No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!"
Bond: "Who are you?"
woman: "My name is Pussy Galore."
Bond: "I must be dreaming."
Pussy: "I'm completely defenseless."
Bond: (looking down her cleavage) "So am I."
Goldfinger: (appears in stolen general's uniform) "I'm glad to have you aboard, Mr. Bond."
Bond: "Well, congratulations on your promotion, Goldfinger. Are you having lunch at the White House too?"
final word: Another of the best Bond movies - worth seeing.
rating: B