**YOU ARE NOW ENTERING SPOILERTOWN***
Plot: The Goldeneye, which can weaponize a Soviet satellite armed with an EMP, is stolen by a network of villains with plans to steal all the money from the Bank of England and send London into the Stone Age.
Foiled by: Bond finds his way to Janus with help from Natalya, escapes many overly elaborate deaths, and blows up the antenna, crashing the satellite.
Intriguing Setting(s): Mother Russia | Cuba | Monaco
Bond: Pierce Brosnan
Villain(s):
- Janus…. aka 006, Alec Trevelyan! The dirty Cossack.
- Xenia Onnatopp and her leathal loins
- Colonel Ouromov
- Boris
Bond Girl(s):
- Natalya Simonova
- Caroline, the MI6 psychologist/evaluator
HL’s Hot Take: I forgot how sweet this movie is. Does what it can to reset the franchise a bit. Does well, but still can’t escape the old Bond cliches (lair filled with henchmen climax, endless # of times he should have just been shot on sight, etc). Easily Brosnan’s best and a quality addition to the canon.
Head Librarian Rank: 6/24
Critical Rank: 8/24
TRIVIA SECTION!
Odds & Ends:
- Debut of Judi Dench as M
- New Moneypenny as well
- GoldenEye was the name of Ian Fleming’s Jamaican estate where he wrote most of the Bond series.
- First Bond to film on location within the USSR, as the previous 16 had banned this
6 Degrees Cameos: So many! But the best one they snuck in was Minnie Driver. Yes, really. She is the bad karaoke singer when he meets the Russian. You’re welcome.
Gadgets: bomb click pen; Omega watch with laser and detonator
Cars: Aston Martin DB5
Awards: BAFTA nods for Special Effects and Sound
Release Order: 17/25 (1995)