GoldenEye

“Stop it, both of you! Stop it! You're like...boys with toys!”GoldenEye was host to many historic firsts and lasts for the franchise. As well as being Brosnan’s first Bond film, it was the last that Albert Broccoli saw (he died seven months after the film’s release). It also marked Judi Dench’s first appearance as M, BMW’s first appearance, the first time Bond wore an Omega watch, and it was the first film in the franchise not to take story elements from Ian Fleming’s novels. GoldenEye has the masterful blend of suavity, action, and wit that we came to expect from Connery and Moore. The only gripe I have, if any, is that the director, Martin Campbell, was too conservative. The action, the shots, the editing, the pacing, the cinematography, were all straight out of a textbook. Honestly though, Bond films tend to benefit from basic filmmaking concepts. This was Campbell’s first tango with MI6, but it was not his last. He also directed the least conservative Bond film: Casino Royale. That’s right; the same man was at the helm of two of the most iconic (and, in my humble opinion, two of the best) 007 movies in the catalogue. If you have not seen GoldenEye yet, you need to. Tons of great action, over-acted Russian accents, and a certain British charm add up to make a wonderful viewing experience. Also, James Bond drives a tank through St. Petersburg. That should be reason enough to watch GoldenEye over and over. James Bond ranked 🇬🇧🎥