GoldenEye

_The Russia installment, plus Pierce Brosnan’s debut_ Agent 007 (Pierce Brosnan) returns to Russia to investigate the theft of a space-based electromagnetic pulse weapon, which destroyed a radar facility in Siberia with only one survivor (Izabella Scorupco). Sean Bean plays an MI6 agent, Famke Janssen a ruthless assassin, Gottfried John a Russian commander, Joe Don Baker a CIA contact in St. Petersburg and Judi Dench the new ‘M.’ "Goldeneye" (1995) introduces Brosnan for his four-film stint in the series and he does a fine job as James Bond. Some people write him off as a “pretty boy” but, while he’s a handsome man, he’s also masculine and kick-axx. He’s perfect for the role. While the plot is overly convoluted, the flick delivers the goods. The action highlights include the opening Russian dam sequence, a car chase in Monaco, the theft of an attack helicopter in Monte Carlo, a wild tank chase in St. Petersburg and the action-packed close in the jungles of Cuba with the secret lair thereof. Izabella Scorupco is gorgeous in a winsome way and more shoulda been done with her. Meanwhile sharp Famke is perhaps the most sadistic biyatch in the series. The film runs 2 hours, 9 minutes, and was shot in Switzerland (chemical weapons facility); Monte Carlo (casino) & nearby Alpes-Maritimes, France (car chase); England; St. Petersburg, Russia; and Puerto Rico (Goldeneye Satellite Dish & beach scene). GRADE: B

Goldeneye is the gold standard of spy movies and Bond films. Goldeneye edges out Casino Royale and Skyfall as my favorite Bond film of all time. After decades of campy James Bond movies like Octopussy and A View to a Kill, Bond felt more like a punchline than a suave master spy. The franchise seemed to have lost its way, but Goldeneye brought gritty action, mind-blowing stunts, beautiful and capable Bind girls, and an outstanding cast back to Bond, returning the spy to his iconic and sterling reputation. Pierce Brosnan's Bond convincingly outwitted criminal masterminds and decisively overcame enemy opposition with precision and brutality while also believably charming and romancing beautiful villains and allies. Goldeneye nails every classic Bond element with more tenacity and realism. 006 betraying his country and becoming the evil mirror to 007 provides a deeper antagonist than Bond typically faces. The Bond girls are not helpless damsels but capable enemies or skilled partners that help him save the day. The action set pieces are astonishing, from driving a tank through the busy city streets of St Petersburg to dangling hundreds of feet above the ground in Costa Rice to the incredible base jump in the opening sequence. Even after all these years, Goldneye's effects and action still hold up. It is also the first movie with Judi Dench as M. Goldeneye is quintessential Bond at its absolute best!