Calvin Dyson. What a great name. Can you Imagine going through life named John Smith. But Calvin Dyson!!!! That sounds like a secret agent. Not quite as cool as Bond but close enough.
It's the most politically incorrect Bond movie, which is the only reason why it's trashed. Take out JW Pepper and Bond beating up Maude Adams and people would have it right in the middle of the Bond film rankings.
Same here, first Bond I saw at a young age early 80's. It always gives me a feel-good feeling, love the score and locations. Makes me remember happy feelings I had as a child.
This was my late mother’s favorite 007 film. She loved the goofiness and the villains and Moore was her favorite Bond. It holds a very special place in my heart for that reason and I have a full scale poster of it hanging in memory of her love for it.
Clifton James was actually an Oregonian, he lived in the same Portland suburb (Gladstone) as my grandparents. I never met him, but my grandmother played bridge with him on occasion and said he was a very nice man. RIP
49:11 - Nick Nack's pissed off at Bond, not because of Scaramanga's death, but because his fortune went up in smoke. Partially thanks to Goodnight as well!
As well as playing his own dummy in the opening sequence, I'm 99% sure Roger Moore plays the robotic cowboy who comes through the saloon door. Check it out.
TMWTGG will always have a special place in our hearts, no matter how much worse or better it gets over the years :) Let me say this, no matter which movie by Guy hamitlton you like more or less of, each one of his movies brought together scenes, drama, action, comedy that ive never seen in any other movie and thats what makes his movies stand out to me the most :) Cheers again Calvin, I hope you eventually get around to not only watching 'My Dinner with Herve', but I hope one day you review 'Enter the dragon' too. Not just because of the impact it had on TMWTGG, but also how that movie was inspired by Dr No too all the best
I love this movie but its reputation will get much worse over time because it's the most politically incorrect Bond movie. There's racist comments from JW Pepper, Bond literally beats up Andrea Anders for not much of a reason and Britt Ekland isn't portrayed as Hillary Clinton on steroids. It's the Bond movie even big Bond fans feel they're "morally obligated" to attack.
@@jeffreyriley8742 In fairness Roger Moore at the time wasn't happy at the Andreas assault and tried to get it taken out but was overruled [and tellingly they never did something like that again]. Re-Britt Ekland it's more that she's a total fool despite being an MI6 agent that people don't like, especially if you don't find the jokes around her funny [a Bond book I have 'The Essential James Bond' published in 2000 actually says 'no actress could bring dignity to this character!']. It was also one of the lowest grossing Bond's at the time so it wasn't even well received back in the day.
There is, in fact, a French (dubbed version) that was released in the cinemas which did not have the slide whistle - just the sound of the engine revving. I saw this in a cinema in Paris in 1985 at a Bond festival. Have never been able to track it down since.
I was literally searching for this video 2 days ago since I am doing a Bond marathon at the moment and realised you never did a discussion on this one. Lo and behold... this drops! Awesome!
I will always be grateful to The Man With the Golden Gun for two reasons: 1) Scaramanga, Nick Nack, and their carnival shooting gallery was the inspiration for the X-Men villain Arcade, and 2) Chew Mee's skinny dip was one of those moments where pre-adolescent me discovered girls!
James Bond Downunder (in Sydney) had a screening of TMWTGG a week ago, along with TSWLM. Moore’s second outing tends to rank very close to the bottom of my list, but seeing it on the big screen with a room full of Bond fans really helped, I’ve never enjoyed it more. It’s really quite good for the first hour or so, until Bond is kidnapped and taken to the Karate school, after that the tone becomes a mess and the wheels fall off a bit.
TEXAS? JW pepper is from Louisiana! As a (former) Texas resident, I can tell you that this is like confusing a Scotsman or an Irishman for an Englishman! Sacrilege Sir! 😂 Come to the states and we’ll get you the best BBQ (from Texas, of course) you have ever had!
@@alexanderhampp6467Indeed.I think Lulu had an allure at that point in time : the suits, the sass..the connection with Bowie ( the way she turns up at Ziggy's last concert).
Always been toward the bottom of my list but this makes me appreciate it more. David’s comment about the music was very insightful. When I think of this movie, there are so many uneven or IMO bad components, but I also think of the music when I am reflecting on TMWTGG, and the sumptuous score and bouncy title track elevate it for me.
Sorry to anyone who likes this movie, but to me it resembles a TV movie made 10 to 15 years after a hit TV series finished. It brings back the main characters and puts the hero through a patchwork of scenes, but never suggests there's any more real potential left.
Yes, the slide whistle doesn't transmit sound because the default setting on Zoom filters out most audio that is not within the normal human vocal range. You'd need to change the audio to the "Original Sound for Musicians" setting.
I never considered that Nick Nack might be really trying to get Scaramanga killed. I intererpreted it just as Nick Nack luring Bond the the funhouse, because that is what Scaramanga wants as part of his game.
@@Flashheartwoof Yes, but he seems so undisappointed when Scaramanga survives in pre-credits, and he is not really maximizing chance of the kill succeeding.
@@JohnSmith-zq9mo I've seen him being compared to Kato from the Pink Panther series in that he enjoys testing his superior but ultimately isn't out to harm him.
I doubt the Chinese Communists would honor Scaramanga's promise to Nick Nack. Scaramanga alludes to doing some assassinations for the Chinese government from time to time in exchange for living there. If Nick Nack couldn't offer the same services, the Chinese would take the island back and Nick Nack would be in a mass grave.
I used to despise TMWTGG and then a few years ago our family sat down to watch a movie on Christmas Day and randomly picked it. Everyone laughed so hard throughout that it made me reconsider it. View it as a comedy and it is so enjoyable
On Brosnan appreciation - remember how much we all bemoaned Dalton during Bronsnan’s tenure? I do. Only when revisited during Craig’s turn did he get redeemed. Meanwhile, Moore’s stock went down significantly in the Craig era.
I remember Calvin saying it's usually regarded as 'Connery is the best, the current Bond is second' and as the current Bond is often the opposite to there immediate predecessor, that Bond gets a lot more flack. When I was growing up in the 90's, Dalton certainly seemed to be seen as a 'mistake'/misstep with Brosnan a return to form yet when Craig came along, Brosnan's stock went down quite a bit. Now Craig is getting backlash but I fully expect some 'Craig is better than you remember' stories in 10 years time...which makes you wish people just appreciated the actors rather than having to diss them! I do wonder if Moore is affected as they are so long ago now so less people have nostalgic memories of that era [even this film is 50 years old and 'View' is 40 next year] and I don't know if younger viewers watch them as much.
Meh. I know just as many people who gained even more appreciation for Moore during the Craig era because they were sick and tired of dark and gritty. That's what almost every spy film was in the wake of Bourne - dark and gritty. The appeal of canary yellow jumpsuits and guys with metal teeth was suddenly much yearned for.
@@clearspira I think a general audience got that via superhero films/Marvel now a days while spy films seemed to work best gritty [even Mission Impossible takes itself fairly seriously]. There's quite a few spy TV shows on at the moment and [unless I'm mistaken] there all fairly serious. Kingsman felt like a return to the more OTT spy series [although much more violent/sweary than a Moore film ever would be] but that series seemed to quickly burn out with diminishing box office/critical returns [and it's studio said there not interested in making any more recently].
@@jamesatkinsonja Craig's tenure will be viewed negatively as time goes on - it was not fun, not escapism and he was the worst possible casting and his open loathing of the character will not be viewed positively over time.
@@SimonBaldock But his stint was never about 'escapism' [like how Nolan's 'Dark Knight' was not 'superhero fantasy' at any point] and I don't need one liners and jokes to enjoy a great action scene [that opening chase in casino Royale is fantastic]. Craig has also said the 'loathing' aspect is a total myth many times and said he should have talked more positively about being Bond rather than about injuries-I don't think any Bond has worked harder behind the scenes as him. And a certain Sean Connery was actually pretty negative about Bond many times but that doesn't stop people thinking he was the best Bond of all. The 'worst possible casting' bit is subjective [as are opinions on the films] as there is no denying he was a critical and commercial success in the part.
I love it when folks talk about the role Bond films played in the childhood. I'm of a generation with David, and this was the very first film my parents let me go see on my own -- though they were waiting in the parking lot to make sure I was OK -- Haha!
I recently read Roger's 'Live and Let Die' diary and it's noticeable how little Cubby features in it as Harry Saltzman was in charge of that film and Cubby in charge of this which makes it odd how rushed and shoddy the movie is given his usual standards. The decaying relationship between the pair certainly feels like it bled into filming [with Cubby saying this was the only film he'd like to redo [unspecified] parts of] but most of the creatives [like John Barry and Guy Hamilton] seem to have regrets. It was certainly sensible to get the behind the scenes issues sorted [with help from Micheal G. Wilson] and take there time over 'Spy' which paid off very well.
I wouldn't say TMWTGG is one of my favourite Bond films, but it's got one of my favourite Bond themes and possibly my favourite villain too. The change in Christopher Lee's performance from silent Draculene killer to giddy schoolboy, once he gets his hero JB on his little island, is a hell of a swing but it really works.
This was the first Bond film I saw, still one of my favourites. Obviously not everyone has a first in Oriental languages from Cambridge, but for clarity. The Bottoms Up club was in Hong Kong, as suggested by the text beneath (下午五時到八時半價 - Afternoons 5-8 half price). The Hong Kong section was a highlight for me due to the sunken ship HQ scene. While available elsewhere, Chunghwa cigarette are likewise Chinese, hence the image of The Tiananmen Gate on the pack. Chunghwa was established by the state-owned Chinese Tobacco Company, shortly after the revolution, and is purported to have been Mao ZeDong's preferred brand. A+ on the music, the theme tune is a banger! "it's an American family, what else are you gonna do, shove a hotdog down my throat?" 😅😎
My two favourite Bond Vlogers doing my favourite content of sharing their thoughts of the films. I often watch the old reviews together. Thanks guys. ❤
Im in Phuket now and saw the "James Bond Island" today. Its great to see the rock, but so few tourists also notice that the boat drop off point is where the gunbarrel opens up on and where Christopher Lee & Maude Adams have their opening drinks
My wife and I went to James Bond Island on our honeymoon last year. I also suggest going early. The island is actually very small and was packed with people like sardines. We managed to grab a little pocket in time where we could pose back to back and get a great picture. I’m sure you will know the exact spot!
They're actually very different films. Diamonds is essentially a comedy and I think its closest comparison is Moonraker. Connery agreed to come back and only wanted to have fun and the filmmakers complied. Tom Mankiewicz was only chosen because his script made it into a joke and Connery loved that. Golden Gun is a much darker, more politically incorrect film. Golden Gun has too much silliness in it but it at least tries to be serious in certain moments. You can say Diamonds went out to be silly and succeeded while Golden Gun didn't and was hit and miss.
Good to see you gentlemen, merry Christmas! By the way in terms of being anniversaried out, I'm definitely 'special edition Omega watch anniversary' tie ins- out!
Always enjoy watching you too chat, My love for Roger Moore Bond's will go on forever, Introduced by my dad and grew up watching them with him.. First bond cinema event was Octopussy .... when I was 9 years old lol ....
I don't care what anyone says, but I love this film. I disagree with these guys and all of their takes on the locations. This film is magical for reigniting my love for Bond this year
🛳 You forgot to mention, that the shipwreck represents the RMS Queen Elizabeth, that actually rolled on its side and remained there in this time. It is a reference like the stolen painting in Dr No's lair. The audience back then were quite aware of it. In real life no one was allowed to go to this wreck, so this made up an interesting background for a fictional secret place.
I think the main problem is that the whole script reads like a first draft. The whole shoehorned-in Solex plot, the plot contrivances (Lt. Hip abandoning Bond for example....and I'd mention that the whole Bond-Scaramanga showdown wouldn't even have happened had Goodnight not screwed up and got captured in Bangkok), the character inconsistencies....it all feels like they were making stuff up on the fly and then said 'job's a good 'un' when they realised they'd have to start filming in order to get it all out by Christmas.
They played Goodnight getting captured as much sillier than the actual situation warranted. She was trying to plant a bug and got caught by Scaramanga. Nothing shameful about that but they played it like only an idiot would have had it happen to her.
Love you guys, and love these discussions 😃👏🏻 You’ve got your opinions and I’ve got mine. Sometimes I agree with Calvin and sometimes with David - and you just make me and all other Bond fans (I hope and guess) glad and happy with these videos - never stop doing these videos 👍🏻 Merry Christmas and a happy new year to both of you 🎄🎅🏻🎁🍾🎆
Great chat. I'd like to add another perspective on why people lovee these films. I'm fascinated by the Far East and Southeast Asia, so the backgrounds of these films act as interesting scenic time capsules. The Bottoms Up bar was located in Tsim Sha Tsui (Kowloon) and was trading on its appearance in the film certainly into the early '90s (?). No longer there I believe.
I love this film! It's in my top 10, and in my top 3 of the Moore films. Scaramanga is my favourite villain in the series and the golden gun is my favourite gadget of the series. So big defender here!
I have always loved TMWTGG and I find it so quotable even to this day. Hervé Vellachaize as Nick Nack as well - what a classic! It gave way to the Fantasy Island series after this movie (Hence David saying "The Plane, the plane!" 😆 When he held "Nick Nacks golden gun" lol)
Good seeing you two together. This is my favorite Moore movie. Not so campy and probably some better stories later but it takes me out of it when 60 yr old Moore is macking on some honey baby
19:00 That aerial shot requires real skill by the pilots. The one flying the seaplane inches away from treetops and rockfaces. And the one flying the chase plane with the cameraman!
I live in New Orleans, and Tabasco is definitely a brighter red when it's unopened in stores and fresh. I'm not even certain if "fresh" is right term. Exposure to light or air seems to do it.
This is actually the earliest Bond film I can remember seeing. Not in full, I can only remember seeing the last act on TV as a kid, but it did leave a mark. Last time I watched it, I was doing a week long marathon of the Moore films and I had a great time. I remember especially the score by John Barry and the performance of Christopher Lee who saves what’s otherwise a pretty mediocre film. Some parts certainly haven’t aged well, and I really didn’t like Mary Goodnight. I also think Guy Hamilton had a bit of a problem pacing the film and the tone is a bit all over the place, and it feels a little cheap in areas. Still, I had a good time.
License Revoked. James Bond has his license To Kill removed under threat of arrest of he kills and goes after the villians more Batman style. No kills.
Unlike Moonraker which I can enjoy despite its flaws, TMWTGG is irredeemable for me. The stupid and naive Bond girls trope, started in this trio of Hamilton movies with Tiffany in the third act of DAF, reaches its nadir here with Goodnight and she is excruciating to watch. Did she wander off the set of Carry On Spying? Bond spends most of the movie extremely irritable. There is too much slapstick, and nothing is treated seriously, except sadly Bond's treatment of Andrea. Yes, Lee is a great villain but he is wasted in a terrible movie, and to paraphrase Oscar Isaac in The Rise of Skywalker, "Somehow, Sheriff Pepper returned".
The Andrea stuff feels like it came from a more serious draft and feels out of place in the final film. Shame Moore wasn't established enough at that point to get it cut [he did object but was overruled].
Not beautiful looking? You missed the 4K 2022 cinema showing I went to then. I always thought it wasn’t the best looking until I saw it in a Sony 4K certified cinema and it looked amazing and a whole new viewing experience.
FWIW, in 2002, I interviewed Gerald Meyers who was the CEO of American Motors Corp. when this movie was made. Meyers said AMC was very happy with how its deal for TMWTGG turned out.
Vastly underrated Bond movie that's only excoriated because of JW Pepper's inclusion, Britt Ekland not being the equal of Sarah Connor and Bond slapping Maude Adams around.
In fairness quite a few of the crew of this film [John Barry, Richard Maibaum and Guy Hamilton] weren't happy with the final result-it's probably the Bond with the most 'creator backlash'. Even Cubby said this was the only one of his Bond's where there were [unspecified] 'parts he'd like to re-do'. It certainly looks cheap and rushed [not helped by turning up only 18 months after 'Live and Let Die'].
@@jamesatkinsonja The brilliant creators definitely weren't happy with each other during production. Cubby and Saltzman had their falling out and even Hamilton and Mankiewicz, who were fast friends during Diamonds, had a falling out. I really like several aspects of the film but I'll admit it's very tonally uneven. It feels like they were going for part serious and part Diamonds but the silliness got too silly. It makes perfect sense there were creative differences going on.
I don’t understand the hatred for this film. In fact, Golden Gun is my third favorite Moore film, ranked 15 out of 26 overall, after Octopussy and The Spy Who Loved Me. It is certainly better than Moonraker, my least favorite Bond film, during which the camp became too much even for me. Christopher Lee is a great villain and his scenes with Bond are very tense. I also enjoy seeing a slightly more serious Moore. Bond isn’t a hero. He’s a brutal spy. The only disappointing thing about Golden Gun is the lack of kills.
"Bond isn’t a hero. He’s a brutal spy." I'm not sure these are mutually exclusive, unless you're someone who expects heroes to be squeaky-clean and morally upstanding by definition.
@@joycey845 What I mean is that he isn’t what we would traditionally perceive as being a hero at an archetypal level. He’s more of an anti-hero, which unlike the traditional hero, will use questionable means to achieve desired outcomes.
Never stop doing these!
Not many left 😢 Hoping for spy who loved me next.
@@Shananaginns1887 never say never again. Ok ?
Calvin and David certainly have great chemistry together!
It's nice to see such a generational chat: David who is 57 and Calvin who is 7.
😂
you mean.... Calvin is 007?...
@@maxpower5261 He should be the reboot post No Time to
Make a decent film - Bond the Younger?
Calvin Dyson.
What a great name.
Can you Imagine going through life named John Smith.
But Calvin Dyson!!!! That sounds like a secret agent. Not quite as cool as Bond but close enough.
@@YTguySmithy-lk6go he also makes vacuum cleaners
I wore this film out on VHS as a kid. As an adult I can appreciate the criticism, but to me this feel so quintissential Bond.
It's the most politically incorrect Bond movie, which is the only reason why it's trashed. Take out JW Pepper and Bond beating up Maude Adams and people would have it right in the middle of the Bond film rankings.
@@jeffreyriley8742 Fan edit? Snippety snip!
Same here, first Bond I saw at a young age early 80's. It always gives me a feel-good feeling, love the score and locations. Makes me remember happy feelings I had as a child.
Saw it in 78 and loved it ever since. Like you, I see it fall short but my 7 year old self always wins through!
This was my late mother’s favorite 007 film. She loved the goofiness and the villains and Moore was her favorite Bond. It holds a very special place in my heart for that reason and I have a full scale poster of it hanging in memory of her love for it.
Clifton James was actually an Oregonian, he lived in the same Portland suburb (Gladstone) as my grandparents. I never met him, but my grandmother played bridge with him on occasion and said he was a very nice man. RIP
My grandmother lived in Gladstone ! Dreadful place!
@@bondjamesbondsandiego0075 Yeah, I wouldn't even bury my worst enemy's corpse there.
49:11 - Nick Nack's pissed off at Bond, not because of Scaramanga's death, but because his fortune went up in smoke. Partially thanks to Goodnight as well!
I don’t even like James Bond movies but your guys’ enthusiasm and love for talking about them always gets me wanting to like them
As well as playing his own dummy in the opening sequence, I'm 99% sure Roger Moore plays the robotic cowboy who comes through the saloon door. Check it out.
I really love these discussions. I will be so sad when there are no more Bond films for you two to discuss
Thank you to Calvin & David for another great upload 👍 Enjoy your christmas 🎄
Love the comparison to Quantum. JW Pepper is now officially the Mathis of Moore.
Love is required whenever he’s hired
TMWTGG will always have a special place in our hearts, no matter how much worse or better it gets over the years :)
Let me say this, no matter which movie by Guy hamitlton you like more or less of, each one of his movies brought together scenes, drama, action, comedy that ive never seen in any other movie and thats what makes his movies stand out to me the most :)
Cheers again Calvin, I hope you eventually get around to not only watching 'My Dinner with Herve', but I hope one day you review 'Enter the dragon' too. Not just because of the impact it had on TMWTGG, but also how that movie was inspired by Dr No too
all the best
I love this movie but its reputation will get much worse over time because it's the most politically incorrect Bond movie. There's racist comments from JW Pepper, Bond literally beats up Andrea Anders for not much of a reason and Britt Ekland isn't portrayed as Hillary Clinton on steroids. It's the Bond movie even big Bond fans feel they're "morally obligated" to attack.
@@jeffreyriley8742 In fairness Roger Moore at the time wasn't happy at the Andreas assault and tried to get it taken out but was overruled [and tellingly they never did something like that again]. Re-Britt Ekland it's more that she's a total fool despite being an MI6 agent that people don't like, especially if you don't find the jokes around her funny [a Bond book I have 'The Essential James Bond' published in 2000 actually says 'no actress could bring dignity to this character!']. It was also one of the lowest grossing Bond's at the time so it wasn't even well received back in the day.
Calvin's computer removing the slide whistle sound is hilarious. I thought it was a bit at first!
There is, in fact, a French (dubbed version) that was released in the cinemas which did not have the slide whistle - just the sound of the engine revving. I saw this in a cinema in Paris in 1985 at a Bond festival. Have never been able to track it down since.
I was literally searching for this video 2 days ago since I am doing a Bond marathon at the moment and realised you never did a discussion on this one. Lo and behold... this drops! Awesome!
This was my 3rd Bond film and the 2nd one I ever owned. I'll always have a soft spot for it. Great video gentlemen, I love these discussions.
Rosie Carver is a flipside of Mary Goodnight. She starts off as a goofy character and then becomes absolutely tragic.
I will always be grateful to The Man With the Golden Gun for two reasons:
1) Scaramanga, Nick Nack, and their carnival shooting gallery was the inspiration for the X-Men villain Arcade, and
2) Chew Mee's skinny dip was one of those moments where pre-adolescent me discovered girls!
I love Roger's arrogance in his first two Bond films.
James Bond Downunder (in Sydney) had a screening of TMWTGG a week ago, along with TSWLM. Moore’s second outing tends to rank very close to the bottom of my list, but seeing it on the big screen with a room full of Bond fans really helped, I’ve never enjoyed it more. It’s really quite good for the first hour or so, until Bond is kidnapped and taken to the Karate school, after that the tone becomes a mess and the wheels fall off a bit.
We taped this film off the telly on it's UK ITV premiere which I think was Christmas Day 1980...
Definitely in my top 10.Really underrated film imo.
TEXAS? JW pepper is from Louisiana! As a (former) Texas resident, I can tell you that this is like confusing a Scotsman or an Irishman for an Englishman! Sacrilege Sir! 😂
Come to the states and we’ll get you the best BBQ (from Texas, of course) you have ever had!
This movie is underrated and I wish they went with the Alice cooper theme instead of the lulu one ❤
It's not the strongest title track, but man, can she sing. Listen closely how she modulates her voice in every single word, she's perfectly on point.
@@alexanderhampp6467Indeed.I think Lulu had an allure at that point in time : the suits, the sass..the connection with Bowie ( the way she turns up at Ziggy's last concert).
The full expanded soundtrack is now available for the very first time.
Always been toward the bottom of my list but this makes me appreciate it more. David’s comment about the music was very insightful. When I think of this movie, there are so many uneven or IMO bad components, but I also think of the music when I am reflecting on TMWTGG, and the sumptuous score and bouncy title track elevate it for me.
Thanks David and Calvi have been waiting for your views on The Man with the Golden Gun great video and love the banter between you two
Oh, Christmas is coming early this year1 :)
Thank you, I love, love, love these discussions. Have wonderful holidays everybody!
17:00 the Tabasco he was holding is a darker smoked variant and not the classic bright red version
I personally always muted the infamous
"slide whistle SFX" during the epic car
stunt (up till J.W. Pepper screams as the car lands on the other side).
I might do a fan edit and remove it.
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY 🤣
I'll always hold a special place for this movie in my heart because it's the first Bond film my father introduced me to.
Incredible...What I really love about this series is that its generations sharing the same passion
I’ve been waiting for this one. This is 100% my guilty pleasure Bond film.
Sorry to anyone who likes this movie, but to me it resembles a TV movie made 10 to 15 years after a hit TV series finished. It brings back the main characters and puts the hero through a patchwork of scenes, but never suggests there's any more real potential left.
Fair enough. At least you have an actual criticism.
Well said.
Re TV Movie-It certainly does look very cheap in places.
The lighting was pretty flat. The fly over China was good, but the set piece was very tv like and uninspired.
Yes, the slide whistle doesn't transmit sound because the default setting on Zoom filters out most audio that is not within the normal human vocal range. You'd need to change the audio to the "Original Sound for Musicians" setting.
What if Barbara is busy working on Moonraker: The Musical?
If you look up the 1982 Oscar performance of 'For your eyes only' you pretty much see what that would look like!
My favourite Bond film. It doesn’t matter what mood I’m in, I can always watch this ! Comforting .
I never considered that Nick Nack might be really trying to get Scaramanga killed. I intererpreted it just as Nick Nack luring Bond the the funhouse, because that is what Scaramanga wants as part of his game.
To be fair he does say it in the film.
@@Flashheartwoof Yes, but he seems so undisappointed when Scaramanga survives in pre-credits, and he is not really maximizing chance of the kill succeeding.
@@JohnSmith-zq9mo I've seen him being compared to Kato from the Pink Panther series in that he enjoys testing his superior but ultimately isn't out to harm him.
I doubt the Chinese Communists would honor Scaramanga's promise to Nick Nack. Scaramanga alludes to doing some assassinations for the Chinese government from time to time in exchange for living there.
If Nick Nack couldn't offer the same services, the Chinese would take the island back and Nick Nack would be in a mass grave.
I used to despise TMWTGG and then a few years ago our family sat down to watch a movie on Christmas Day and randomly picked it. Everyone laughed so hard throughout that it made me reconsider it. View it as a comedy and it is so enjoyable
Great to see the debate/discussions back - marvelous chaps, marvelous chat 🥃👍
On Brosnan appreciation
- remember how much we all bemoaned Dalton during Bronsnan’s tenure? I do. Only when revisited during Craig’s turn did he get redeemed. Meanwhile, Moore’s stock went down significantly in the Craig era.
I remember Calvin saying it's usually regarded as 'Connery is the best, the current Bond is second' and as the current Bond is often the opposite to there immediate predecessor, that Bond gets a lot more flack. When I was growing up in the 90's, Dalton certainly seemed to be seen as a 'mistake'/misstep with Brosnan a return to form yet when Craig came along, Brosnan's stock went down quite a bit. Now Craig is getting backlash but I fully expect some 'Craig is better than you remember' stories in 10 years time...which makes you wish people just appreciated the actors rather than having to diss them! I do wonder if Moore is affected as they are so long ago now so less people have nostalgic memories of that era [even this film is 50 years old and 'View' is 40 next year] and I don't know if younger viewers watch them as much.
Meh. I know just as many people who gained even more appreciation for Moore during the Craig era because they were sick and tired of dark and gritty. That's what almost every spy film was in the wake of Bourne - dark and gritty. The appeal of canary yellow jumpsuits and guys with metal teeth was suddenly much yearned for.
@@clearspira I think a general audience got that via superhero films/Marvel now a days while spy films seemed to work best gritty [even Mission Impossible takes itself fairly seriously]. There's quite a few spy TV shows on at the moment and [unless I'm mistaken] there all fairly serious. Kingsman felt like a return to the more OTT spy series [although much more violent/sweary than a Moore film ever would be] but that series seemed to quickly burn out with diminishing box office/critical returns [and it's studio said there not interested in making any more recently].
@@jamesatkinsonja Craig's tenure will be viewed negatively as time goes on - it was not fun, not escapism and he was the worst possible casting and his open loathing of the character will not be viewed positively over time.
@@SimonBaldock But his stint was never about 'escapism' [like how Nolan's 'Dark Knight' was not 'superhero fantasy' at any point] and I don't need one liners and jokes to enjoy a great action scene [that opening chase in casino Royale is fantastic]. Craig has also said the 'loathing' aspect is a total myth many times and said he should have talked more positively about being Bond rather than about injuries-I don't think any Bond has worked harder behind the scenes as him. And a certain Sean Connery was actually pretty negative about Bond many times but that doesn't stop people thinking he was the best Bond of all. The 'worst possible casting' bit is subjective [as are opinions on the films] as there is no denying he was a critical and commercial success in the part.
Love these debates, cheers both!
Criminally underrated and one of the best!
The Man With the Golden Gun is ranked by me 13th but if it wasn't for Christopher Lee Nick Nack and the Music it would be lower
Amazing
I love it when folks talk about the role Bond films played in the childhood. I'm of a generation with David, and this was the very first film my parents let me go see on my own -- though they were waiting in the parking lot to make sure I was OK -- Haha!
I recently read Roger's 'Live and Let Die' diary and it's noticeable how little Cubby features in it as Harry Saltzman was in charge of that film and Cubby in charge of this which makes it odd how rushed and shoddy the movie is given his usual standards. The decaying relationship between the pair certainly feels like it bled into filming [with Cubby saying this was the only film he'd like to redo [unspecified] parts of] but most of the creatives [like John Barry and Guy Hamilton] seem to have regrets. It was certainly sensible to get the behind the scenes issues sorted [with help from Micheal G. Wilson] and take there time over 'Spy' which paid off very well.
I mean Id say AVTAK is the one to redo, but ahwell :)
I wouldn't say TMWTGG is one of my favourite Bond films, but it's got one of my favourite Bond themes and possibly my favourite villain too. The change in Christopher Lee's performance from silent Draculene killer to giddy schoolboy, once he gets his hero JB on his little island, is a hell of a swing but it really works.
We celebrated The World Is Not Enough in Ireland with a special cinema viewing hosted by the James Bond Club Ireland. It was awesome.
Calvin, I love you mentioned the games, I loved that it announced when you picked the gun up as well "THE GOLDEN GUN".
This was the first Bond film I saw, still one of my favourites. Obviously not everyone has a first in Oriental languages from Cambridge, but for clarity. The Bottoms Up club was in Hong Kong, as suggested by the text beneath (下午五時到八時半價 - Afternoons 5-8 half price). The Hong Kong section was a highlight for me due to the sunken ship HQ scene. While available elsewhere, Chunghwa cigarette are likewise Chinese, hence the image of The Tiananmen Gate on the pack. Chunghwa was established by the state-owned Chinese Tobacco Company, shortly after the revolution, and is purported to have been Mao ZeDong's preferred brand.
A+ on the music, the theme tune is a banger!
"it's an American family, what else are you gonna do, shove a hotdog down my throat?"
😅😎
This is easily a top 4 Bond Movie for me, watched it a lot as a young teen, and it is one of my comfort movies, so that puts it that high.
I'm not big on the idea of remakes, but this is the one movie I want to see remade.
My two favourite Bond Vlogers doing my favourite content of sharing their thoughts of the films. I often watch the old reviews together. Thanks guys. ❤
I think there are very obvious parallels between Maud Adams' character in this and Severine in Skyfall. Even the boats remind me of each other.
Im in Phuket now and saw the "James Bond Island" today. Its great to see the rock, but so few tourists also notice that the boat drop off point is where the gunbarrel opens up on and where Christopher Lee & Maude Adams have their opening drinks
My wife and I went to James Bond Island on our honeymoon last year. I also suggest going early. The island is actually very small and was packed with people like sardines. We managed to grab a little pocket in time where we could pose back to back and get a great picture. I’m sure you will know the exact spot!
The Bottoms Up club was in Hong Kong
Great conversation. Very enjoyable!
I actually really resonate with Diamonds are Forever comparison, I also have to be in a really specific mood to watch them
They're actually very different films. Diamonds is essentially a comedy and I think its closest comparison is Moonraker. Connery agreed to come back and only wanted to have fun and the filmmakers complied. Tom Mankiewicz was only chosen because his script made it into a joke and Connery loved that. Golden Gun is a much darker, more politically incorrect film. Golden Gun has too much silliness in it but it at least tries to be serious in certain moments. You can say Diamonds went out to be silly and succeeded while Golden Gun didn't and was hit and miss.
Good to see you gentlemen, merry Christmas! By the way in terms of being anniversaried out, I'm definitely 'special edition Omega watch anniversary' tie ins- out!
Great discussion guys! I watched it in x2 speed, hope that Calvin goes to the Golden Gun museum!
Nice to see you get a shoutout from Oliver Harper in his Spy Who Loved Me retrospective Calvin.
Always enjoy watching you too chat, My love for Roger Moore Bond's will go on forever, Introduced by my dad and grew up watching them with him.. First bond cinema event was Octopussy .... when I was 9 years old lol ....
I don't care what anyone says, but I love this film. I disagree with these guys and all of their takes on the locations. This film is magical for reigniting my love for Bond this year
🛳 You forgot to mention, that the shipwreck represents the RMS Queen Elizabeth, that actually rolled on its side and remained there in this time.
It is a reference like the stolen painting in Dr No's lair.
The audience back then were quite aware of it.
In real life no one was allowed to go to this wreck, so this made up an interesting background for a fictional secret place.
I think the main problem is that the whole script reads like a first draft. The whole shoehorned-in Solex plot, the plot contrivances (Lt. Hip abandoning Bond for example....and I'd mention that the whole Bond-Scaramanga showdown wouldn't even have happened had Goodnight not screwed up and got captured in Bangkok), the character inconsistencies....it all feels like they were making stuff up on the fly and then said 'job's a good 'un' when they realised they'd have to start filming in order to get it all out by Christmas.
They played Goodnight getting captured as much sillier than the actual situation warranted. She was trying to plant a bug and got caught by Scaramanga. Nothing shameful about that but they played it like only an idiot would have had it happen to her.
Love you guys, and love these discussions 😃👏🏻
You’ve got your opinions and I’ve got mine. Sometimes I agree with Calvin and sometimes with David - and you just make me and all other Bond fans (I hope and guess) glad and happy with these videos - never stop doing these videos 👍🏻
Merry Christmas and a happy new year to both of you 🎄🎅🏻🎁🍾🎆
It's got an ITC tv show feel and if Tony Curtis had popped that wouldn't have out of place 😁
When he said Silva I initially thought he meant Terry Silver as best villain of all time.
First Bond movie I saw. My dad brought me to see it in 1975 at age 8. It’s always been a fav of mine.
It's been a while, but I was delighted to see this notification!
YYYYYEESSSSSS!!! Christmas has come early! Thanks guys ❤
Anyone else immediately go to eBay to try and find the 15 dollar Golden Gun?
David has an official The Man With the Golden Gun Slide Whistle. What does he not have? 😀
The problem with the slide whistle is that the sync with the car is approximate at best.
The only problem
Great chat. I'd like to add another perspective on why people lovee these films. I'm fascinated by the Far East and Southeast Asia, so the backgrounds of these films act as interesting scenic time capsules. The Bottoms Up bar was located in Tsim Sha Tsui (Kowloon) and was trading on its appearance in the film certainly into the early '90s (?). No longer there I believe.
Literally just this afternoon I was thinking, “David and Calvin promised us MWTGG in 2024… clock’s ticking…” 😂
The sunken ship location is my favorite Q base. I almost forgot it was in the golden gun movie.
I always like how Calvin gets a kick out of David’s props lol
TMWTGG was basically the pilot episode of Fantasy Island.
Calvin you are correct that Tobasco is a lighter shade of red. I think that bottle may be very aged, or a different version of the sauce.
I love this film! It's in my top 10, and in my top 3 of the Moore films. Scaramanga is my favourite villain in the series and the golden gun is my favourite gadget of the series. So big defender here!
My first Bond was a rainy day on holiday in Devon, we went into the cinema and watched Live and Let Die.. I would have been 6 or so at the time.
I have always loved TMWTGG and I find it so quotable even to this day. Hervé Vellachaize as Nick Nack as well - what a classic! It gave way to the Fantasy Island series after this movie (Hence David saying "The Plane, the plane!" 😆 When he held "Nick Nacks golden gun" lol)
Good seeing you two together. This is my favorite Moore movie. Not so campy and probably some better stories later but it takes me out of it when 60 yr old Moore is macking on some honey baby
19:00 That aerial shot requires real skill by the pilots. The one flying the seaplane inches away from treetops and rockfaces. And the one flying the chase plane with the cameraman!
I live in New Orleans, and Tabasco is definitely a brighter red when it's unopened in stores and fresh. I'm not even certain if "fresh" is right term. Exposure to light or air seems to do it.
I heard the slide whistle when I saw this in my subscription box
This film. Was the very last one, of the Bond series that I ever purchased on VHS
This is actually the earliest Bond film I can remember seeing. Not in full, I can only remember seeing the last act on TV as a kid, but it did leave a mark. Last time I watched it, I was doing a week long marathon of the Moore films and I had a great time. I remember especially the score by John Barry and the performance of Christopher Lee who saves what’s otherwise a pretty mediocre film. Some parts certainly haven’t aged well, and I really didn’t like Mary Goodnight. I also think Guy Hamilton had a bit of a problem pacing the film and the tone is a bit all over the place, and it feels a little cheap in areas. Still, I had a good time.
License Revoked. James Bond has his license To Kill removed under threat of arrest of he kills and goes after the villians more Batman style. No kills.
How do we feel about the Tarzan yell in Octopussy? 😁
This Was Harry Saltzman Last Value Production Producer Of James Bond.He Sold His Shares To United Artist In 1975😢😢😢.
Given Cubby and Harry had fallen out by this point it was for the best he left [although there kid's are good friends to this day!].
David’s wall is actually inspired by the filter they put over the entire movie.
Unlike Moonraker which I can enjoy despite its flaws, TMWTGG is irredeemable for me. The stupid and naive Bond girls trope, started in this trio of Hamilton movies with Tiffany in the third act of DAF, reaches its nadir here with Goodnight and she is excruciating to watch. Did she wander off the set of Carry On Spying? Bond spends most of the movie extremely irritable. There is too much slapstick, and nothing is treated seriously, except sadly Bond's treatment of Andrea. Yes, Lee is a great villain but he is wasted in a terrible movie, and to paraphrase Oscar Isaac in The Rise of Skywalker, "Somehow, Sheriff Pepper returned".
Well said 😆
It's got Christopher Lee and Kung Fu. Your argument is invalid.
Christopher Lee and Sheriff Pepper (and the Bond girls I suppose) are the only reasons I rewatch this big pile of meh
The Andrea stuff feels like it came from a more serious draft and feels out of place in the final film. Shame Moore wasn't established enough at that point to get it cut [he did object but was overruled].
It is rubbish. Overly silly and simply unfunny. Bottom three of the series.
Not beautiful looking? You missed the 4K 2022 cinema showing I went to then. I always thought it wasn’t the best looking until I saw it in a Sony 4K certified cinema and it looked amazing and a whole new viewing experience.
FWIW, in 2002, I interviewed Gerald Meyers who was the CEO of American Motors Corp. when this movie was made. Meyers said AMC was very happy with how its deal for TMWTGG turned out.
Love these conversations, with David and the props, and the Man with the Golden... Gums.
Vastly underrated Bond movie that's only excoriated because of JW Pepper's inclusion, Britt Ekland not being the equal of Sarah Connor and Bond slapping Maude Adams around.
She was a hit man’s GF!
In fairness quite a few of the crew of this film [John Barry, Richard Maibaum and Guy Hamilton] weren't happy with the final result-it's probably the Bond with the most 'creator backlash'. Even Cubby said this was the only one of his Bond's where there were [unspecified] 'parts he'd like to re-do'. It certainly looks cheap and rushed [not helped by turning up only 18 months after 'Live and Let Die'].
@@jamesatkinsonja The brilliant creators definitely weren't happy with each other during production. Cubby and Saltzman had their falling out and even Hamilton and Mankiewicz, who were fast friends during Diamonds, had a falling out. I really like several aspects of the film but I'll admit it's very tonally uneven. It feels like they were going for part serious and part Diamonds but the silliness got too silly. It makes perfect sense there were creative differences going on.
Love these videos ❤
I don’t understand the hatred for this film. In fact, Golden Gun is my third favorite Moore film, ranked 15 out of 26 overall, after Octopussy and The Spy Who Loved Me. It is certainly better than Moonraker, my least favorite Bond film, during which the camp became too much even for me. Christopher Lee is a great villain and his scenes with Bond are very tense. I also enjoy seeing a slightly more serious Moore. Bond isn’t a hero. He’s a brutal spy. The only disappointing thing about Golden Gun is the lack of kills.
"Bond isn’t a hero. He’s a brutal spy." I'm not sure these are mutually exclusive, unless you're someone who expects heroes to be squeaky-clean and morally upstanding by definition.
Moonraker is the best Bond film of them all. Go hide in shame.
@@joycey845 What I mean is that he isn’t what we would traditionally perceive as being a hero at an archetypal level. He’s more of an anti-hero, which unlike the traditional hero, will use questionable means to achieve desired outcomes.
@@josephvlogsdon Moore himself didn't like that idea-he certainly seemed to see his Bond as more of a 'white knight' than the other portrayals.
@@SpaceCattttt Definitely top 10!