October 23, 2008

The Bond Countdown #7

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Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
Guy Hamilton
Bond, James Bond: Sean Connery
Arch Rival: Ernst Blofeld (Charles Gray)
Bond Girl: Tiffany Case (Jill St. John)

Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

This issue takes Bond in search of revenge for the murder of Teresa in the previous film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969). Incidentally, he must also bust a diamond smuggling case that seems to take the world towards a diamond crisis. For this, Bond heads towards Amsterdam, disguises as Peter Franks, a notorious smuggler and allies with another one, Tiffany Case . Meanwhile, two thugs, Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd, presumably Blofeld’s assistants, carryout a series of murders of smugglers across the world. As Bond “mines” into the case with the help of Case, he comes to know of Blofeld’s comeback and his persisting plans to take over the world. Bond sets out to destroy Blofeld’s diamond-based laser satellite that he intends to use to burn out world nations. But there is a catch, Blofeld has created multiple copies of himself… and his cat’s.

Sean Connery reprises the role of James Bond after a single film break and for the last time. This would also be the end of Ernst Blofeld – Bond’s longest surviving nemesis, played by as many as three different actors. More humourous than the preceding Connery films, Diamonds are forever presents almost all the characteristics of a typical Bond film – over the top car chases, over-the-edge spying, femme fatales and of course, the only-possible-in-a-Bond-film plans to rule the world.

 

October 21, 2008

The Bond Countdown #5

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You Only Live Twice (1967)
Lewis Gilbert
Bond, James Bond: Sean Connery
Arch Rival: Ernst Blofeld (Donald Pleasence)
Bond Girl: Kissy Suzuki (Mie Hama)

You Only Live Twice (1967)

You Only Live Twice (1967)

The next installment in the series would be You Only Love Twice, the first Bond film shot in Asia. The film kicks off with strange events in space as a mysterious contraption seems to be swallowing both the American and the Soviet spaceships. Before both the countries pin the blame on each other and jump into another world war, British government asks Bond carry out his investigations in Japan, where they suspect is the hideout of the spacecraft. Bond arrives in the oriental country where he is aided by the local force lead by Tiger Tanaka. He finds out that a local chemical company is shipping rocket chemicals surreptitiously into an unknown area. For this, Bond disguises himself as a Japanese even rigging up a fake marriage with Tanaka’s protégé Kissy Suzuki. Bond sets out on his gyrocopter to find the place, in vain. Finally, with the help of Kissy, Bond finds the secret lair where the craft is and successfully infiltrates it. He meets the Number one of SPECTRE aka Ernst Stavro Blofeld!

If Thunderball was deep inside the water, You Only Live Twice goes aerial. The plot is kept simple and would form the basis of another Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies (1997). You Only Live Twice, to an extent, makes up for the heavy blow dealt to the series by its predecessor Thunderball (1965). Blofeld (more famous as Dr. Evil in Austin Powers series!) makes his first appearance after indirectly threatening in previous three films.

 

October 20, 2008

The Bond Countdown #4

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Thunderball (1965)
Terence Young
Bond, James Bond: Sean Connery
Arch Rival: Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi)
Bond Girl: Domino Derval (Claudine Auger)

Thunderball (1965)

Thunderball (1965)

The fourth offering in the so far successful Bond series, Thunderball,  takes the English agent into the island country of Nassau. The film starts with Angelo, a double who replaces the murdered French pilot Derval, and takes the responsibility of transporting nuclear bombs during a training session . He  tranquilizes the unsuspecting flight crew and crashes the plane into the ocean. Emilio Largo, or Number 2 in the infamous SPECTRE organisation, kills Angelo for protesting and takes away the bombs. Bond, meanwhile, meets Domino in Nassau, who happens to be the Largo’s mistress and tells her the truth about her brother Derval. She helps Bond in going into largo’s lair undercover which reveals Largo’s plans of blowing up Miami. With the help of long tiem CIA friend Felix Leiter, Bond manages to put down largo’s underwater minions and disarm most of the bombs. But Largo’s not down yet…

Undoubtedly the weakest link in the early Bond films, Thunderball is too long, too indulgent and tries too much. The only highlight of the film remains the fantastic underwater sequences that are shot masterfully. Perhaps, the makers got too carried away by the triple success and wanted to take it to a whole new level. Surprisingly remade as an unofficial Bond movie Never Say Never Again (1983) with Connery reprising his role for one last time.

 

October 19, 2008

The Bond Countdown #3

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Goldfinger (1964)
Guy Hamilton
Bond, James Bond: Sean Connery
Arch Rival: Auric Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe)
Bond Girl: Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman)

Goldfinger (1964)

Goldfinger (1964)

What followed next would be my favorite Bond film of all time – Goldfinger (1964). In this installment of the series Bond follows Auric Goldfinger, a wealthy gold trafficker whose sole intention remains to control the flow of gold all over the world. He is assisted by his deadpan soldier Oddjob whose throw of his hat can spice a man into two and veteran pilot Pussy Galore and her team of trained fliers. As Goldfinger is concocting a plan called Operation Grand Slam with the Chinese agents Bond overhears and promptly gets captured. Goldfinger later rejoices telling his plan to the seemingly helpless bond. According to it, Pussy Galore’s team of pilots would spread a certain type of nerve gas in the area around Fort Knox and paralyzing everyone around. Goldfinger would meanwhile take a weapon-laden truck into Fort Knox, blow it out and hence destroy the total gold supply of the country. Then the whole world would have to beg him for gold. Mwhahahahaha….

Quintessential Bond film entertains audience with the same charm today as it might have at the time of its release. Intentionally over the top, Goldfinger has become the template of all megalomaniacs that would follow, even the most comic ones. The film’s got everything in boosted proportions – an immensely evil plan, Bond in severe trouble, fantastic action and entertainment. A hat trick film for the young Bond series. You haven’t watched Bond if you haven’t watched Goldfinger.

 

October 18, 2008

The Bond Countdown #2

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From Russia With Love (1963)
Terence Young
Bond, James Bond: Sean Connery
Arch Rival: Red Grant (Robert Shaw)
Bond Girl: Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi)

From Russia With Love (1963)

From Russia With Love (1963)

The second in the series of Bond films, From Russia With Love, takes Bond to newer places and heights. In this version, Bond has to capture a decoding machine built by the Russians called Lektor. For this he has to go to Istanbul, Turkey and evade the attempts of SPECTRE to kill him and get their hands on the machine. SPECTRE, the secret organization introduced to us in the previous film, is lead by the unknown Number 1 who will only be revealed in You Only Live Twice (1967). SPECTRE has assigned a female commander, Rosa Klebb, to terminate Bond and avenge the death of Dr. No. Bond is to meet up with Tatiana Romanova, the Embassy official and get the machine from the consulate. They manage to board the Orient Express with the machine. Just as they think they have done their work, they come to know that Klebb is not through yet.

Famous for the absence of the “Bond, James Bond” quote, From Russia With Love lives up to the prequel with more action, more technology and more style. The title sequences, the grand photography and thematic music add up the charm. Many call it the best in the series and the film does live up to all that hype. The film’s premise is so befitting to the cold war era it was made in and no wonder JFK loved this film! A very memorable film as a whole.

 

October 17, 2008

The Bond Countdown #1

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Dr. No (1962)
Terence Young
Bond, James Bond: Sean Connery
Arch Rival: Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman)
Bond Girl: Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress)

Dr. No (1962)

The film that started it all – Dr. No. Set in the West Indian country of Jamaica, the film follows a British secret agent Bond who is on the mission of solving the mysterious killing of another fellow British man John Strangways. He eventually arrives to know that a certain island called Crab Key, an arcane place of mysterious happenings, possesses deposits of radioactive rocks and tat Strangways was after the same thing. He also meets Honey Ryder, a shell collecting damsel and as Bond makes way into the island with Honey, he finds out that a huge organization has its base there and is led by Dr. No. After Bond and Honey are captured by the men there, he gets a rendezvous with Dr. No that reveals the organization as SPECTRE. Can bond escape the clutches of Dr. No and save the American rockets from being destroyed by him?

Apart from becoming a historical piece, Dr. No is a damn interesting film with great scenes and a superb score. My favorite Bond title track “Three Blind Mice” is in this film. Sean Connery is the embodiment of style and had already set a very high standard for all the Bond heroes to follow. Although more mellow and deliberate than the subsequent Bond films that had action taking the driver’s seat, Dr. No still remains a must watch for all action fans for the intensity of lead and for the significance of introducing us to quirky yet suave world of Bond, James Bond.