The third James Bond film, GOLDFINGER set the standard that every following 007 film is measured by. After the serious touch of director Terence Young on Dr.No and From Russia with Love, new director Guy Hamilton brings a lighter touch that perfected the mix. A brilliant cast, including Gert Frobe as Goldfinger, Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore (the Bond Girl that all others want to be) and of course Sean Connery, in probably his finest performance as Bond. SO many classic 007 moments here: The pre-credits action sequence, Bond and Dink's encounter concluding with her covered in gold paint, the Aston Martin DB5 with ejector seat, the laser gun aimed at Bond's weapon of choice, Goldfinger's (here goes the part where the villain explains their plan so Bond can overhear it) Operation Grand Slam presentation to the gangsters, Oddjob's Pressing engagement, the entire closing sequence at Fort Knox, they all set the tone for the entire series. There are some dated elements, including Bond's horrible turquoise swim wear cover (hilarious!) but the perfect strains of Shirley Bassey's title song drown out any complaints. Hugely popular and highly regarded by Bond fans and me alike, GOLDFINGER sets the 007 gold standard. A+ and a golden spot in my all time Top 100 films.
