DVD Review

Details

The Man with the Golden Gun (R2)

1 Hour 59 Minutes

The James Bond DVD Collection

Cast

Roger Moore James Bond
Christopher Lee Francisco Scaramanga
Britt Ekland Mary Goodnight
Maud Adams Andrea Anders
Hervé Villechaize Nick Nack
Clifton James J.W. Pepper
Richard Loo Hai Fat
Soon-Tek Oh Hip
Bernard Lee M
Desmond Llewelyn Q

Synopsis

When a world renowned assassin seizes a Solex, a super efficient energy conversion device, Bond must recover the device and confront his most formidable foe to date.

Film

When a golden bullet arrives at the headquarters of British intelligence with "007" carved in it, Bond believes that he is the next target for the renowned international assassin Scaramanga. Bond is given the mission to locate and kill Scaramanga before he can murder Bond and collect his reputed $1,000,000 bounty.
However, as he tracks down the assassin, Bond discovers that Scaramanga has stolen the priceless Solex device. This device can convert massive amounts of solar energy into electricity at a minimum cost which Scaramanga plans to sell it to the highest bidder. Rather going after Bond himself, Scaramanga has managed to bring Bond to him for a duel between the best of the best in his bizarre island fun house.

The picture is bright and colourful enough with an average bit-rate through out the film. However, similar to most of the Bond discs to date, the picture still suffers from many dusk specks and other picture imperfections. Although the layer change point is obvious, it is done at a sensible point and not in the middle of any dialogue or action.

Yet again, the major disappointment with this film is the mediocre sound track. Although clearly labelled as having a 5.1 soundtrack on the rear of the box, it certainly doesn't contain one as the film is only presented in stereo. At least it is better than the mono soundtracks on the previous discs.
As usual, MGM have managed to dig up plenty of interesting extras, with the usual documentaries still being interesting along with the trailers and radio spots. There is also the wonderfully animated menu system which just seems to get better on each disc.

Although Christopher Lee is excellent as Scaramanga, I still feel that there was something lacking from the film and I didn't really enjoy it that much. The Man with the Golden Gun must be one of the weakest Bond films, and although the comedy element has been toned down from the previous film Live and Let Die why that annoying, and blatantly racist, sheriff J.W. Pepper makes a return is beyond me. 

Extras

  • Audio Commentary Featuring Director Guy Hamilton, The Cast and Crew
  • "Inside the Man with the Golden Gun" Documentary
  • "Double-O-Stuntmen" Documentary
  • Still Gallery
  • Original Television Advertisements
  • Radio Spots
  • Collectable "Making of" Booklet
  • Trailers
Reviewed by: Simon
DD
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