GoldenEye
GoldenEye (1995) is the seventeenth spy film in the James Bond series, and the first to star Pierce Brosnan as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film was directed by Martin Campbell and unlike previous Bond films, is unrelated to the works of novelist Ian Fleming,[1] although the name "GoldenEye" was taken from his estate in Jamaica. The story was conceived and written by Michael France, with later collaboration by other writers. In the film, Bond fights to prevent an arms syndicate from using the GoldenEye satellite weapon against London in order to cause a global financial meltdown.
GoldenEye was released in 1995 after legal disputes forced a six-year hiatus in the series, during which Timothy Dalton resigned from the role of James Bond and was replaced by Pierce Brosnan. M was also recast, with actress Judi Dench becoming the first woman to portray the character. GoldenEye was the first Bond film made after the downfall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, which provided a background for the plot.
The film accumulated a worldwide gross of $350.7 million - considerably better than Dalton's films, without taking inflation into account.[2] Some critics viewed the film as a modernisation of the series, and felt Brosnan was a definite improvement over his predecessor.[3][4][5] The film also received award nominations for "Best Achievement in Special Effects" and "Best Sound" from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.[6] GoldenEye was met with mostly positive critical reviews upon its theatrical release, and helped Brosnan star in three more James Bond films directed by Roger Spottiswoode, Michael Apted, and Lee Tamahori respectively
Cast
Pierce Brosnan as James Bond (007): An MI6 Agent assigned to stop the Janus crime syndicate from acquiring "GoldenEye", a clandestine satellite weapon designed and launched by the Soviets during the Cold War.- Sean Bean as Alec Trevelyan (006): Initially another double-0 Agent and Bond's friend, he fakes his death at Arkangel and then establishes the Janus crime syndicate in the following nine years.
- Izabella Scorupco as Natalya Simonova: The only survivor and eyewitness of the attack of GoldenEye on its own control center at Severnaya. A skilled programmer, she helps Bond in his mission and follows him to Cuba to disarm the GoldenEye.
- Famke Janssen as Xenia Onatopp: A Georgian lust murderer and Trevelyan's henchwoman. A sadist and masochist, she enjoys torturing her enemies between her strong thighs.
- Joe Don Baker as Jack Wade: A veteran CIA agent on the same mission as Bond. He later appears in Tomorrow Never Dies.
- Judi Dench as M: The strict head of MI6.
- Gottfried John as General Ourumov: A renegade Russian general who nefariously misuses his authority and position for helping Janus gain access to the GoldenEye. He is forsaken to die at Bond's hands on learning that Trevelyan is a Cossack.
- Robbie Coltrane as Valentin Dmitrovich Zukovsky: a Russian gangster and ex-KGB agent through whom Bond uses to arrange a meeting with Janus (Trevelyan).
- Alan Cumming as Boris Grishenko: a computer programmer at Severnaya secretly affiliated to Janus.
- Tchéky Karyo as Defense Minister Dmitri Mishkin: The Defense Minister and the person to whom Ourumov had to report. Ourumov shoots him when Simonova reveals the events at Severnaya.
- Desmond Llewelyn as Q: The head of Q Branch ( research and development division of the British Secret Service). Llewelyn was the only actor to reprise a role from a previous Bond film.
- Samantha Bond as Miss Moneypenny: M's secretary. Samantha Bond made her first of four appearances as Moneypenny.
