It has been years since I have been to a theater to see a James Bond movie but that may change over the next few weeks based on the reviews of the latest Bond flick, "Skyfall."<br />
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It is set for release later this week, the 23rd in the series of movies, the "official James Bond films," that began in 1962 with "Dr. No." (http://www.klast.net/bond/filmlist.html). It stars Daniel Craig in his third film as the lead as the ultra-successful franchise celebrates its 50th anniversary. Some of the reviews I have read call it the best Bond movie in decades, maybe of all time.<br />
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I became hooked on the films with that very first one and made it to a theater to see each succeeding one up to and including 1981's "For Your Eye Only." Since then, I have only seen the ones that followed on television. I sort of lost interest once Sean Connery - the series' original Agent 007 - gave up the role.<br />
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Why the films have been such a success is beyond me. <br />
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They are so predictable. Each begins and ends with a spectacular, often-times death-defying and impossible-to-believe, sequence. Along the way, Bond meets and seduces (always PG or PG-13, never R-rated) a beautiful woman, either an ally of his or a confident of the arch villain he's is trying to keep from wreaking havoc on the world. He, of course, is successful in eliminating the threat, usually with only seconds to spare, and by employing some high-tech gadgetry. Then, he and the latest woman in his life are rescued and ride off into the sunset, so to speak.<br />
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My favorite is 1964's "Goldfinger," the story of Auric Goldfinger, played by Gert Frobe, who is plotting to steal the U.S. gold reserve from Fort Knox. <br />
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Why it is my favorite I'm not sure but I think there are several reasons. <br />
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There's a sometimes stirring soundtrack and the title title song which was sung by Shirley Bassey. There's the scene where a group of planes streak through the sky, headed to Fort Knox with an incapacitating chemical which will be sprayed on the complex and its occupants so Goldfinger and his henchmen can move in and steal the gold. The scene is accented by an upbeat, especially catchy part of the soundtrack.<br />
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Then there's my favorite line from the movie, one of my all-time movie quotes. <br />
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It comes as Goldfinger is trying to kill Bond with a laser beam. Bond asks: "Do yu expect me to talk?" To which Goldfinger replies: "No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!" <br />
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So I will go into a theater in a few days with an open mind, giving Craig the benefit of the doubt. But, I'm sure when I emerge, for me, Sean Connery, will still be the one and only "Bond, James Bond."<br />
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<I>(Ken Stanford is the retired longtime News Director and now a contributing editor for WDUN-AM, WDUN-FM, 1240 ESPN Radio and AccessNorthGa.com.<I>
