Pierce Brosnan's first outing as Bond marked a sharp improvement in the 007 series. Despite Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton's best efforts, the licenced-to-kill capers were becoming decidedly flabby, pumped up on SFX and increasingly ludicrous plots. Frankly - especially in Moore's latter days - Bond lacked the calm, detached, patriotic cool brought to the role by its finest exponent - Sean Connery.
That all changed in 1995 when Brosnan, who for years had been a favourite for the role, finally stepped into Bond's shoes, slammed the throttle of his Aston Martin to the floor and, under the guidance of director Martin Campbell, got the series firmly back on track.
But Bond simply couldn't walk right back on to our screens without some sort of nod to the 90s, hence a new M, played - of all things - by a woman! And what a joy it is, as Judi Dench castigates Bond strongly, telling him he's "a sexist, misogynist dinosaur, a relic of the Cold War". Why even Miss Moneypenny (Samantha Bond) isn't adverse to suggesting that 007's flirty tomfoolery is damn close to sexual harassment. How times have changed.
There's plenty of stirring and shaking going on here in this terrific thriller, as Bond is sent to Russia to investigate the theft of Goldeneye - a jamming device that orbits the Earth. Running into nail-biting danger, some terrific car chases and glamorous girls, he discovers that the true villain may be someone considerably closer to home...
Great fun. Highly recommended.
GoldenEye is a Film programme that first aired in 1995 and has been classified a 12 certificate.
