GoldenEye at 30: The Movie That Revived James Bond Post-Cold War

In November of 1995, GoldenEye, the seventeenth installment of the James Bond series hit cinemas to strong reviews and solid box office success. It was the first Bond movie since Licence To Kill, and with Pierce Brosnan taking over as James Bond 007, the movie revived the franchise, proving that the legendary spy could still be thrilling and relevant in a post-Cold War world.

With a stellar cast including Sean Bean as Alec Trevelayan, Izabella Scorupco as Bond girl Natalya Simonova, Judi Dench as M, GoldenEye combined strong performances with thrilling action, memorable set pieces, and a modernized take that set the tone for a new era of Bond movies.

As the film approaches its 30th anniversary on Monday, November 17, it remains one of the most important installments in the series, reminding audiences why James Bond continues to captivate viewers decades later.

According to an article on the website Bond Scenes, Bond 17 was supposed to be Timothy Dalton's third movie and the plot was going to be Bond on a mission to stop Sir Henry Lee Ching, a British-Chinese businessman and tech genius, who was going to provide numerous companies high-tech robotic tech.

The movie was going to feature Japan and Hong Kong and would have resulted in a climactic confrontation between Bond and Ching atop a skyscraper, reflecting a more high-tech, globalized take regarding espionage that was rising in the early 1990s.

The project was scheduled to be released in late 1991, but legal disputes between MGM and Danjaq prevented it from happening, resulting in a six-year hiatus for the series. By 1993, Dalton's contract had finished, and the series would not return to cinemas until Pierce Brosnan's GoldenEye.

Pierce Brosnan as James Bond fits like a glove, but he had actually been widely fancasted for the role back in the 1980s, thanks to his perfomance in the detective noir series Remington Steele (1982-87). According to an article by Express, Brosnan even screen tested for the role in The Living Daylights, but a restoration of Remington Steele caused Brosnan to not take it. As a result, Timothy Dalton was cast for The Living Daylights (1987) and Licence To Kill (1989).

It is fascinating to imagine how the series might have looked if Brosnan had started his run with The Living Daylights. In the mid-1980s, he would have been in his mid-30s --the perfect age to play 007. Of course, that means we wouldn't have had Timothy Dalton's gritty take on Bond, which had its merits.

There are plenty of behind the scenes facts about GoldenEye that will surely surprse Bond fans. One interesting fact about the movie is the iconic bungee jump sequence at the beginning nearly failed. According to Scorpio Like You, stuntman Wayne Michaels jumped from the 722-foot-tall Contra Dam in Switzerland, setting a world record for the highest stunt ever filmed. Incredibly, the scene was shot in a single take, leaving audiences impressed and demonstrating a high stakes tone that would stick throughout the movie. To this day, the stunt is still remembered as one of the most thrilling moments in the franchise's history.

Filming in Russia also presented obstacles. Permits were restricted, and when the crew tried to film a scene near a prohibited area, Russian army officers stepped in. That same article notes while no firearms were drawn, production was suspended until the necessary paperwork and negotiations were finished. The incident shows the difficulty of filming a globe-trotting spy adventure in controversial locations, where even a minor mishap could put halt production.

Xenia Onatopp's infamous leg strangling move nearly caused GoldenEye to have an X rating from the MPAA. To prevent limiting its audience, the producers had to tone down certain scenes. The character remained intimidating and memorable, but the alteration ensured the movie could reach a wide audience without sacricing the story.

Although GoldenEye is not directly based on any Ian Fleming book, it contains a interesting connection to the author. Before becoming a distinguished novelist, Fleming served in British intelligence during World War II, one of his operations was codenamed "GoldenEye", a strategic plan in case Germany attacked Spain.

Later, Fleming named his estate GoldenEye, where he would he write his Bond novel, Casino Royale, in 1953. The movie's title pays homage to Fleming's intelligence work, connecting the real-world spy history with the cinematic adventures of James Bond.

GoldenEye is filled with thrilling and iconic sequences that have placed its status as one of the most beloved Bond movies. The opening bungee jump sequence immediately impresses audiences, as Bond leaps 722 feet off the Contra Dam in Switzerland. In the movie, the dam substitutes for the Arkangel facility in the USSR. It is highly regarded as one of the best movie stunts of all time, according to Sky Movies.

Another prominent moment is Bond driving a Russian military tank throughout the streets of St. Petersburg. The scene mixes spectacle with classic Bond cleverness, crushing obstacles, avoids enemy forces, and turns a giant vehicle into a weapon and a shield.

The climactic confrontation behind Bond and Trevelyan atop the satellite is another unforgettable moment. Before Trevelyan falls to his death, the iconic exchange ---"For England, James?"/ "No, for me" --- adds emotional weight, emphasizing that these two were once allies, now Bond has to deal with his former comrade turned adversary.

Bond's resourcefulness is further demonstrated in the helicopter scene, where he and Natalya are trapped in the craft programmed to fire missiles at itself. Without using gadgets, Bond activates the ejector seat, saving both their lives in a tense, exciting moment.

The train sequence is equally astonishing. Trapped onboard with Natalya, Bond uses his wristwatch to fire a laser, slicing through the train and creating an escape path. The tension progresses as the train crashes with a military tanker, exploding in a epic finale that integrates practical effects with high-stakes action.

Each of these scenes highlights the mix of high-octane stunts, clever resourcefulness, and cinematic spectacle that makes GoldenEye an iconic entry in the series, keeping audiences at the edge of their seat long after its release.

When GoldenEye hit cinemas in fall of 1995, it marked a prize-winning return for the James Bond franchise and a strong debut for Pierce Brosnan in the role. The movie successfully blended thrilling action, memorable characters, and excellent storytelling, manifesting that James Bond could remain relevant and exciting in a post-Cold War world. Brosnan's suave charm and wit made him an instant fan-favorite amongst audiences, setting the standard for his tenure as Bond.

However, as the series progressed, some of Brosnan's later films veered into campy territory, with over-the-top gadgets and preposterous action sequences. Despite this, Pierce Brosnan remains a fan-favorite Bond, celebrated for radiating sophistication, charisma and modernity to the character.

GoldenEye's legacy also extended beyond film: in 1997, it inspired one of the most iconic video games of all time, GoldenEye 007, for the Nintendo 64, which remains a beloved classic amongst gamers. Decades later, GoldenEye continues to define Pierce Brosnan's era of Bond and stands as a timeless entry in the series.