Director: Lewis Gilbert
Year of Release: 1967
Should you watch it? Maybe for scientific purposes?
Why?
After the wildly underwhelming and mildly boring Thunderball, the James Bond movies threatened to get back on track with this very busy film with a number of fun sequences. This movie though is frankly just to shockingly racist even in the context of James Bond to really recommend in good faith. Like, in many ways, it’s a much better done version of what a Sean Connery James Bond can be than some of his films. And there is a sincerity to the racism that makes it a true and accurate representation of the awfulness that James Bond represents. But it’s just too much.
How is the Bond?
James Bond is shockingly even more racist and sexist than ever before. He in fact combined the two to discuss his fondness for fucking Asian women. The real coupe de grace is that there is a storyline where James Bond must “turn Japanese” in order to pass as a poor Japanese peasant farmer as part of the half-assed plan to save the world. Truly insane shit.
How is the Bond Woman?
I suppose Aki is the closest thing to the main Bond Woman of this film? Her only function seems to be to pop up when James Bond needs help. About halfway through the film, she is killed and then Bond’s fake Japanese wife then becomes the Bond Woman for the climatic sequence of the film. I am guessing this was not a meta commentary on the racism of white audiences thinking all Asian women look alike or whatever.
How is the Bond Villain?
Donald Pleasence is finally revealed as the head of SPECTRE. As discussed, SPECTRE is not really all that interesting. But they do a good job of keeping SPECTRE as an offscreen threat through enough of the film to not be too bothersome. Pleasance does also at least have some fun with the role.
Does the film irresponsibly present the West as the hero of the world and thus promote imperialism and colonialism as inherently positive?
Yes.
The Reel World 