GoldenEye is the beginning of a new Bond era, and wow, does it kick the door down. After a six-year hiatus, the Cold War is over, Timothy Dalton is out, and Pierce Brosnan steps in to redefine 007 for the ’90s. It’s glossier, louder, and sleeker, but also smarter than you’d expect. This isn’t just a Bond comeback—it’s a mission statement.
This one lands at a solid 4 out of 5 for me. I really liked it. Brosnan is magnetic, the action delivers, and the story has just enough emotional weight to elevate it. It’s not perfect, but it’s punchy, modern, and stylish—everything a rebooted Bond needed to be.
Plot: Betrayal, Satellites, and Financial Meltdown
The story opens with Bond and fellow 00-agent Alec Trevelyan (006) on a mission in a Soviet chemical weapons facility. Things go sideways, Trevelyan gets “killed,” and Bond barely escapes. Cut to nine years later: a mysterious group hijacks a powerful satellite weapon called GoldenEye and wipes out a Russian base using an electromagnetic pulse.
Turns out, Trevelyan is very much alive—and now he’s trying to collapse the global economy as revenge for the betrayal of his family by the British government. It’s classic Bond with a Cold War hangover twist. And the best part? The villain knows all of Bond’s tricks, because he was one.
Pierce Brosnan: The Perfect Mixture
Brosnan’s debut is exactly what the franchise needed. He has the grit of Dalton, the charm of Moore, and just enough of Connery’s danger to feel like the real deal. He’s smooth, stylish, and incredibly comfortable in the role from the first frame.
What makes Brosnan’s Bond work here is the balance. He’s not too dark, not too goofy. He delivers one-liners with ease, but he’s also got depth—especially in his scenes with Trevelyan. There’s an emotional undercurrent here that Moore never really got to explore, and Brosnan handles it like a pro.
Natalya: Smart, Strong, and Actually Useful
Natalya Simonova, played by Izabella Scorupco, is easily one of the strongest Bond women in the entire franchise. She’s a computer programmer, not a secret agent, but she never feels like dead weight. She’s resourceful, clever, and emotionally grounded—someone who’s genuinely traumatized by what she’s seen but still finds the strength to fight back.
She’s not there to just be eye candy or a plot device—she has her own goals, her own arc, and more than once, she saves Bond. Imagine that.
Alec Trevelyan: The Shadow Bond
Sean Bean as Alec Trevelyan is one of the most compelling villains in the series. He’s not just evil for the sake of it—he has a history with Bond, a personal grudge, and an ideology twisted by loss. The fact that he used to be 006 adds a whole new layer to the story. He’s Bond’s equal, maybe even his superior, and that dynamic drives the tension like few other villain matchups ever have.
Plus, Bean sells it. He’s smug, cold, and vicious, but you also get the sense that he genuinely feels betrayed. That emotional core makes the final confrontation hit a little harder.
Xenia Onatopp: Pure Camp, But Glorious
Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen) is as campy as it gets—she crushes men to death with her thighs and moans while doing it. It’s ludicrous, but somehow… it works? She’s the comic book Bond villain brought to life, and she adds a dose of over-the-top insanity that balances the film’s more serious moments.
She’s completely bonkers, but you won’t forget her.
Action and Spectacle: From Bungee Jumps to Tank Chases
The action in GoldenEye is top-tier. The opening bungee jump off a dam is still jaw-dropping. The tank chase through St. Petersburg is gloriously excessive. The train sequence, the shootouts, the jungle finale—it’s all paced beautifully and shot with real flair.
Director Martin Campbell knows how to build tension and let action breathe. Nothing here feels overly choreographed or fake. It’s practical, punchy, and exciting.
Score and Style: Bold and a Little Weird
Eric Serra’s score is the one thing that sticks out. It’s electronic, experimental, and definitely divisive. Some of it works—some of it doesn’t. But at least it’s memorable. The title song by Tina Turner? A certified banger. It channels classic Bond glam with a sultry modern edge.
Final Verdict: A Reboot That Hits the Mark
GoldenEye doesn’t reinvent Bond, it re-establishes him. It takes the best of the franchise’s legacy, strips away the fluff, and gives us a story with real emotional stakes and a villain who’s actually personal. Brosnan owns the role, Natalya is a standout partner, and the action still slaps nearly 30 years later.
It’s the comeback Bond desperately needed—and it holds up.