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Cutting the Gordian Knot

PalkoPalkoPalkoPalko
edited June 2014 in Bond Movies Posts: 54
I've always enjoyed the moments in the films where OO7 "cuts the Gordian Knot", that is, he employs the simplest, most brutal solution to problems. For me, it's one of those aspects of Bond that raises him above your bog-standard hero.

I thought we could find a few good examples.

The first that springs to mind is the Madagascan parkour chase in Casino Royale, which is chock-full of examples, from the tractor crashing into the building site, to shooting the gas canisters at the end, with the most hilarious and memorable being the moment when he simply runs through the wall that Mollaka had skilfully leaped over.

Anyone care to add?

"Construction's not exactly my... er... speciality."
"Quite the opposite in fact."

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordian_Knot)
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Comments

  • Perilagu_KhanPerilagu_Khan
    edited June 2014 Posts: 2,483
    Good topic.

    Might GE's tank chase qualify? It's Bond's simple, brutal, inelegant solution to the problem of Natalia's capture. And the acme of this sequence is probably Bond bursting through the Perrier bottles.

    In Willy Krebs' parlance, Wonderschon!
  • timmertimmer
    Posts: 4,622
    Rog declines karate formality and simply cold cocks his opponent in the karate house scene in TMWTGG.

  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,804
    Perilagu_Khan wrote:
    Good topic.

    Might GE's tank chase qualify? It's Bond's simple, brutal, inelegant solution to the problem of Natalia's capture. And the acme of this sequence is probably Bond bursting through the Perrier bottles.

    In Willy Krebs' parlance, Wonderschon!

    The tank chase was the first one that came to mind for me, too, however unBondian in nature it may ultimately be.
  • PalkoPalkoPalkoPalko
    Posts: 54
    Perilagu_Khan wrote:
    Good topic.

    Might GE's tank chase qualify? It's Bond's simple, brutal, inelegant solution to the problem of Natalia's capture. And the acme of this sequence is probably Bond bursting through the Perrier bottles.

    In Willy Krebs' parlance, Wonderschon!

    It certainly qualifies! Has a look around, assesses the situation...
    "Oh I'll drive that tank through the wall."
    Great example!

  • Perilagu_KhanPerilagu_Khan
    Posts: 2,483
    timmer wrote:
    Rog declines karate formality and simply cold cocks his opponent in the karate house scene in TMWTGG.

    A perfect example of kicking the Gordian knot. Always love that moment. One of many in the underrated Gun.

  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Running over the crocs in LALD.
  • Perilagu_KhanPerilagu_Khan
    Posts: 2,483
    Thunderfinger wrote:
    Running over the crocs in LALD.

    Eh. I don't know. I think what the OP is talking about requires a certain amount of hamfisted violence or destruction.

  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Perilagu_Khan wrote:
    Thunderfinger wrote:
    Running over the crocs in LALD.

    Eh. I don't know. I think what the OP is talking about requires a certain amount of hamfisted violence or destruction.

    OK, the shark pellet in the same film, then. Or oiling Greene.
  • PalkoPalkoPalkoPalko
    Posts: 54
    Can someone give a Sean Connery example?
    Maybe when he takes the hotel maid's keys in Goldfinger?
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,804
    Moore Bond using his aftershave bottle as a flame-thrower to scorch the snake is a good one.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    PalkoPalko wrote:
    Can someone give a Sean Connery example?
    Maybe when he takes the hotel maid's keys in Goldfinger?

    The Kidd barbecue.
  • TubesTubes The Hebrew Hammer
    Posts: 158
    Sean vs. Plastic Surgery Mook in Diamonds qualifies. Confronted with a man and a gun, Bond opts to drown the man in mud.
  • PalkoPalkoPalkoPalko
    Posts: 54
    Knocking the lamp into the bath in Goldfinger?
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,804
    PalkoPalko wrote:
    Knocking the lamp into the bath in Goldfinger?

    Yes, the dictionary definition of the use of the cutting of the Gordian knot in the Bond films I would say.
  • WillyGaloreWillyGalore
    Posts: 6,396
    Killing the unsuspecting Vargas with a spear gun in TB.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,804
    WillyGalore wrote:
    Killing the unsuspecting Vargas with a spear gun in TB.

    Indeed - I'm sure we get the point!

  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,471
    I know it isn't Bond, but this thread makes me think of Indiana Jones fighting the massive sword-wielding foe, the latter showing off his tricks and moves which will surely be a difficult challenge for Indy...

    ...who pulls out his revolver and shoots the bad guy once, ending that fight with the snap of a finger.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    Creasy47 wrote:
    I know it isn't Bond, but this thread makes me think of Indiana Jones fighting the massive sword-wielding foe, the latter showing off his tricks and moves which will surely be a difficult challenge for Indy...

    ...who pulls out his revolver and shoots the bad guy once, ending that fight with the snap of a finger.

    And I'm pretty sure Harrison either improvised that moment or had the idea initially.
  • SoundofthesinnersSoundofthesinners
    Posts: 3,236
    0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote:
    Creasy47 wrote:
    I know it isn't Bond, but this thread makes me think of Indiana Jones fighting the massive sword-wielding foe, the latter showing off his tricks and moves which will surely be a difficult challenge for Indy...

    ...who pulls out his revolver and shoots the bad guy once, ending that fight with the snap of a finger.

    And I'm pretty sure Harrison either improvised that moment or had the idea initially.

    Yes, he was supposed to steal one of the guy's swords with his whip, but he was sick that day and had no energy to do the fight scene, so instead that memorable scene was drawn up.
  • OHMSS69OHMSS69
    Posts: 2,341
    How can we leave out Dalton dispatching Killifer and then Sanchez with extreme prejudice.
  • Perilagu_KhanPerilagu_Khan
    edited June 2014 Posts: 2,483
    OHMSS69 wrote:
    How can we leave out Dalton dispatching Killifer and then Sanchez with extreme prejudice.

    IMO, the "Compliments of Sharkey!" killing better fits the spirit of the thread.

    Another Gordian moment for Dalton was in the Barrelhead Bar where he slammed the goon's head into the table and growled, "He's had enough."

  • TokolosheTokoloshe Under your bed
    Posts: 2,667
    Likewise in QOS, he needs to kick things off with Medrano so opts to just ram their boat with his own.
  • PalkoPalkoPalkoPalko
    Posts: 54
    Tokoloshe wrote:
    Likewise in QOS, he needs to kick things off with Medrano so opts to just ram their boat with his own.

    Yes, good one.
    Many of Craig's solutions seem to be this destructive... take the excavator ripping into the train to get onboard, or blowing up his own house to take down the helicopter gunship in Skyfall.

    (As an aside - whenever someone says the hackneyed "Skyfall turns into Home Alone", I think "I don't remember Macaulay Culkin blowing up his house".)

  • WillyGaloreWillyGalore
    edited June 2014 Posts: 6,396
    Bond using Fiona Volpe as a human shield in TB.
  • barryt007barryt007
    Posts: 19,339
    One that springs to mind is the way Bond dispatches Electra....BANG = DEAD.
  • Perilagu_KhanPerilagu_Khan
    Posts: 2,483
    Tokoloshe wrote:
    Likewise in QOS, he needs to kick things off with Medrano so opts to just ram their boat with his own.

    Another from QOS: Bond goes off like a human fragmentation grenade in the elevator with M's four goons.

  • Perilagu_KhanPerilagu_Khan
    Posts: 2,483
    PalkoPalko wrote:
    Tokoloshe wrote:
    Likewise in QOS, he needs to kick things off with Medrano so opts to just ram their boat with his own.

    Yes, good one.
    Many of Craig's solutions seem to be this destructive... take the excavator ripping into the train to get onboard, or blowing up his own house to take down the helicopter gunship in Skyfall.

    (As an aside - whenever someone says the hackneyed "Skyfall turns into Home Alone", I think "I don't remember Macaulay Culkin blowing up his house".)

    Quite. If this is Home Alone it is of such a higher order that it is different in kind.

  • PalkoPalkoPalkoPalko
    Posts: 54
    I suppose Dalton cuts the Gordian shoelace in TLD.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,804
    PalkoPalko wrote:
    I suppose Dalton cuts the Gordian shoelace in TLD.

    Indeed. Great scene there.
  • OHMSS69OHMSS69
    Posts: 2,341
    Dragonpol wrote:
    PalkoPalko wrote:
    I suppose Dalton cuts the Gordian shoelace in TLD.

    Indeed. Great scene there.

    And Necros hanging on to that boot like it was a magic talisman. lol
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