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GoldenEye
Movie

GoldenEye

1995 • Unknown

Woke Score
4
out of 10

Plot

When a powerful satellite system falls into the hands of Alec Trevelyan, AKA Agent 006, a former ally-turned-enemy, only James Bond can save the world from a dangerous space weapon that -- in one short pulse -- could destroy the earth! As Bond squares off against his former compatriot, he also battles Xenia Onatopp, an assassin who uses pleasure as her ultimate weapon.

Overall Series Review

GoldenEye relaunched the Bond franchise by attempting to modernize the hero for the post-Cold War era. The movie achieves this by directly criticizing the established James Bond persona. The narrative introduces a new female M, who immediately confronts the male protagonist by labeling him a “sexist, misogynist dinosaur.” This theme is reinforced by the primary female co-star, Natalya Simonova, who is not a helpless romantic interest but a technically skilled computer programmer. She is crucial to the plot's success, often guiding or saving Bond, and she repeatedly questions his personal morality and destructive methods. The villain is a former British agent seeking revenge against the United Kingdom for a historical betrayal, framing the antagonist's motivation as a critique of Western institutional corruption. However, the essential structure remains a classic spy thriller with a male hero protecting a major Western city and traditional gender dynamics in romance, although a significant focus is placed on elevating and validating female authority over the traditional male figure.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics5/10

The plot does not rely on race or intersectional hierarchy, with the conflict centered on rogue agents and financial terrorism. The white male hero, Bond, is not depicted as incompetent, but a new narrative element is introduced with a female M. She uses explicitly political language to vilify his traditional white male archetype, calling him a 'sexist, misogynist dinosaur, a relic of the Cold War.'

Oikophobia5/10

The central villain, a former British agent, is motivated by deep-seated revenge against Britain for a historical betrayal of his Lienz Cossack ancestors, framing the United Kingdom as a fundamentally corrupt entity whose past actions warrant an apocalyptic attack on London. Despite this, the film's conclusion reaffirms the traditional function of the British Secret Service through the loyal agent, James Bond.

Feminism7/10

The score is elevated by the forced insertion of a female M, who immediately assumes the role of moral and institutional superior to Bond. She delivers a direct, emasculating lecture. The female co-star, Natalya Simonova, is an expert computer programmer who operates independently, saves Bond’s life, and confronts his amoral behavior, portraying a 'Girl Boss' adjacent figure. While M briefly mentions her children, the primary focus is on the moral and professional superiority of the newly powerful female characters.

LGBTQ+1/10

The core of the narrative relies on the traditional male-female pairing. The plot contains no overt centering of alternative sexualities, deconstruction of the nuclear family, or lecturing on gender theory. Sexuality remains a private aspect of the characters, even with the presence of the highly sexualized female assassin.

Anti-Theism2/10

The film avoids theological themes entirely, placing the moral conversation in a secular context as the co-star questions the ethics of Bond's violent existence. The villain’s motivation is purely political, national, and financial, not rooted in any religious hostility. The narrative is defined by a spiritual vacuum rather than active anti-theism, focusing on moral relativism and individual consequence.