The James Bond movie review thread...

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I'm reading. I just rarely have anything to add.

Nobody ever replies to my "movie a day" thread, and I also wonder if I should even bother to keep doing it. But it gives me something to do.

Thunderball is... well, it's Thunderball. It's good, but it's the first Bond movie that feels routine. I'm probably in the minority, but I think Never Say Never Again improved on it. It's certainly got a much better actor playing Largo.

I remember reading the book and thinking that the movie was unusually faithful, not knowing the behind the scenes story about how the book started out as the screenplay and all. I first saw this one as a kid, so I always like the healthclub hijinks with Bond nearly getting taken out by a traction machine and retaliating by locking the culprit in some kind of personal sauna pod with a mop handle. Gotta love the low tech Bond gadgets...

Along the same lines as the story of the screenplay, I din't realize that Never Say Never Again was an unauthorized remake of Thunderball and was in fact quite confused for many years when I'd see parts of one movie or the other on TV and think my memory was off. I'd call it a solid, if not spectacular entry in the series.

Sorry I'm late to the party, but it was a long weekend.

I always thought it took awhile for Thunderball to get moving during the first act. For some reason, the first act in this one didn't grip me like the previous three films had. Once the film got going, it became a little more enjoyable. Maybe it was due to the sense of urgency which had finally kicked in regarding Bond's mission.

With that said though, this film may have been the victim of Goldfinger's success since the bar was raised higher and higher in terms of expectations. And although I think Thunderball is the highest grossing Bond film (adjusted for inflation), to me it just felt like the begining of the end for the Connery era. He still had a couple Bond films left in him and (in my opinion) he still was the quitessential Bond actor, it felt like his Bond plateaued in this film. Anything after this was a trip downhill from here.

I actually found the first act, up until Bond went to Nassau, to be interesting, so I'll have to disagree with you there.



While I agree that Thunderball had that feeling of the beginning of the end, I actually enjoyed (when I last saw it) You Only Live Twice. If only he didn't come back for Diamonds are Forever...

I'm soon to review You Only Live Twice...

REVIEW: You Only Live Twice, by Roald Dahl, with elements by Lewis Gilbert and Harold Jack Bloom, from the novel by Ian Fleming


The fifth Bond film would be a first in many ways. It would be the first Bond film that was not a more or less direct adaptation of a novel. While characters and a few storyline elements were used, an entirely new storyline was developed mainly by noted writer Roald Dahl. It would be the first film, if not to feature SPECTRE boss Blofeld, then the first to reveal his face. But it was, originally, meant to be Sean Connery's last Bond film. So would You Only Live Twice be a spectacular end to Connery's reign as Bond, or would it flop spectacularly?

MI6 fakes James Bond's death in order to deflect SPECTRE's attention on him, and not a moment too soon. An American spaceship has been snatched out of orbit by a mysterious spacecraft. The Americans suspect the Russians, but MI6 has tracked the spacecraft responsible to Japan. With only three weeks before the Americans launch their next rocket, the Russians launching their own spacecraft sooner, and fingers poised on the buttons of nuclear Armageddon, Bond, with the help of Japanese spymaster 'Tiger' Tanaka and Japanese agent Aki, must find out what industrialist Osato and his secretary Helga Brandt have to do with the incidents. It will lead him into a confrontation with SPECTRE and its leader, the enigmatic and ruthless Ernst Stavro Blofeld. But Bond's second chance at life is at risk, for you only live twice, and Blofeld is determined to make sure that Bond stays dead...

Despite the fact that it is very unlike the novel, save for some characters and a few elements, and the fact that this is the Bond film that begins to move substantially into the realm of fantasy, You Only Live Twice has quite an excellent storyline. Fantastical and at times very patriarchal and patronising, but it is highly entertaining with some of the best (and admittedly, at time, cheesiest) lines in the series. This film, more than even Goldfinger, provides the template not only for many Bond films to come (most notably The Spy Who Loved Me and Tomorrow Never Dies), but also for the spoofs (seriously, it's only thanks to You Only Live Twice that we have Austin Powers, and particularly Dr Evil and the Japan elements of Goldmember). The storyline is formulaic by later Bond standards, but it is here that the quality is established, and done well. There is more incident than substance, but it is done so well that I can't complain.

Sean Connery shows no sign of flagging as Bond, and still does well. Donald Pleasance is an excellent Blofeld, with the only bad point being his delivery of "Goodbye, Mr Bond!" Tetsuro Tamba is a delight as Tiger Tanaka (despite the fact that he is overdubbed by Robert Rietti), and Akiko Wakabayashi does well as Aki, despite the thin character, as she is one of the more actionful Bond girls of the 60s, even though she doesn't get to kick much derriere. Mie Hama looks good, but I'm not so sure about her acting, though given the way the role was written, it's just as well. Karin Dor puts in a good performance as Helga Brandt.

Production wise, the film is lavish, with great location filming and production values. Ken Adams pulls off what is debatably his masterstroke in the SPECTRE volcano lair, the first and the best. The action sequences are excellent, with an interesting battle at Kobe Docks, a brilliant helicopter conflict, and the final battle within Blofeld's lair. Some of the special effects are pretty dodgy (like the volcano exploding at the end, and a lift clearly seen lifting the SPECTRE rocket-eating rocket into the air during the last launch sequence), but are mostly good for the time.

You Only Live Twice is one of the more fantastical Bonds, but it's also one of the most enjoyable ones. A few shortcomings here and there, but it is a triumph of style over substance.



SCORE: 9.5/10


Body count 1: A number of Osato's henchmen +SPECTRE henchmen + Hans + Technician + Ninja assassin + Student spy = 4 counted

Body count 2: Aki + Helga Brandt + Kissy Suzuki = 3 (The Hong Kong girl doesn't count, as it is implied Bond never got that far)

Body count 3: 2 (Helga Brandt and Aki)

Cheesiest line: Aki: I think I will enjoy very much serving under you. That's the cheesiest line in a film admittedly filled with many a cheesy line.

Most interesting death: Helga and Hans, getting eaten by piranha fish.

Behind the scenes awesome: During the filming of the helicopter battle, cameraman John Jordan got his foot severed when, while leaning out of the helicopter to film, another helicopter's rotors got too close, and chopped his foot off. The producers immediately got him the best medical attention, and Jordan would go on to film aerial scenes for On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Not only that, but props must go to the filmmakers on preventing Mie Hama from committing suicide. Because of her difficulty in learning English for the part of Aki, they originally were going to fire her, but when Tetsuro Tamba (Tiger), who had been sent to break the news to her, revealed that she was about to commit suicide to regain her honour, the filmmakers decide to switch the roles of the actresses, with Mie Hama taking the key Bond girl role (but with a lot less dialogue) Kissy Suzuki, and Akiko Wakabayashi taking the larger role of Aki.

This film was okay. Looking back on it and the prior films, maybe I just gave it less credit in the past simply for the fact that it wasn't Dr No, FRWL, or the other ones. It had some cool scenes like the gyrocopter fight and the chase with the car magnet. I also liked the fact that Blowfeld offed his henchmen with pirannas. Of all the henchmen killings done by the main villans in the series, that just ranks as one of the most f'ed up ones. Speaking of Blowfeld, this film had the quitessential take on who the character was and what he looked like. I'm getting ahead of myself here, but it was just hard to buy Blowfeld with hair in Diamonds Are Forever.

With that said, this would probably have to be one of the top 5 most underrated Bond films of the series. I know there was some hokiness in it (which I won't get into), but you haven't seen hokey Bond moments until you get to the Roger Moore films.

Agreed. Diamonds Are Forever was more than a bit too self-parodic. Even though I haven't watched it fully for some time, I remember certain elements. I can just about imagine Blofeld using drag to get away from a dangerous situation, but dear gawd, some of the other elements just make me cringe ("I do so hate martial music").

However, it's been a while since I have watched On Her Majesty's Secret Service (which, during the bulk of its review, I will be referring to by the initials OHMSS), and I haven't much memory of how Telly Savalas played Blofeld. I wonder how good it was compared to Donald Pleasance's iconic take.



Dunno about underrated, it seems to be one of the more popular ones, I thought. It's noted here on the Wikipedia page for the film that it has positive ratings, with one of the main issues being with the overreliance on gadgets. While I do agree that there are movies that have too much of a reliance on gadgets (Moonraker, I am looking at you), this one, at least, seems all of a piece.

Moonraker was my favorite as a kid because of all the gadgets . It wasn't until I rewatched them again as an adult that I realized what a stinker that one was, along with most of the Roger Moore entries. I do hold a certain nostalgic fondness for The Man with the Golden Gun, if only for Christopher Lee as as Scaramenga. I've been very tempted over the years to make a working golden gun that breaks down into a pen, a cigarette case, a lighter and a cufflink now that it's within my ability to do so; I understand the original prop was actually stolen some years ago.

Lee as Scaramanga was the best thing about The Man With The Golden Gun.

REVIEW: On Her Majesty's Secret Service, by Richard Maibaum, with elements by Simon Raven, from the novel by Ian Fleming


With Sean Connery gone from the role of James Bond, producers had to find a new Bond. Australian George Lazenby was the man they chose. And one of Ian Fleming's better acclaimed Bond novels, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, was chosen for the next film. It would be a risk to do a film with a new Bond actor, but would such a gamble pay off? And would Lazenby pull it off?

While trying to track down Blofeld, Bond saves a young woman from committing suicide in the ocean, only to be set upon by thugs. Meeting her again, he learns that she is Countess Teresa di Vincenzo, aka Tracy, and after a night of passion, he is kidnapped by thugs. But Bond's kidnapper is no supervillain. While Marc Ange Draco is the leader of the Union Corse, the Corsican crime syndicate, he has only one thing to discuss with Bond: Tracy, his wayward daughter. At first, Draco wants Bond to marry her in exchange for riches. Bond isn't interested, until M takes him off the Blofeld hunt, and now the price becomes Draco's cooperation with hunting Blofeld. With Draco's help, Bond tracks Blofeld down to Switzerland, where he is posing as the Count de Bleuchamp, a philanthropic scientist who is seeking to cure allergies. With the help of the College of Arms, Bond infiltrates Blofeld's hideout posing as genealogist Sir Hilary Bray, hoping to extradite Blofeld. But Bond's latest mission on Her Majesty's Secret Service brings him into a journey into a plot to destroy the world economy, and even if Bond can stop Blofeld, the travails of love may prove to be a crueller trap...

Having not actually read much of the original novel, I cannot say much about the closeness of the adaptation, but the story itself has, especially after You Only Live Twice, a far more realistic, if no less devastating, means of world domination. While a little slow paced at times, the story itself is nonetheless very good, the more dated elements notwithstanding (Bond slapping Tracy after he nearly got killed in her room, I can understand, it seemed like she tried to trap him, but Draco is very, very chauvinistic at best). There are less gadgets, and more of Bond surviving off his wits, and it is welcome. There's even a nice touch of showing what M does on his days off. Some bits don't quite ring true, though, and I wish there was more excitement at times. Not to mention that, maybe as an artifact of the changing actors and the adaptation from a book that preceded the book adapted into the previous film, Blofeld doesn't recognise Bond.

Compared to the previous story, the characters are more understated, and this works in their favour. While George Lazenby is not the best of actors, nor anywhere near the best of Bonds, he still had the physicality and human element, particularly at the most vital points of the story (his declaration of love to Tracy, and his mourning her death), and so while not impressive, he does well enough. Diana Rigg as Tracy is one of the best Bond girls of the sixties, kicking arse all on her own. Telly Savalas as Blofeld is a comedown after Donald Pleasance's performance, but his urbane, quiet manner actually conceals much of Blofeld's true colours. Ilse Steppat's Irma Bunt is a wonderfully menacing character, not as noteworthy as, say, Lotte Lenya as Rosa Klebb, but still works well.

Production wise, much of the location work is impressive, especially that set in Switzerland. The Piz Gloria is a brilliant location, used well, and the action sequences are quite exciting. But some of the drama isn't quite played right. A little cutting here and there wouldn't go astray. Still, there is a more realistic style than on previous films, with perhaps the exception of From Russia With Love.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service has its faults, but it is perhaps the strongest Bond in terms of drama and realism, compared to gadgets and gunplay. Lazenby may not be the best Bond, but give him a chance, and think about what might have been.


SCORE: 9/10


Body count 1: Didn't count. Very few 'noteworthy' deaths

Body count 2: Tracy, + 2 of Blofeld's Angels of Death = 3

Body count 3: 1 (Tracy)

Cheesiest line: Draco seems to have a monopoly on them, but this one in particular takes the cake, even after Bond makes the suggestion that Tracy seek a psychiatrist for help rather than Bond as a lover: What she needs is a man... to dominate her! To make love to her enough to make her love him! A man like you!

Most interesting death: Bond sends one of Blofeld's henchmen down a precipice on the mountain.

Behind the scenes awesome: When Lazenby first met producer Harry Saltzmann, Saltzmann had his unshoed feet up on the desk while he was taking a phone call, and told Lazenby to sit down. Lazenby refused to sit down until Saltzmann took his feet off the desk. Saltzmann did so, and Lazenby claimed later that this earned him respect from the producer.

The fact that Blofeld doesn't recognize Bond is one of the most hilarious plot holes in film history. You almost have to view the movie as a prequel for it to work. As for Lazenby, he's surprisingly good for someone who they almost literally grabbed off the street. Moore or Dalton couldn't have played the final scene of OHMSS as well as Lazenby does. There's all sorts of stuff in the movie that doesn't work (the whole thing about Bond in disguise as Sir Hilary could be deleted to make the film stronger) but overall it's excellent, and deserving of its strong reputation.

They were going to have a scene where it is shown that Bond actually did have plastic surgery. I personally prefer the theory Lee Tamahora (the director of Die Another Day) had, which was that the name 'James Bond', along with the code number 007, is assigned to different agents as they die, resign, etc. In fact, given that Roger Moore's Bond is visiting Tracy's gravesite, I believe that the Lazenby Bond and the Moore Bond are actually the same person, but after Lazenby Bond stuffed up, he got his face burnt off or something while trying to avenge Tracy, and it was reconstructed while Connery Bond was brought out of retirement to cover for him while Lazenby/Moore Bond recuperated.

Keep in mind that this is my own personal theory. Some people claim that Bond is a Time Lord.

Okay, one of them is by association. Timothy Dalton was, after all, Rassilon...

I've heard the "James Bond is a code name" theory, and while I think you should be able to interpret any movie any way you like, I doubt they ever intended that. They just had little regard for continuity, which is how they ended up with Blofeld not recognizing Bond. It doesn't really bother me, though. I think people worry too much about continuity, and that every movie should be judged on its own merits, not how it matches up with another film. It's a good thing they didn't use the plastic surgery explanation, or else they'd have a hell of a time explaining Bond's appearance in Diamonds Are Forever. Anyway, I think it's a shame that Lazenby never got to do another film, but under the circumstances, it was probably for the best. Diamonds Are Forever was a pretty lousy film (and completely awful as a follow-up to OHMSS), and it probably would have been blamed on Lazenby. He probably would have quit after a lackluster film rather than going out on top like he did with OHMSS.

Hey QM, what do you think of the James Bond vs Jason Bourne argument? I remember Matt Damon going on quite a little rant one time when asked about the comparison and if there were any significance to the shared initials. I think the early Bonds would compare quite well to the Bourne films, though I wonder how well Bourne would hold up after 40 years, 6 actors and 20+ films. Also, the Bourne books are terrible, just in case you're ever tempted.

Never really felt the need to watch the Bourne films. I'm actually not that much of a spy thriller person. I once watched all the Bond films (at the time) years ago when I decided to try and watch them, but I've never really felt compelled to watch the Bourne films or read the original book series. I'm very picky about what I do watch, it comes with being an Aspie. So the argument for me is irrelevant. Bond came first, but whether it is better or Bourne is is another matter entirely, and not something I intend to get drawn into.

BTW, heard about George Baker dying? That's Hilary Bray from On Her Majesty's Secret Service, amongst other roles.

Anyway, review coming up for Diamonds are Forever. And in case you get confused by my rating system, a '7.5/10' score is averagely entertaining, and an '8.5/10' is a good standard for anything I should like strongly.