Never Say Never Again

What's here is a makeover of _Thunderball_, arguably the plot-weakest Bond of the 1960's. To be sure, the supporting cast (with the exception of the missing series regulars), is far superior to the original. Klaus Maria Brandauer is perfectly menacing as Largo, and it's a shame that he had to waste his one shot at Bondian villainy with this off-brand Bond. Likewise, Kim Basinger and Barbara Carrera turn in fine performances that put Connery's original _Thunderball_ girls to shame. And, no other Bond can boast the use of Rowan Atkinson, who brings just the right comic touch to his role of the British Consular official in the way that Desmond Llewellyn often did in other Bonds when he traveled out in the field

But the strain of trying to make a Bond film just using the elements that were legally available to the production crew is obvious. In writing Bond as an older man, the writers get into immediate trouble. If Bond is older than he was in the original Thunderball, then he had to have been married, and Blofeld had to have already murdered his wife. Yet, Connery here makes no reference to that fact, despite being faced with Blofeld. Nor is there reference to Blofeld's last tangle with Roger Moore's Bond in _For Your Eyes Only_, released only two years earlier. Worse, the attempt to follow Kevin McClory's original vision of Bond as a grittier character leaves us with a Bond that's checked his snappy comebacks at the door. Much of the grim humor of the MGM/UA Connery is gone, replaced by a certain Any Spy quality. It's no surprise that Connery himself seems confused as to his identity when he reads the line "Bond, James Bond" as a question, more than a statement.

Now that Eon Studios has finally acquired the rights to all Bond films, some of the problems with this little anomaly might yet see vital refurbishment. Perhaps when MGM/UA releases it next it will at least get new titles, soundtrack, and, most especially, the retrofitting of the James Bond theme.

None of that will make up for the lack of Desmond Llewellyn as `Q', or Lois Maxwell's "Moneypenny"-or indeed of the lack of Bond himself--but with the right amount of tweaking the original film could be brought more into harmony with the other Bonds MGM already distributed.


I'LL SAY WHAT I PLEASE!   March 28, 2000
5 out of 7 found this review helpful

This is incontestably the worst Bond film of all. When he was younger Connery suited the role of smooth thug James Bond, but in this he's just a hulking great plank with all the style of a very wooden piece of furniture. A cabinet perhaps. The other performances are even worse. Ever wonder why you don't see klaus Maria Brandauer in any american fims these days? This film is the answer. From his opening scene he reveals himself to be possibly the nicest villain ever to appear in a Bond film. He doesn't look like he could swat a fly never mind hold the world to ransom with nuclear weapons. And if he's the richest man in the world (apparently he's worth hundreds of billions!) what's the point? He bounds on screen and introduces himself to his evil henchmen with the terrifying greeting "Morning Charles". He then procedes to wish a good morning to all those participating in the end of the world. What's his problem? When Connery and Brandauer are on screen together you see the opposite ends of the acting spectrum collide, one can barely move, the other can't sit still.

I could go on but there would be no point, there is absolutely nothing good about this film at all. Effects terrible, dialogue worse, plot inane, performances grounbreaking(ly bad) and music dismal.


Never Say Never Again   March 24, 2000
Though this is a remake of Thunderball it is still excellent.Connery looks old but who cares!


NSNA   March 24, 2000
In this remake of Thunderball, Bond batles s great villain.Though not as good as the original, it is still wonderful.


outside my comfort zone   March 15, 2000
BVT (Paranaque City Philippines)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

I like James Bond, no matter which actor plays the role. Connery is the original Bond and a tough act to follow. Moore is suave but a bit wimpish. Dalton looks like a Shakepearean Bond. Brosnan doesn't even act English. But I felt comfortable with them all under EON/UA because of the Bond theme, gun barrel intro and the things that make Bond -Bond (M, Llewelyn as Q, etc.) NSNA has the same Bond characters but they all seem like strangers to me, even SEAN. The plot and story lines are good but the absence of the music and even the familiar and peculair sound of Bond's pistol makes this movie uncomfortable to viewers who savor the stereotyped Bond movies. But here is hope. If EON can refurbish the movie (now that MGM owns it) by putting on the usual Bond trimmings (BOND theme, gun barrel intro, etc., NSNA stands a chance to be a top Bond grosser after a reissue. Hey, they spruced up the Star War trilogy and every one liked it, so why not NSNA. Purists should not complain since a refurbishing will make NSNA a true Bond film in every sense of the word.