Thunderball [DVD] [1965]

This is a decent Bond film. It's got Sean Connery as Bond and he hasn't lost any of his appeal. It's also close to the book which I really like. And yet, it's never been one of my favourites in the series. Having seen it less often than most of the other Bond films, I decided to give it whirl last night. It kept me nicely entertained, especially the first half of the film with some of the more memorable moments of the franchise. There is the pretitle sequence with Bond attending his own funeral, the epic getaway with the jet pack, and who could forget Fiona Volpe on her golden motorbike, played by the bewitching Luciana Paluzzi? The scenes in the spa where Bond is whipped back into shape are fun to watch, Adolfo Celi makes a decent adversary, the Spectre lair is suitably intimidating. All good so far.What doesn't work quite so well for me is the second half of the film. Not the story line, mind you. That's solid enough. And the Bahamas locations are glorious. But there are these endless underwater sequences, and I can't help finding them just a bit dull. I'm sure technically they're brilliant, and back in the 60 probably novel and exciting, but I found them too long and too slow and was wishing for a good fast paced chase on land. Or some dialogue. But maybe that's just me.The DVD is good. Excellent picture and sound, subtitles for those who may need them and any amount of extra material (this latter refers to the 2 disc Ultimate Edition I purchased).

James Bond goes The Bahamas to investigate why two nuclear warheads were stolen by S.P.E.C.T.R.E..Connery's forth film is one of his most disappointing. Staring with the positives, Connery again impresses in particular the action scenes, Adolfo Celi makes for a formidable adversary and Luciana Paluzzi is a memorable Bond girl. The John Barry soundtrack and Tom Jones's theme are suitably big and dramatic (it would have been interesting to see & hear Dionne Warwick's alternate song Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang used in the film) & the pre-credits sequence is excellent one of the most memorable in the film. However the best thing about the film is the action and effects by John Stears, there are incredibly well made and put together.There are a few downsides though, Claudine Auger as the leading lady "Domino" is one of the least memorable Bond girls and is totally out shined by the villainous Fiona Volpe (Luciana Paluzzi), director Terence Young making last Bond has a few difficulties in keeping the pace up, in particular underwater stuff and quite a few other scenes which last a little too long. The main weakness is for me though the above mentioned underwater sequences, they go too long and in turn it does become confusing as too what's going on at times and I also thought that the climax could've been edited together a bit tighter.Given the 3 films that went before, this doesn't stand out nearly as much but, overall this is still a very and enjoyable good action adventure that's easy to watch. 3.5/5

Hindsight is marvellous is it not. We can see things just the way they are.I have read the bond books four times over my lifetime and I'm just finished with 'Casino Royale' starting my fifth round with them. I mention this to impress you dear reader with my love of Ian Fleming's books.But I can't remember watching a bond film from beginning to end. Always a snatch here or there on Xmas or bank holiday. I did not think any film could match the stories. Bit snobbish of me really, guilty as charged.Anyway, I recently decided to watch them starting at the beginning with 'Dr No' then 'From Russia with Love' then 'Goldfinger' and now 'Thunderball'.I really enjoyed the first three. They are what they are a sort of timepiece in cinema history.But what has happened in 'Thunderball'? I struggled to watch it. It's all there just like the first three but something is missing.Hindsight informs me. Overdone is the word. Was the budget too big allowing over the top scenes? All that underwater stuff I didn't really have a clue what was going on. The clichés were just too sad.I could go on. Shame. I am going to continue the journey along the bond films 'you only live twice' is next.I hope they learnt the lesson from 'Thunderball' and get it right.

The last of the truly great 60's Connery outings, 1965's 'Thunderball' was the first aquatic bond of the series, and is still one of the very best. The welcome return of director Terence Young makes it feel much like the first two instalments, though there is definitely an emphasis on 'bigger'. The movies finale, a huge underwater battle sequence was ground breaking stuff, and still impressive today. This title was one of Ian Fleming's best literary adventures, and at this stage the movies were still following the books closely. In the years ahead 007 movies of this standard were to become increasingly sporadic, however in this glorious vintage, it was the fourth classic in a row. The blu ray transfer is quality too, for this one my own favourites.

This was the more successful than any of the first 10 Bond films.Perhaps that is because this is the most disappointing of the lot and put people off future films. And perhaps why the later films had more action. The plot drags and there is some really wooden acting. The first half hour could have been cut to five mins with no loss . Even the Bond song is weak.Connery goes through the motions and would soon leave. All a bit sad...... All the better Roger Moore came along.