I always liked Thunderball, it was a favourite as a kid.. The underwater battle was sweet, it was one of the first to do underwater action, so it was all new in those days.... The jetpack melted my kid brain too... :D
I actually dig Thunderball a lot, even more than the vaunted Goldfinger. Largo is one of my favorite big bosses, like a cross between Grant and Goldfinger. There's a gravity to the infamous underwater scenes in seeing the painstaking diving/swimming process, no fancy cuts or directing. It accentuates the vulnerability and discovery (even if the mystery is already known to the viewers).
Largo felt like a jumped up henchman. He was a heavy, not a villain. Fiona Valope on other hand was far more interesting. SHE should have been in charge.
Nail well and truly on the head again. 'Thunderball' is a slog to get through but then I think to myself "hey, I sat through 'Spectre', I can do this' and lo and behold the film passes in what seems like the blink of an eye by comparison.
I know I’m late to this party and would agree with your sentiments until “No Time to Die” was released. No Bond movie should ever be 163 minutes long… especially if you are going to end it by killing him. 😉
I'm fond of NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN if for no other reason than the vector-graphic electrocution video game; it's hilariously awesome when an out-of-touch older generation tries to be hip and in tune with the kids. It's like if in the latest Daniel Craig movie he has to play a deadly match of FORTNITE or FALLOUT or the Pac Man. The kids play the Pac Man still, right? Waka-waka-waka-waka....
Despite seeing all the others countless times, I've never seen Thunderball. I've never even noticed it being shown on TV during a chilhood where there was always one or more Bonds on at holiday season. I think there is a reason for this.
Jet-packs at the time were limited to less than a minute worth of fuel... and they never really got much better. I think they topped out somewhere around 2 minutes before they gave up on turning the concept into a practical means of transportation. The amount of thrust required to lift the weight of the fuel (plus the machine itself and the person flying it) is what burns up the fuel so fast. You add more fuel to try and compensate, you just end up adding more weight to lift and you're stuck with the same problem... and a bulkier/heavier contraption that one couldn't honestly refer to as a "pack".
Almost 100% disagree.. If you look at the film as I'm sure it was intended, it's a lush, romanticised view of locations most people could only dream of visiting at the time. Imagine being the audience in what was post-rationing Britain, presented with this very dream-like, cinemascope adventure.. Connery might not look like he's trying, but then he comes across as merely comfortable in the role. Diamonds are Forever is easily the worst of Connery's, possibly of all the Bonds (before the Brosnan/Craig era). He's distinctly _uncomfortable_ , clearly finished with the role. It may seem that there's not much going on, but you really have to watch Thunderball on a huge screen, with the lights out, and a drink or two, to get sucked into the trip, deliberately edited and scored to feel that way..
Though not perfect, THINDERBALL is a solid film and better than you give it credit for, though I can agree they got more laid back since they were showing off the Panavision scope frame and the Technicolor was as amazing as ever. Auger is not bad, but you forgot to note that Celi was dubbed for the whole film. If you've heard the original Dionne Warwick theme song "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" (its on one of the audio commentary tracks synced up properly and accurately to the titles sequence) it would be interesting to hear of you liked it or not.
Bollox! May Aunty Beryl turn up for a weekend and stay for the Summer! Thunderball is a great film, which sets up the organization of SPECTRE, has a great underwater finale and jetpacks are eternally cool! I will concede that Fiona Volpe is way hotter and more interesting than Domino, but to claim Largo is dull is just wrong. The man scares the piss out of you, like Aunty Beryl that time she flashed her knickers at you and she wasn't wearing any. He pretty much got two more spy/adventure films to reprise this role (Operation Kid Brother and Diabolik). Fiona Volpe is the cooler henchperson, showing that Largo was a progressive thug. The hydrofoil bit is a bit anti-climactic, I'll grant you. Still, there is enough plot there that it has been swiped by dozens of spy films, as has the boardroom scene. Plus, that set, by Ken Adams, is awesome! So, you can send this review back and pay the bullshit restocking fee!
I don't mind Thunderball, but the two official Connery Bonds l don't like at all are Diamonds Are Forever and You Only Live Twice. The best in my opinion is From Russia With Love.
Thunderball is my second favourite Bond film after Casino Royale (Craig) and I LIKE the restrained pace. It's worth it for the scene where JB fakes a lucky shotgun hit alone!
I think the pace, especially during the time at Nassau, wouldn't be a problem if the film had a compelling villain. Largo is merely efficient as the main villain and not much else. Fiona Valope on the other hand was far more interesting. Her scenes with Bond make the film worth suffering the snail like pace. Too bad she didn't stick around until the end.
Thunderball is epic, massive battle between underwater divers has never been done, the tropics are exotic to most people from places like Europe and North America. The show is one of the best and the women are smokin. It also hits hard the way the villainess gets killed, its scenes like that that made Bond stand out, spycraft is dangerous.
I liked Thunderball, but that's probably because it was the first Bond movie I saw with Connery. My very first Bond movie was Moonraker, which I also enjoyed, and I still enjoy it because it is so cheesy. I never had a problem with the underwater scenes, and I enjoyed the frogman battle, and Claudine Auger is my personal favorite Bond girl. I also enjoyed the novel because I loved Fleming's backstory for both Blofeld and Largo, along with the way he described SPECTRE. My one criticism was the scenes of Bond at the health spa; in the novel, M forced Bond to go to the spa for his own good, and Bond was really pissed about it. Later on, he came out of the spa as a health nut, and the whole thing was really funny in the novel because it's all so out of character for Bond. The movie didn't capture the humor at all.
This was always my least favorite of the Bond films, what an unenviable slog! I sat through it while showing my best friend the series a couple months back, we kept forgetting what was what and that 007 was searching for a pair of nukes!
Agree. Although as a kid I liked it in 1965. If I had been consulted, the first three Bonds I would have greenlighted as is: every other Bond from TB onwards I had a laundry list of things that would have vastly improved each of them. All variously ok to very good, but could have been so much better.
Yeah, it's really a bore for me too. What's interesting is as time goes on, the reputation of this film among Bond fan gets worse and worse, while The Spy Who Loved Me's gets better and better.
I vastly prefer this film to Goldfinger, but there is something slightly off about it. Connery is beginning to get lost in the sheer scale of the production, which would be a bigger problem with the next one. And while Never Say Never Again is certainly inferior to Thunderball, it does a better job at focusing the story on the relationship between Largo and Domino, which is the logical thing to do if you want the audience to have some emotional investment in the movie.
"Never Say Never Again" wasn't good, but I have to say, Barbara Carrera as the evil Fiona Volpe replacement is both extremely hot and gives an utterly buck-wild performance. She's the reason to see it.
The late Connery Bonds - this one, YOLT, and DAF - each look increasingly sloppy and lazy. It appears that all the money and effort was spent on locations and sets, and very little on the scripts. As noted, Connery looks ever more bored/irritated, and very clearly has had his fill both of Bond and the mechanics of fame.
Correct. About as interesting as a power cut. A film the likes of which I describe as being just "on" until it finishes. Staggering that my sweary working class philosophy channel gets more views than yours. Hardest game in the world is the Yoochooob hustle!
Funny how tastes differ. Thunderball is my favourite Connery Bond film. Love the book too.
It's amazing to me that Thunderball could manage to be Sean Connery's worst Bond twice.
Without a doubt too much underwater stuff. However, I will say the very lovely and beautiful Claudine Auger as Domino, is my favorite Bond girl.
I always liked Thunderball, it was a favourite as a kid..
The underwater battle was sweet, it was one of the first to do underwater action, so it was all new in those days....
The jetpack melted my kid brain too... :D
I actually dig Thunderball a lot, even more than the vaunted Goldfinger. Largo is one of my favorite big bosses, like a cross between Grant and Goldfinger. There's a gravity to the infamous underwater scenes in seeing the painstaking diving/swimming process, no fancy cuts or directing. It accentuates the vulnerability and discovery (even if the mystery is already known to the viewers).
Largo felt like a jumped up henchman. He was a heavy, not a villain. Fiona Valope on other hand was far more interesting. SHE should have been in charge.
Nail well and truly on the head again. 'Thunderball' is a slog to get through but then I think to myself "hey, I sat through 'Spectre', I can do this' and lo and behold the film passes in what seems like the blink of an eye by comparison.
that's tough choice. I'd pick spectre to watch simply because I haven't slept through it as often as Thunderball.
I know I’m late to this party and would agree with your sentiments until “No Time to Die” was released. No Bond movie should ever be 163 minutes long… especially if you are going to end it by killing him. 😉
I'm fond of NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN if for no other reason than the vector-graphic electrocution video game; it's hilariously awesome when an out-of-touch older generation tries to be hip and in tune with the kids. It's like if in the latest Daniel Craig movie he has to play a deadly match of FORTNITE or FALLOUT or the Pac Man. The kids play the Pac Man still, right? Waka-waka-waka-waka....
I did, in fact, fall asleep watching Thunderball for the first time.
Despite seeing all the others countless times, I've never seen Thunderball. I've never even noticed it being shown on TV during a chilhood where there was always one or more Bonds on at holiday season. I think there is a reason for this.
Funny how the times have changed. When I was younger Bond fans loved Thunderball and hated On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
Anyone who disses Thunderball is an enemy of SPECTRE and must be liquidated
Auntie Beryl AGAIN 😂😂😂
Underrated channel. Lovely stuff.
Jet-packs at the time were limited to less than a minute worth of fuel... and they never really got much better. I think they topped out somewhere around 2 minutes before they gave up on turning the concept into a practical means of transportation. The amount of thrust required to lift the weight of the fuel (plus the machine itself and the person flying it) is what burns up the fuel so fast. You add more fuel to try and compensate, you just end up adding more weight to lift and you're stuck with the same problem... and a bulkier/heavier contraption that one couldn't honestly refer to as a "pack".
The so-called "Tyranny of the Rocket Equation" demonstrated within Earth's atmosphere, how impressive.
Almost 100% disagree.. If you look at the film as I'm sure it was intended, it's a lush, romanticised view of locations most people could only dream of visiting at the time. Imagine being the audience in what was post-rationing Britain, presented with this very dream-like, cinemascope adventure..
Connery might not look like he's trying, but then he comes across as merely comfortable in the role.
Diamonds are Forever is easily the worst of Connery's, possibly of all the Bonds (before the Brosnan/Craig era). He's distinctly _uncomfortable_ , clearly finished with the role.
It may seem that there's not much going on, but you really have to watch Thunderball on a huge screen, with the lights out, and a drink or two, to get sucked into the trip, deliberately edited and scored to feel that way..
Well, that answers the question which begins, "Of all the Bond films to do a remake of...."
Though not perfect, THINDERBALL is a solid film and better than you give it credit for, though I can agree they got more laid back since they were showing off the Panavision scope frame and the Technicolor was as amazing as ever. Auger is not bad, but you forgot to note that Celi was dubbed for the whole film. If you've heard the original Dionne Warwick theme song "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" (its on one of the audio commentary tracks synced up properly and accurately to the titles sequence) it would be interesting to hear of you liked it or not.
Has all the right elements but ultimately a slog to get through.
You should have a LOT more subscribers
yes. one day, maybe.
Jesus… does this guy like anything under the sun? I’ve viewed about half a dozen vids and none meet his approval.
Agreed, it was the s l o w e s t of the Bond films, but Domino was gorgeous.
Cannot argue with that assessment.
Fiona volpe
I don't understand how your videos have so low view numbers and likes. You are the best reviewer on UA-cam.
Bollox! May Aunty Beryl turn up for a weekend and stay for the Summer!
Thunderball is a great film, which sets up the organization of SPECTRE, has a great underwater finale and jetpacks are eternally cool! I will concede that Fiona Volpe is way hotter and more interesting than Domino, but to claim Largo is dull is just wrong. The man scares the piss out of you, like Aunty Beryl that time she flashed her knickers at you and she wasn't wearing any. He pretty much got two more spy/adventure films to reprise this role (Operation Kid Brother and Diabolik). Fiona Volpe is the cooler henchperson, showing that Largo was a progressive thug. The hydrofoil bit is a bit anti-climactic, I'll grant you. Still, there is enough plot there that it has been swiped by dozens of spy films, as has the boardroom scene. Plus, that set, by Ken Adams, is awesome! So, you can send this review back and pay the bullshit restocking fee!
The underwater hand-to-hand battle scenes are a problem. Everything done underwater is just so slooooow.
Unless you are a shark.
I don't mind Thunderball, but the two official Connery Bonds l don't like at all are Diamonds Are Forever and You Only Live Twice. The best in my opinion is From Russia With Love.
From Russia With Love is the best. Leaves the rest of the series in the dust .
@@ricardocantoral7672 Agreed 100%
Dear Stam: if Thunderball is so bad, how is it I've seen it the most of any Bond film? Got ya!
At last: someone else who thinks Thunderball is actually not that good!
Today I learned that Bond once wore a Breitling
I think “Thunderball” is an enjoyable movie-it’s one of the lesser Bond movies,but still entertaining.
I'm fine with Thunderball. Not my favorite, but it's watchable.
5:36“The more you know”
Thunderball is my second favourite Bond film after Casino Royale (Craig) and I LIKE the restrained pace. It's worth it for the scene where JB fakes a lucky shotgun hit alone!
I think the pace, especially during the time at Nassau, wouldn't be a problem if the film had a compelling villain. Largo is merely efficient as the main villain and not much else. Fiona Valope on the other hand was far more interesting. Her scenes with Bond make the film worth suffering the snail like pace. Too bad she didn't stick around until the end.
How do you leave out the fact that the film won an Oscar for best visual effects thanks to John Stears.
Thunderball is epic, massive battle between underwater divers has never been done, the tropics are exotic to most people from places like Europe and North America. The show is one of the best and the women are smokin. It also hits hard the way the villainess gets killed, its scenes like that that made Bond stand out, spycraft is dangerous.
I liked Thunderball, but that's probably because it was the first Bond movie I saw with Connery. My very first Bond movie was Moonraker, which I also enjoyed, and I still enjoy it because it is so cheesy. I never had a problem with the underwater scenes, and I enjoyed the frogman battle, and Claudine Auger is my personal favorite Bond girl. I also enjoyed the novel because I loved Fleming's backstory for both Blofeld and Largo, along with the way he described SPECTRE. My one criticism was the scenes of Bond at the health spa; in the novel, M forced Bond to go to the spa for his own good, and Bond was really pissed about it. Later on, he came out of the spa as a health nut, and the whole thing was really funny in the novel because it's all so out of character for Bond. The movie didn't capture the humor at all.
Nice !
This was always my least favorite of the Bond films, what an unenviable slog! I sat through it while showing my best friend the series a couple months back, we kept forgetting what was what and that 007 was searching for a pair of nukes!
Agree. Although as a kid I liked it in 1965. If I had been consulted, the first three Bonds I would have greenlighted as is: every other Bond from TB onwards I had a laundry list of things that would have vastly improved each of them. All variously ok to very good, but could have been so much better.
Yeah, it's really a bore for me too. What's interesting is as time goes on, the reputation of this film among Bond fan gets worse and worse, while The Spy Who Loved Me's gets better and better.
5:48 SO TRUE!
I vastly prefer this film to Goldfinger, but there is something slightly off about it. Connery is beginning to get lost in the sheer scale of the production, which would be a bigger problem with the next one. And while Never Say Never Again is certainly inferior to Thunderball, it does a better job at focusing the story on the relationship between Largo and Domino, which is the logical thing to do if you want the audience to have some emotional investment in the movie.
"Never Say Never Again" wasn't good, but I have to say, Barbara Carrera as the evil Fiona Volpe replacement is both extremely hot and gives an utterly buck-wild performance. She's the reason to see it.
Are you gonna include “Never say never again”? Just a thought.
Almost certainly at some point.
The late Connery Bonds - this one, YOLT, and DAF - each look increasingly sloppy and lazy. It appears that all the money and effort was spent on locations and sets, and very little on the scripts. As noted, Connery looks ever more bored/irritated, and very clearly has had his fill both of Bond and the mechanics of fame.
Correct.
About as interesting as a power cut. A film the likes of which I describe as being just "on" until it finishes.
Staggering that my sweary working class philosophy channel gets more views than yours. Hardest game in the world is the Yoochooob hustle!
Hustle is the name of the game. That and using telepathy to try and get UA-cam's algorithm to do its job.