Does anyone find Thunderball a bit tedious?

ZorinIndustries

I'm going to take a lot of heat for this post, but I recently watched TB with my dad and I didn't find myself getting into it as I once did. Maybe it's because I've seen it five or six times before, but the film seemed tedious at parts. Does anybody out there feel the same way?

Hardyboy

Yes, there are a lot of slow spots--especially in the second half. That said, I still think Thunderball is a good film that largely delivers the goods!

SilentSpy

Not me. Thunderball is probably my favorite Bond film. I've watched or listened to it hundreds of times.

Mr Beech

One of my favorites. I think there were a couple parts that were slow, but mostly I think it earns a spot near or at the top.

0064

After a long hiatus from Bond films this was the movie which I chose to take me through my Saturday evening. I actually enjoy the pacing of this film quite a bit. While it is a bit slow in the latter half of the movie, I think that this adds an additional layer of charm and sophistication to an otherwise over-the-top film. In addition, it is this second half of the movie that Largo really demonstrates his more maniacal side.

Mrs.Bryce

Yes, I find it slow in quite a few spots. I do enjoy it, and it ranks fairly highly, however I struggle to watch it, especially over others. So yes.

zaphod

ZorinIndustries wrote:

I'm going to take a lot of heat for this post, but I recently watched TB with my dad and I didn't find myself getting into it as I once did. Maybe it's because I've seen it five or six times before, but the film seemed tedious at parts. Does anybody out there feel the same way?

I don't think you will take heat for this at all. Despite Thunderball being tha absolute Zenith of Bondmania it really is a mixed bag. It follows a fairly familiar pattern of strong opening which gradually fizzles out. It's not that different from most Bond films in this respect ( there are oly a few absolute end to end corkers) but where it is different is although most are paunchy and sag in the middle they usually manage to pull it out of the bag for the final third. Thunderball does not. There are things that I really love about it, but they tend to be early in the film. I love the PTS, the whole Shrublands bit is great ( favourite moment is when Bond casually sets of the alarm by hitting it with his elbow as he saunters past having caused havoc- pure Bondian moment)

I love the score, but even great JB music cannot completely enliven the dull and overly long underwater scene. Big Tam looks great, even despite the questionable Rug ( his hair loss had become more of an issue between GF and TB) if anything he looks in better shape than in GF.
I watched it recently and felt my interest waiting. However this is the mark of a true Bond fan, as even the bits we don't like are of interest, and we love the films not despite their faults but because of them. I'm just as interested in why on occasion it doesn't work than when it does.

Moore Than

Tedious, no. Slow at times, yes. A good solid entry in the series. It does drag at times and the fight at the end of the film on Largo's boat is spoilt somewhat by the cartoonish back projection. There are compensations, namely Dominique Derval and Fiona Volpe. I also particularly enjoy the PTS and the scene with the 00 agents.

Thunderpussy

I agree it's a little slow in places, But there is a lot of story to get in. But I can forgive
those parts as the sheer scale of the Movie is amazing. -{

thesecretagent

I do find it a little slow in places, but that said its one of my favourites - so many classic Bond moments.

welshboy78

One of my faves (Top 5 or poss 3), however I do like the ladies in it....considerably!

Agent Sidewinder

I think yours is a fairly common complaint, ZorinIndustries. It's not the fastest-paced Bond film but the acting, music, and cinematography all make up for it.

Napoleon Plural

It's not a good film to watch with others imo, because by yourself, you can overlook any tediousness but it's reinforced with another present. I loved watching the Ultimate Edition with a glass of rose a while back, but for family viewing it is very slow second half and based around the same locale, also some silly stuff means it can't really be taken that seriously either. A film like YOLT has more 'bumps' that is little moments to look forward to, though that, like OHMSS too, has its longeurs, and credit to DAF imo for being a lighter film.

Donald Grant

Despite Thunderball's often talked about slowness, it's still one of my favorite Bond films and the highest grossing Bond film ever, adjusted for inflation of course.

DG

zig zag

It's my favorite bond of the connery era, love the locations, and the women most of all !

Blackleiter

Nope - not tedious at all.

zaphod

Blackleiter wrote:

Nope - not tedious at all.

Just me then.

Barry Nelson

Personally, I love the film, it is one of my favorites and I enjoy the pacing. Connery is very good, it has the best groups of females of any Bond film, the location is beautiful and the story is a good one. Love it!

RJJB

Not tedious at all. I don't think the movie was ever supposed to be fast paced. Whereas some movies jump from action scene to action scene, TB moves at a much more languid speed, with the action flowing to the complete story. When I saw this on the big screen when it premiered, it was completely mesmerizing. I never grow tired of seeing this movie, no matter how familiar it has become. It is everything a James Bond movie should be.

Napoleon Plural

Yes, but the question was, does anyone else find TB a bit tedious?

So, it seems some do, some don't. In any case, that answers the question.

I suggest the mods close this now.

Next: Does anyone else find YOLT a bit too silly...

Grindelwald

It can have it's tedious moments yes......but I'll take it over just throwing things at the wall to see what sticks and not.

rennervision

I think the movie loses all its steam after Fiona Volpe is killed off. (And although an inferior remake, the same thing happens to NSNA after Fatima Blush blows up.)

Bodie

I love Thunderball, but I agree there a a few segments when it does get a bit slow. Occupational hazard when scenes are set underwater. I sometimes think that after Goldfinger TB implodes a little on itself as the producers try to top what has gone before, but having said that it is exciting, stylish and SC is on top form. It beats hands down a lot of what was to come after.