Aki's death just didn't have the 'gravitas' it needed to, at least for me.
One of my few issues with YOLT is how Aki is killed, then forgotten 5 minutes later and Bond is given his "consolation prize." Aki is one my favorite Bond girls and her quick exit and replacement feels insulting.
That's understandable.
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
One of my few issues with YOLT is how Aki is killed, then forgotten 5 minutes later and Bond is given his "consolation prize." Aki is one my favorite Bond girls and her quick exit and replacement feels insulting.
Agreed. Bond seems suitably upset... then he's onto the next one. X-(
Got to agree with that. Aki plays such a major role in the film, is such a great Bond girl. Even saves Bond's life. Bond seems to genuinely care for her. Her death is tragic, I wish it never happened. And then she dies and is forgotten. Jeez it can be a tough gig being a Bond girl.
One of my few issues with YOLT is how Aki is killed, then forgotten 5 minutes later and Bond is given his "consolation prize." Aki is one my favorite Bond girls and her quick exit and replacement feels insulting.
Agreed. Bond seems suitably upset... the he's onto the next one. X-(
Plus, that "next one" is quite forgettable, at least for me.
One doesn't really care for her because of Aki.
I dunno if killing off Aki was Dahl's idea, but if it was, it wasn't a good one imo.
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
One of my few issues with YOLT is how Aki is killed, then forgotten 5 minutes later and Bond is given his "consolation prize." Aki is one my favorite Bond girls and her quick exit and replacement feels insulting.
Agreed. Bond seems suitably upset... the he's onto the next one. X-(
Plus, that "next one" is quite forgettable, at least for me.
One doesn't really care for her because of Aki.
I dunno if killing off Aki was Dahl's idea, but if it was, it wasn't a good one imo.
It was not completey Dahl's idea, but he was given the guidelines that a girl had to die. Usually the girls who die aren't ones anyone becomes emotionally attached two, with the two big exceptions.
That scene when Blofeld makes Helga fall into the piranha pool is brutal.
And then he says, in a fearsome voice: "Kill Bond. Now!".
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
Funny that Charles Grey (who showed up in this movie), would reappear in DAF.
I've never seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show, but I know he's in that movie.
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
- Imagining the space sequence in 1967 as the opening, impressive scale.
- Title song, one of the greats.
- Lush score, Barry's first great work IMO - music at wedding is stunning.
- Japanese location IMO is one of the best in the entire series.
- The first 40 minutes of the film is very stylish, especially Tanaka's underground office.
- Fight in Osato office is impressive.
- Donald Pleasence is good as Blofeld.
- Limited edition Toyota is awesome.
- Aki is beautiful.
- Tanaka is cool.
- Initial espionage/intrigue elements in the first-act are a good watch.
- Ken Adam's sets are incredible, especially the Osato office and lair at the end.
- Cinematography is a large step-up from earlier films, makes Japan look even greater.
- Lewis Gilbert's direction is impressive.
- Death of Aki is very sad.
- The Japanese wedding, and general Japanese culture filming is beautifully done.
- "I like ships and I used to be a sailor."
Cons:
- SC is less impressive in this, has a chilled-out and checked-out presence.
- Special effects are dodgy. Especially the re-entry craft, green screen overdone.
- Fight at Kobe docks is like an am-dram theatre production.
- Helga is dull; not-developed as a character.
- Volcano blowing up is really-really bad. Why did they do that? It took 10 seconds to turn into a full lava-laden eruption!!
- Little Nellie sequence is rubbish. The special effects are terrible and overall it just looks weak. The "insert Bond theme here" also just feels lazy. The set-up of it is bad too with the painted backdrop in the background.
- Film is so big and large it lacks a bit of soul.
Observations:
Is that Honey Ryder's voice again? Dubbing Kissy?
BluRay:
Best transfer/restoration I've seen so far. Japanese locations and Ken Adam's sets looks fantastic. It's so clear, you can see SC doing a mangina in the bath tub!
Overall:
I find it hard to put my finger on YOLT and why I don't rate it higher. I think overall that the film lacks a bit of heart and soul. There's suspense, and general intrigue into what's going on, but overall the film just doesn't achieve a larger-purpose of pulling me in. IMO it's similar to TND in the fact it's fun, enjoyable, good-scale - but in the end, a bit of a big-budget romp without feeling. I wish SC put more effort in or was forced to by the material. He does drag it down a bit. Still, YOLT has its place, and the Japanese location for me is wonderful - one of the best Bond locations ever.
The wedding scene with Barry's music and the reveal of Kissy is one of my favourite scenes in a Bond film.
Quite a few memorable moments including its romantic background score, villain's lair, a beautiful journey through Japan and its traditions, Blofeld's cameo, etc.
Cons probably were the 007 training to be a Ninja sequences and getting married to maintain his cover BUT he was constantly getting attacked when in training, Aki was sacrificed too, so his cover was already blown .... If you have to be nit-picky, the live broadcast to Bond of the car getting dumped in to the ocean. And video conferencing in car is still not widespread . However, it may have helped to advance such an idea
Overall, I feel it is a top 10 film material. The movie was also probably ahead of its time -{
I thought the Nellie scene was cool but the use of Bond theme seemed lazy but fitting for that particular scene.
The Bond theme there wasn't lazy (not on Barry's part), it was a poor choice. It was the original recording from Dr. No. I'm certain John Barry must have been against that. It never fit in any of the places it was used besides the DN opening titles. Barbel, do you know why it was used? And why it was also used in FRWL, OHMSS and sometimes at the end of TB (Barry's cue is so much better!)?
This was Peter Hunt's decision. He was a huge fan of the Theme and used it again and again as you say- notice that the original recording of it isn't heard again after Hunt leaves the series. Barry didn't agree with this (no surprise there), since either he'd written something else or had preferred to leave a scene musicless.
This was Peter Hunt's decision. He was a huge fan of the Theme and used it again and again as you say- notice that the original recording of it isn't heard again after Hunt leaves the series. Barry didn't agree with this (no surprise there), since either he'd written something else or had preferred to leave a scene musicless.
Thanks!
It's interesting how in the Moore films and TLD how Barry used the Bond Theme in his score in a more standalone manner than he did in the Connery films. He always used the vamp a lot, and he'd put in one of the melodies from the theme as a brief section of another piece. But starting with TMWTGG he'd start to use the the straight-up Bond theme, just in his new orchestral arrangement, unlike he ever did before. Do you know why he made this change in his scores?
Between DAF and TMWTGG, Barry recorded an album called "The Concert John Barry" http://www.amazon.co.uk/Concert-John-Barry/dp/B003E73FP8 where he conducted the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (this tied in with an actual concert at the time), and he revised all the arrangements for the 7 (to date) Bond themes. These were run together as a "James Bond Suite" and from this time on he always used the arrangement of the Theme he wrote at this time- most easily identified by the main riff being carried by the string section rather than solo guitar.
This arrangement was tinkered with over the next twenty years or so, with slightly different variations cropping up in the Bond films and finally in an album called "Moviola" http://www.amazon.co.uk/Barry-Moviola-Score-Re-recording-Compilation/dp/B000024L3Y in which the Bond Suite was re-recorded (less satisfactorily IMNSHO) with one addition, "All Time High" from OP.
After rewatching YOLT, a new list of Pros and Cons:
Pros:
-Connery's performance is somewhat more enjoyable than in TB.
-Pleasence's Blofeld makes for an amusing villain.
-Tiger Tanaka is a memorable Bond Ally.
-Aki is a likeable Bond Girl.
-The volcano lair.
-The location shots of Japan.
-The score is sweet.
Cons:
-Bond "dies", the people who find him seem to think he's dead, and yet the British Navy somehow knows he's alive (is that the entire British Navy, or just a priviledged few?).
-Bond in a Japanese disguise and faking a marriage. All that to get into a volcano base? Really?
-Connery, even though imo he gives a decent performance, is no longer as great as he was in GF.
Overall, I like YOLT, and give it an 8/10. It's now my 3rd fave of the Connery EON Bond films.
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
Cons:
-Bond "dies", the people who find him seem to thUtink he's dead, and yet the British Navy somehow knows he's alive (is that the entire British Navy, or just a priviledged few?).
-Bond in a Japanese disguise and faking a marriage. All that to get into a volcano base? Really?
-Connery, even though imo he gives a decent performance, is no longer as great as he was in GF.
Overall, I like YOLT, and give it an 8/10. It's now my 3rd fave of the Connery EON Bond films.
a) I would assume that only the selected few would know. Many would think that he is getting buried at sea
b) Once Bond and Tanaka meet there are many loopholes in the story. For e.g. when 007 is training to become a ninja, he is still being attacked implying that is cover is blown, and Aki was sacrificed too. But you just have to learn to ignore this as once Bond goes to the cave, the movie again picks up superbly
Btw, I find Aki's death rather unsettling. There's something disturbing about it.
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
Comments
That's understandable.
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Plus, that "next one" is quite forgettable, at least for me.
One doesn't really care for her because of Aki.
I dunno if killing off Aki was Dahl's idea, but if it was, it wasn't a good one imo.
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
It was not completey Dahl's idea, but he was given the guidelines that a girl had to die. Usually the girls who die aren't ones anyone becomes emotionally attached two, with the two big exceptions.
Have to say, I was pretty besotted with her when I was a young lad.
"Better make that two."
And then he says, in a fearsome voice: "Kill Bond. Now!".
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
I've never seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show, but I know he's in that movie.
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Pros:
- Imagining the space sequence in 1967 as the opening, impressive scale.
- Title song, one of the greats.
- Lush score, Barry's first great work IMO - music at wedding is stunning.
- Japanese location IMO is one of the best in the entire series.
- The first 40 minutes of the film is very stylish, especially Tanaka's underground office.
- Fight in Osato office is impressive.
- Donald Pleasence is good as Blofeld.
- Limited edition Toyota is awesome.
- Aki is beautiful.
- Tanaka is cool.
- Initial espionage/intrigue elements in the first-act are a good watch.
- Ken Adam's sets are incredible, especially the Osato office and lair at the end.
- Cinematography is a large step-up from earlier films, makes Japan look even greater.
- Lewis Gilbert's direction is impressive.
- Death of Aki is very sad.
- The Japanese wedding, and general Japanese culture filming is beautifully done.
- "I like ships and I used to be a sailor."
Cons:
- SC is less impressive in this, has a chilled-out and checked-out presence.
- Special effects are dodgy. Especially the re-entry craft, green screen overdone.
- Fight at Kobe docks is like an am-dram theatre production.
- Helga is dull; not-developed as a character.
- Volcano blowing up is really-really bad. Why did they do that? It took 10 seconds to turn into a full lava-laden eruption!!
- Little Nellie sequence is rubbish. The special effects are terrible and overall it just looks weak. The "insert Bond theme here" also just feels lazy. The set-up of it is bad too with the painted backdrop in the background.
- Film is so big and large it lacks a bit of soul.
Observations:
Is that Honey Ryder's voice again? Dubbing Kissy?
BluRay:
Best transfer/restoration I've seen so far. Japanese locations and Ken Adam's sets looks fantastic. It's so clear, you can see SC doing a mangina in the bath tub!
Overall:
I find it hard to put my finger on YOLT and why I don't rate it higher. I think overall that the film lacks a bit of heart and soul. There's suspense, and general intrigue into what's going on, but overall the film just doesn't achieve a larger-purpose of pulling me in. IMO it's similar to TND in the fact it's fun, enjoyable, good-scale - but in the end, a bit of a big-budget romp without feeling. I wish SC put more effort in or was forced to by the material. He does drag it down a bit. Still, YOLT has its place, and the Japanese location for me is wonderful - one of the best Bond locations ever.
The wedding scene with Barry's music and the reveal of Kissy is one of my favourite scenes in a Bond film.
"Better make that two."
Yes, that's Nikki van der Zyl.... again!
http://www.nikkivanderzyl.co.uk/page8.htm
I never got to see it in the cinema, so this is the closest I'll get. {[]
Quite a few memorable moments including its romantic background score, villain's lair, a beautiful journey through Japan and its traditions, Blofeld's cameo, etc.
Cons probably were the 007 training to be a Ninja sequences and getting married to maintain his cover BUT he was constantly getting attacked when in training, Aki was sacrificed too, so his cover was already blown .... If you have to be nit-picky, the live broadcast to Bond of the car getting dumped in to the ocean. And video conferencing in car is still not widespread . However, it may have helped to advance such an idea
Overall, I feel it is a top 10 film material. The movie was also probably ahead of its time -{
I felt this when I was watching it. The whole Japan element was great, even the displays in Tokyo didn't look that dated - BR helps.
"Better make that two."
It is. And it has humor too - Tanaka thinks of it as a toy
The Bond theme there wasn't lazy (not on Barry's part), it was a poor choice. It was the original recording from Dr. No. I'm certain John Barry must have been against that. It never fit in any of the places it was used besides the DN opening titles. Barbel, do you know why it was used? And why it was also used in FRWL, OHMSS and sometimes at the end of TB (Barry's cue is so much better!)?
Thanks!
It's interesting how in the Moore films and TLD how Barry used the Bond Theme in his score in a more standalone manner than he did in the Connery films. He always used the vamp a lot, and he'd put in one of the melodies from the theme as a brief section of another piece. But starting with TMWTGG he'd start to use the the straight-up Bond theme, just in his new orchestral arrangement, unlike he ever did before. Do you know why he made this change in his scores?
This arrangement was tinkered with over the next twenty years or so, with slightly different variations cropping up in the Bond films and finally in an album called "Moviola" http://www.amazon.co.uk/Barry-Moviola-Score-Re-recording-Compilation/dp/B000024L3Y in which the Bond Suite was re-recorded (less satisfactorily IMNSHO) with one addition, "All Time High" from OP.
The way he used the Theme in the scores did evolve, though there's not too much difference between say "Oddjob's Pressing Engagement" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHl6WQCb5S8 and "Let's Go Get 'Em" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzrfJYIkdMQ in the way he fuses the film's main theme with the Bond Theme. The use of outright statements of the Theme during action sequences https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDgj0_aTuGQ definitely increased, as you say, though that had always been done https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYZv1RSYexI with the use of the guitar decreasing with time.
Pros:
-Connery's performance is somewhat more enjoyable than in TB.
-Pleasence's Blofeld makes for an amusing villain.
-Tiger Tanaka is a memorable Bond Ally.
-Aki is a likeable Bond Girl.
-The volcano lair.
-The location shots of Japan.
-The score is sweet.
Cons:
-Bond "dies", the people who find him seem to think he's dead, and yet the British Navy somehow knows he's alive (is that the entire British Navy, or just a priviledged few?).
-Bond in a Japanese disguise and faking a marriage. All that to get into a volcano base? Really?
-Connery, even though imo he gives a decent performance, is no longer as great as he was in GF.
Overall, I like YOLT, and give it an 8/10. It's now my 3rd fave of the Connery EON Bond films.
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
a) I would assume that only the selected few would know. Many would think that he is getting buried at sea
b) Once Bond and Tanaka meet there are many loopholes in the story. For e.g. when 007 is training to become a ninja, he is still being attacked implying that is cover is blown, and Aki was sacrificed too. But you just have to learn to ignore this as once Bond goes to the cave, the movie again picks up superbly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp1mFLMyixU
^ The background score when 007 and Hans fight is simply brilliant -{
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
It certainly is. It's very sad too.
She's beautiful ;%
"Better make that two."
Rather than doing the " Naughty"