I'm actually amazed at the few who like it )
Then again it takes all sorts to make a world.
I'm surprised that the lover of all Bond films would have no soft spot for NSNA. )
Isn't it cool to see Connery back in the role?
Isn't it fun to see a remake of Thunderball with a different cast of characters?
Seeing Connery in the role is alone worth the price of admission. Klaus Maria Brandauer and Barbara Carrera are inspired in their villainy.
I do wonder what the film might have been like if made a few years later, after Connery's resurgence at the box office with The Untouchables. He obviously would have been older, but his clout returned, and if you look at his films from that point forward, not only are the productions stronger, but more effort is made to make Connery look good. Though the director, Irvin Kershner, was riding a wave of popularity due to The Empire Strikes Back, his other effort with Connery, A Fine Madness, was also uneven, so perhaps another director -- John McTiernan, for instance -- would have understood better how to approach the project. I would be interested if a fan would substitute some of Barry's scores for Bond films for ones in NSNA, too, to see if scenes play better.
I like NSNA , i think its worthy to be in my collection ,im sure your average Joe public ,wouldnt give it a second thought ,that it wasnt part of the "proper Bond" life ,and probably wouldnt give two hoots about it not being an official "Bond Film , On a entertainment point ,it has that DAF sort of cheesy story line .I certainly would watch it ,if it came on on a rainy Sunday afternoon post Sunday roast ,if not only just to see a decent Renault Gordini 5 turbo in action ,but hey thats my two pence worth ,
I regard myself as an average ( but obviously incredibly handsome )
Bond fan. I've read all the books several times ( including the continuing
novels ) and of course the wonderful Films, for over 40 years now -{
I can only use the analogy of a sports fan " In Love " with his ( or her )
favourite team. For Me, Cubby and the Team made these films especially
for me. The fact that other people like them is just a bonus ! ) So I will
admit, I may be blind to the minor faults that others make so much of.
I can remember the excitement back in 83 over the possibility of two great
Bond films -{ The 007 Magazine, had many stories and interviews etc.
Then came the viewing
It was as if a bunch of film students with no knowledge of Bond, had decided
to make a Bond film. From the jarring score that actually takes you out of the film, to the lacklustre direction and locations. The Bahamas may be a beautiful
place but not in NSNA.
Connery looks good, and I do enjoy the blustering Edward Fox as M, with
Bernie Casey giving a great performance as Felix, I could imagine him and
Bond having a drink together, even if not on a mission., but as a whole.
NSNA is an action movie with NO action ! ( a major flaw for me ) It's the
only "Bond" film, I've noticed how uncomfortable my cinema seat was, as I
was more concerned with the comfort of my bottom than what was happening
on screen.
The Script had many jokes recycled from Porridge ( a famous comedy on bbc 1
) and in a way I think that sums up the movie. It's all recycled ideas, but without the sense of fun from the official series. It feels tired, it almost feels as if Connery and co lost interest in the project half way through, but had to complete it.
For those who enjoy it, you are lucky as You have one more Bond film than me to enjoy.
I guess I'm an Eon stooge as I think they know what the audience want, as proven with OP which was a much bigger hit. It also proved how popular Roger Moore was as 007, so in a way I should be happy it was made as it showed that,
many feel making a Bond is easy, ..... NSNA proves it's not.
Still as ever we are an eclectic group and I'm glad some love it, I do have it on bluray ( only for the audio commentary) but it like CR67 will merely remain an oddity in the world of Bond.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
I would be interested if a fan would substitute some of Barry's scores for Bond films for ones in NSNA, too, to see if scenes play better.
Look up "Never Say McClory Again" for this (it uses Barry amongst other Bond composers). For me it emphasised how the scenes where the music was sourced from were all stronger than any scenes in NSNA. The better music makes NSNA even worse!
By hiring Irvin Kershner and Connery back as Bond they must have thought they were onto a winner. Sadly as TP so rightly appraised, it just didn't work out how I guess they thought it would.
+ Points
Shrublands and the Bentley
Renault 5 Turbo is cool
Barbara Carrera is hot
Pamela Salem is hotter
Pat Roach (Should have been in an proper Bond film)
I do wonder what the film might have been like if made a few years later, after Connery's resurgence at the box office with The Untouchables. He obviously would have been older, but his clout returned, and if you look at his films from that point forward, not only are the productions stronger, but more effort is made to make Connery look good.
in such an alternate timeline, would Connery even have bothered? he quit the series in the first place because he didn't want to be typecast, then struggled for years to find a career beyond Bond. He finally agreed to make the McClory film while he was still struggling for that comeback. Once he found success as Connery, rather than as Bond, I don't recall him ever even making ironic reference to his status as formerBond, say the way Shatner finally reconciled himself as being inescapably Captain Kirk. (well maybe the crappy Avengers movie, the fact he plays a Bondtype villain pretty much depends on the audiences knowledge he was once the good guy in these types of movies)
I can remember the excitement back in 83 over the possibility of two great Bond films
I too remember the hype leading up to its release, it was quite exciting for a Bondfan of geekish obsessiveness. Me and my chums had all come to appreciate by then that Connery was the Real Bond and Moore some sort of Fake Bond, so we assumed Connery's return to the role would obviously be the better film. Don't know how we all missed the fact that FYEO was more authentically Flemingesque than Connery's last two films?
I think the setup of the new M in NSNA was recycled by the proper filmmakers in Goldeneye, where Dench is "the evil queen of numbers" who does not like Bond. Also with Fatima Blush's character being reinvented as Xenia Onatapp. So EON was imitating its imitators long before the Goldmember/SPECTRE coincidence!
another similarity between NSNA and an official Bond production: Connery gives a very self-aware performance, as if his character is not James Bond so much as Connery in a movie knowing he is in a movie playing Bond (does that make sense?). He even literally winks at the camera at the end, but the whole preformance is one big wink at the camera.
By comparison, Brosnan's performance in his last film also seems to be distractingly self-aware, as if Bond knows he is strutting through a predictable series of ritualistic setpieces. Much moreso than his other three movies, or any other official entry. Almost like Austin Powers without the jokes. But Brosnan is much less likable in DAD than Connery is in NSNA.
I'm going to avoid using better on a technical film making level and substitute enjoyable on a fan level because I do like Never Say Never Again. I've posted about it before. With that, I think Never Say Never Again is more enjoyable than the following Bond movies:
1. Diamonds Are Forever - I can enjoy Diamonds Are Forever. It's fun. But I think Never Say Never Again is a far better final Bond movie for Connery.
2. The Man with the Golden Gun - I think the movie only becomes an exotic Bond movie when he goes to Scaramanga's island. That's really the only part of the movie I like to watch.
3. A View to a Kill - Being American there is something not exotic about the country. Or at least how it is in the movie. I don't know why Goldfinger works at the end. Probably the setting with gold everywhere and the big battle. There are a few Bond novels that have good American settings. I need to read them again to be sure. And I do enjoy A View to a Kill. But I really like an exotic, away from normal life Bond movie. Never Say Never Again is better in that regard.
4. All the Brosnan Bond Movies - Yes that's right, I consider all the Brosnan movies to have a bit too much action. Perhaps you can take out The World is not Enough. But still, I enjoy Never Say Never Again far more.
5. Quantum of Solace - I reviewed this movie here in a long post. I only watch the movie for the opening car chase. I really don't like this one that much.
6. Skyfall - Another popular one that I don't care for. I've watched it once fully. And other times in parts. It's just not a good Bond movie to me.
There are some Bond movies which I believe are kind of equal to Never Say Never Again. You can debate the good and bad parts. Movies like Live and Let Die, Moonraker, and Octopussy.
I think my enjoyment of Never Say Never Again comes from my youth. Licence to Kill was the first Bond movie I saw in theaters. But Never Say Never Again was the first bond movie I saw on a fairly large TV screen in my home. I recall we just purchased a 27 inch Sony. And I think we had Never Say Never Again on Laserdisc. I remember it was very clear with good sound. Since I was young I wasn't the type to analyze or even notice that the normal Bond theme was missing. All I knew was it was Connery and the opening was awesome with the 007 logo everywhere. It was exotic with Bond running through the jungle and using all kinds of spy tools in that opening, there were tons of exotic women, and it was just fun with Bond being a spy and getting into crazy fights. It probably didn't hit me that it was a remake of Thunderball, my favorite Bond film, at that time. But I'm sure subconsciously that probably helped.
I would be interested if a fan would substitute some of Barry's scores for Bond films for ones in NSNA, too, to see if scenes play better.
Look up "Never Say McClory Again" for this (it uses Barry amongst other Bond composers). For me it emphasised how the scenes where the music was sourced from were all stronger than any scenes in NSNA. The better music makes NSNA even worse!
I do wonder what the film might have been like if made a few years later, after Connery's resurgence at the box office with The Untouchables. He obviously would have been older, but his clout returned, and if you look at his films from that point forward, not only are the productions stronger, but more effort is made to make Connery look good.
in such an alternate timeline, would Connery even have bothered? he quit the series in the first place because he didn't want to be typecast, then struggled for years to find a career beyond Bond. He finally agreed to make the McClory film while he was still struggling for that comeback. Once he found success as Connery, rather than as Bond, I don't recall him ever even making ironic reference to his status as formerBond, say the way Shatner finally reconciled himself as being inescapably Captain Kirk. (well maybe the crappy Avengers movie . . .
I think he would if it was an A-level production. He essentially plays Bond again in The Rock and Entrapment, adjusted to fit the story, and it's hard to separate the Bondian elements in some of his other films, such as Rising Sun. He clearly accepted his place as an action/thriller star and not, for instance, in domestic dramas or comedies.
I think one of the reasons NSNA takes its somewhat campy approach to the character -- and Connery does some parody -- is because of threats from Eon of lawsuits from being too close to an official production. I'm old enough to remember rumors of early drafts of the script being much more action-oriented and traditional, for instance. The finished product seems to want to split the difference between being a real Bond film and a parody, the latter being more protected against copyright lawsuits.
doesn't the film begin with a faux-adventure, which turns out to be a training exercise? as it's variation of the pre-credits type sequence. That's kind of meta. We believe we're watching the "real" Bond in a fake Bond film to begin with, then five minutes in it turns out we've been watching a fake adventure within the reality of the fake Bond film. The whole film is kind of meta.
Also, that's an inversion of the beginning of From Russia with Love, and once again the "real" films would borrow the idea of the training exercise, already in progress, to introduce Timothy Dalton a couple films later.
What do folks think of Max van Sydow's Blofeld? Blofeld gets a lot more screentime in this version than he did in the real Thunderball. He didn't even get named in the original, we just saw the back of his head and the cat. Sydow looks very different. He may also be the biggest star to have played Blofeld, considering Telly Savalas had not yet begun Kojak when he played the part.
The whole movie falls to pieces after Fatima Blush dies, whatever else its merits. Too bad though, the North African setting was unique at the time, and it gets very Errol Flynn, with Connery actually rescuing a damsel-in-distress on horseback. By coincidence, Octopussy also had a very swashbuckling finale.
One more thought: the North African setting is not longer unique. Aside from Dalton's first film, SPECTRE also returns us to Morocco. Was the Morocco setting for SPECTRE somehow one of McClory's intellectual properties they bought back?
It does begin that way, and I'd say the use of 007 as a graphic motif is meant to be a replacement for the gun barrel. NSNA also predicts or introduces, as others have pointed out, the idea of Bond being considered outmoded by M, the 00 section being considered obsolete, an African-American Felix Leiter, Bond accepting his aging, and the "antique" car rooting Bond to a nostalgic past.
I like Von Sydow's Blofeld. My problem is that he's not given much to do for such a fine actor. Imagine if there could have been a confrontation scene or one in which his villainy is more apparent.
It's interesting that in both TB and NSNA, the final act is a let down. There seems to be something about the idea that drags it under rather than just the execution.
I don't know about NA as a setting, but there's definitely something film-wise that makes it seem so, starting with Casablanca. I had a roommate once who was from there, and the first thing I asked was if it was as exotic as the film, and he just smiled and said no.
I don't know about NA as a setting, but there's definitely something film-wise that makes it seem so, starting with Casablanca. I had a roommate once who was from there, and the first thing I asked was if it was as exotic as the film, and he just smiled and said no.
I travelled in Morocco when I was much younger. In the east, the Atlas mountains, and near the Algerian border. Biggest city I went to was Fez, which is built around a vast, vast labyrinthine marketplace which has been there continuously evolving for 1200 years. Fantastic place, and a real test of a foreigner's orienteering skills to find ones way out before sundown. Straight out of the Arabian Nights, and so stimulating to the imagination.
Casablanca on the other hand I was assured was just an industrial port town, not very exotic at all, so I skipped it.
SPECTRE really didn't make good use of the setting. I'm not even convinced they did any filming there. The characters just say "now we're in Morocco", but all we see as proof is some generic desert. So in that respect, NSNA is superior to SPECTRE.
NSNA also predicts or introduces ... the "antique" car rooting Bond to a nostalgic past.
we did see David Niven drive the Bentley in Casino Royale. In the books Bond drove Bentleys more than he drove Aston Martins, but in the films they only appear in the two unofficial entries.
SPECTRE really didn't make good use of the setting. I'm not even convinced they did any filming there. The characters just say "now we're in Morocco", but all we see as proof is some generic desert. So in that respect, NSNA is superior to SPECTRE.
You actually see desert in Spectre. You also see Bond walking through Tangier. Do you see any of that in NSNA? Do you even see Africa in NSNA? You don't! They never went there like Spectre did! While Spectre doesn't take full advantage of the location and ruins it pissing all over it, it still looks more grand than NSNA looks.
My honest opinion is that the only Bond film it can possibly run close is Diamonds are forever. DAF is largely dross and NSNA is very watchable compared with that. But the rest are way ahead of it really. It can't be taken that seriously but even so is poor compared to all other Bond films.
I genuinely like DAF, mainly for the genuine wit employed in its script. Actually, the jokes are maybe the best part of NSNA (aside from Rowan Atkinson's mugging), and the better gags were recycled by Dick Clemens and Ian La Frenais from their TV and movie scripts for Porridge. I can't bring myself to hate Never Say Never Again, but it's not a film I return to often.
I think I rather administer an equine root canal than watch DAF. Everything about it is truly asinine. Aside from cleavage it has no redeeming qualities. The plot is bad, the acting is deplorable, it makes you regret seeing SC naked, and it makes the circus boring. It can't even get cremation correct. Excuse me while I rent Gigli.
My honest opinion is that the only Bond film it can possibly run close is Diamonds are forever. DAF is largely dross and NSNA is very watchable compared with that. But the rest are way ahead of it really. It can't be taken that seriously but even so is poor compared to all other Bond films.
I genuinely like DAF, mainly for the genuine wit employed in its script. Actually, the jokes are maybe the best part of NSNA (aside from Rowan Atkinson's mugging), and the better gags were recycled by Dick Clemens and Ian La Frenais from their TV and movie scripts for Porridge. I can't bring myself to hate Never Say Never Again, but it's not a film I return to often.
I think I rather administer an equine root canal than watch DAF. Everything about it is truly asinine. Aside from cleavage it has no redeeming qualities. The plot is bad, the acting is deplorable, it makes you regret seeing SC naked, and it makes the circus boring. It can't even get cremation correct. Excuse me while I rent Gigli.
I don't know about NA as a setting, but there's definitely something film-wise that makes it seem so, starting with Casablanca. I had a roommate once who was from there, and the first thing I asked was if it was as exotic as the film, and he just smiled and said no.
I travelled in Morocco when I was much younger. In the east, the Atlas mountains, and near the Algerian border. Biggest city I went to was Fez, which is built around a vast, vast labyrinthine marketplace which has been there continuously evolving for 1200 years. Fantastic place, and a real test of a foreigner's orienteering skills to find ones way out before sundown. Straight out of the Arabian Nights, and so stimulating to the imagination.
Casablanca on the other hand I was assured was just an industrial port town, not very exotic at all, so I skipped it.
SPECTRE really didn't make good use of the setting. I'm not even convinced they did any filming there. The characters just say "now we're in Morocco", but all we see as proof is some generic desert. So in that respect, NSNA is superior to SPECTRE.
NSNA also predicts or introduces ... the "antique" car rooting Bond to a nostalgic past.
we did see David Niven drive the Bentley in Casino Royale. In the books Bond drove Bentleys more than he drove Aston Martins, but in the films they only appear in the two unofficial entries.
Ha, I don't really count that film, but I was referring less to the appearance of the car and more to it being a touchstone to Bond history, the way the Aston Martin was more or less used in SP.
Oddly enough I used to hate QOS. Thinking it very
UnBond like. Until ( taking advice for much older and
Wiser ...... But not as good looking as Me Members ) I
Was advised to go back and read the books again.
I did and suddenly, I could see what they were trying to
Do with QOS. . I'm not saying this therapy would work for
Everyone, but it did for me.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
QOS: ... I Was advised to go back and read the books again. I did and suddenly, I could see what they were trying to do with QOS...
could you expand? I see one or maybe two minor plot points from Fleming, and some general themes that are Flemingesque. But if you're seeing some things I haven't noticed yet, I'd love to know what to look for next viewing
I'm no expert so will probably explain this badly but ...
.. I grew up watching dear old Roger as Bond, so had
Lost touch with the literary 007. On reading the books
Again. I could see Craig embracing the attitude and
Swagger of the Bond of the Books. Not a particular
Scene but rather his whole performance, willing to
Do what it takes for Queen and Country, motivated
By his duty.
I do understand that QOS is a " Marmite" movie,
Many will either love or hate it. This is only my
Experience on how I came to like it.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
I'm no expert so will probably explain this badly but ...
.. I grew up watching dear old Roger as Bond, so had
Lost touch with the literary 007. On reading the books
Again. I could see Craig embracing the attitude and
Swagger of the Bond of the Books. Not a particular
Scene but rather his whole performance, willing to
Do what it takes for Queen and Country, motivated
By his duty.
I do understand that QOS is a " Marmite" movie,
Many will either love or hate it. This is only my
Experience on how I came to like it.
Just goes to show that if you put the work in...and try really hard... :007)
Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
thanks for replying Thunderpussy, it always helps me to learn how others see the films
for me the one plot element I see from Fleming is the final scene, where Bond warns a fellow agent her boyfriend is a bad guy, that's from 007 in New York
and maybe the second is the burning hotel, someone here once argued that's from The Spy Who Loved Me, but I think that's probably a coincidence
doesn't the "red Indians" philosophising from Casino Royale also get spoken here? so that's two or three small bits from Fleming
thematically, Camille has that nasty scar so obvious in her first scene, that's typical of Flemings female characters who were beautiful but usually had physical "flaws" (eg Honeychile Rider's broken nose)
she also is motivated by a very brutal backstory, also typical of Fleming's female characters
she maybe the closest to the "bird with one wing down" we have seen in the films. Even the characters directly taken from Fleming in the other films are usually simplified into shallow beauty queens.
and of course we get irrational, brooding, vengeful Bond, motivated by the death of his lady, that we never got following Tracy's death in the films.
All off topic though, apologies. I was actually enjoying folks pointing out things to be positively appreciated in NSNA, so carry on.
Some good observations Caractacus Potts -{ also the ending of QOS " Book ends" the opening of CR. Now
Back to discussing the abomination that was NSNA !
( only joking I know it has a few fans )
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
Comments
Yep, same for me.
I can't think why they even made it.
Then again it takes all sorts to make a world.
YOUR SURPRISED?!
( While looking for the shocked image I came accross a truly disturbing one! Even you TP would be taken aback I think
I'm surprised that the lover of all Bond films would have no soft spot for NSNA.
Isn't it cool to see Connery back in the role?
Isn't it fun to see a remake of Thunderball with a different cast of characters?
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
I do wonder what the film might have been like if made a few years later, after Connery's resurgence at the box office with The Untouchables. He obviously would have been older, but his clout returned, and if you look at his films from that point forward, not only are the productions stronger, but more effort is made to make Connery look good. Though the director, Irvin Kershner, was riding a wave of popularity due to The Empire Strikes Back, his other effort with Connery, A Fine Madness, was also uneven, so perhaps another director -- John McTiernan, for instance -- would have understood better how to approach the project. I would be interested if a fan would substitute some of Barry's scores for Bond films for ones in NSNA, too, to see if scenes play better.
Bond fan. I've read all the books several times ( including the continuing
novels ) and of course the wonderful Films, for over 40 years now -{
I can only use the analogy of a sports fan " In Love " with his ( or her )
favourite team. For Me, Cubby and the Team made these films especially
for me. The fact that other people like them is just a bonus !
admit, I may be blind to the minor faults that others make so much of.
I can remember the excitement back in 83 over the possibility of two great
Bond films -{ The 007 Magazine, had many stories and interviews etc.
Then came the viewing
It was as if a bunch of film students with no knowledge of Bond, had decided
to make a Bond film. From the jarring score that actually takes you out of the film, to the lacklustre direction and locations. The Bahamas may be a beautiful
place but not in NSNA.
Connery looks good, and I do enjoy the blustering Edward Fox as M, with
Bernie Casey giving a great performance as Felix, I could imagine him and
Bond having a drink together, even if not on a mission., but as a whole.
NSNA is an action movie with NO action ! ( a major flaw for me ) It's the
only "Bond" film, I've noticed how uncomfortable my cinema seat was, as I
was more concerned with the comfort of my bottom than what was happening
on screen.
The Script had many jokes recycled from Porridge ( a famous comedy on bbc 1
) and in a way I think that sums up the movie. It's all recycled ideas, but without the sense of fun from the official series. It feels tired, it almost feels as if Connery and co lost interest in the project half way through, but had to complete it.
For those who enjoy it, you are lucky as You have one more Bond film than me to enjoy.
I guess I'm an Eon stooge as I think they know what the audience want, as proven with OP which was a much bigger hit. It also proved how popular Roger Moore was as 007, so in a way I should be happy it was made as it showed that,
many feel making a Bond is easy, ..... NSNA proves it's not.
Still as ever we are an eclectic group and I'm glad some love it, I do have it on bluray ( only for the audio commentary) but it like CR67 will merely remain an oddity in the world of Bond.
Look up "Never Say McClory Again" for this (it uses Barry amongst other Bond composers). For me it emphasised how the scenes where the music was sourced from were all stronger than any scenes in NSNA. The better music makes NSNA even worse!
+ Points
Shrublands and the Bentley
Renault 5 Turbo is cool
Barbara Carrera is hot
Pamela Salem is hotter
Pat Roach (Should have been in an proper Bond film)
- Points
Everything else really
another similarity between NSNA and an official Bond production: Connery gives a very self-aware performance, as if his character is not James Bond so much as Connery in a movie knowing he is in a movie playing Bond (does that make sense?). He even literally winks at the camera at the end, but the whole preformance is one big wink at the camera.
By comparison, Brosnan's performance in his last film also seems to be distractingly self-aware, as if Bond knows he is strutting through a predictable series of ritualistic setpieces. Much moreso than his other three movies, or any other official entry. Almost like Austin Powers without the jokes. But Brosnan is much less likable in DAD than Connery is in NSNA.
1. Diamonds Are Forever - I can enjoy Diamonds Are Forever. It's fun. But I think Never Say Never Again is a far better final Bond movie for Connery.
2. The Man with the Golden Gun - I think the movie only becomes an exotic Bond movie when he goes to Scaramanga's island. That's really the only part of the movie I like to watch.
3. A View to a Kill - Being American there is something not exotic about the country. Or at least how it is in the movie. I don't know why Goldfinger works at the end. Probably the setting with gold everywhere and the big battle. There are a few Bond novels that have good American settings. I need to read them again to be sure. And I do enjoy A View to a Kill. But I really like an exotic, away from normal life Bond movie. Never Say Never Again is better in that regard.
4. All the Brosnan Bond Movies - Yes that's right, I consider all the Brosnan movies to have a bit too much action. Perhaps you can take out The World is not Enough. But still, I enjoy Never Say Never Again far more.
5. Quantum of Solace - I reviewed this movie here in a long post. I only watch the movie for the opening car chase. I really don't like this one that much.
6. Skyfall - Another popular one that I don't care for. I've watched it once fully. And other times in parts. It's just not a good Bond movie to me.
There are some Bond movies which I believe are kind of equal to Never Say Never Again. You can debate the good and bad parts. Movies like Live and Let Die, Moonraker, and Octopussy.
I think my enjoyment of Never Say Never Again comes from my youth. Licence to Kill was the first Bond movie I saw in theaters. But Never Say Never Again was the first bond movie I saw on a fairly large TV screen in my home. I recall we just purchased a 27 inch Sony. And I think we had Never Say Never Again on Laserdisc. I remember it was very clear with good sound. Since I was young I wasn't the type to analyze or even notice that the normal Bond theme was missing. All I knew was it was Connery and the opening was awesome with the 007 logo everywhere. It was exotic with Bond running through the jungle and using all kinds of spy tools in that opening, there were tons of exotic women, and it was just fun with Bond being a spy and getting into crazy fights. It probably didn't hit me that it was a remake of Thunderball, my favorite Bond film, at that time. But I'm sure subconsciously that probably helped.
I think one of the reasons NSNA takes its somewhat campy approach to the character -- and Connery does some parody -- is because of threats from Eon of lawsuits from being too close to an official production. I'm old enough to remember rumors of early drafts of the script being much more action-oriented and traditional, for instance. The finished product seems to want to split the difference between being a real Bond film and a parody, the latter being more protected against copyright lawsuits.
Also, that's an inversion of the beginning of From Russia with Love, and once again the "real" films would borrow the idea of the training exercise, already in progress, to introduce Timothy Dalton a couple films later.
What do folks think of Max van Sydow's Blofeld? Blofeld gets a lot more screentime in this version than he did in the real Thunderball. He didn't even get named in the original, we just saw the back of his head and the cat. Sydow looks very different. He may also be the biggest star to have played Blofeld, considering Telly Savalas had not yet begun Kojak when he played the part.
The whole movie falls to pieces after Fatima Blush dies, whatever else its merits. Too bad though, the North African setting was unique at the time, and it gets very Errol Flynn, with Connery actually rescuing a damsel-in-distress on horseback. By coincidence, Octopussy also had a very swashbuckling finale.
One more thought: the North African setting is not longer unique. Aside from Dalton's first film, SPECTRE also returns us to Morocco. Was the Morocco setting for SPECTRE somehow one of McClory's intellectual properties they bought back?
I like Von Sydow's Blofeld. My problem is that he's not given much to do for such a fine actor. Imagine if there could have been a confrontation scene or one in which his villainy is more apparent.
It's interesting that in both TB and NSNA, the final act is a let down. There seems to be something about the idea that drags it under rather than just the execution.
I don't know about NA as a setting, but there's definitely something film-wise that makes it seem so, starting with Casablanca. I had a roommate once who was from there, and the first thing I asked was if it was as exotic as the film, and he just smiled and said no.
Damn! One of my favorite Leiters.
Casablanca on the other hand I was assured was just an industrial port town, not very exotic at all, so I skipped it.
SPECTRE really didn't make good use of the setting. I'm not even convinced they did any filming there. The characters just say "now we're in Morocco", but all we see as proof is some generic desert. So in that respect, NSNA is superior to SPECTRE.
we did see David Niven drive the Bentley in Casino Royale. In the books Bond drove Bentleys more than he drove Aston Martins, but in the films they only appear in the two unofficial entries.
You actually see desert in Spectre. You also see Bond walking through Tangier. Do you see any of that in NSNA? Do you even see Africa in NSNA? You don't! They never went there like Spectre did! While Spectre doesn't take full advantage of the location and ruins it pissing all over it, it still looks more grand than NSNA looks.
NSNA definitely is way better entertainment and much more Bond than QOS and SF ever will be.
UnBond like. Until ( taking advice for much older and
Wiser ...... But not as good looking as Me Members ) I
Was advised to go back and read the books again.
I did and suddenly, I could see what they were trying to
Do with QOS. . I'm not saying this therapy would work for
Everyone, but it did for me.
.. I grew up watching dear old Roger as Bond, so had
Lost touch with the literary 007. On reading the books
Again. I could see Craig embracing the attitude and
Swagger of the Bond of the Books. Not a particular
Scene but rather his whole performance, willing to
Do what it takes for Queen and Country, motivated
By his duty.
I do understand that QOS is a " Marmite" movie,
Many will either love or hate it. This is only my
Experience on how I came to like it.
Just goes to show that if you put the work in...and try really hard... :007)
Then again I am a Bond Fanatic, so I
Have to find a reason to love them
All -{ ( official ones only obviously )
for me the one plot element I see from Fleming is the final scene, where Bond warns a fellow agent her boyfriend is a bad guy, that's from 007 in New York
and maybe the second is the burning hotel, someone here once argued that's from The Spy Who Loved Me, but I think that's probably a coincidence
doesn't the "red Indians" philosophising from Casino Royale also get spoken here? so that's two or three small bits from Fleming
thematically, Camille has that nasty scar so obvious in her first scene, that's typical of Flemings female characters who were beautiful but usually had physical "flaws" (eg Honeychile Rider's broken nose)
she also is motivated by a very brutal backstory, also typical of Fleming's female characters
she maybe the closest to the "bird with one wing down" we have seen in the films. Even the characters directly taken from Fleming in the other films are usually simplified into shallow beauty queens.
and of course we get irrational, brooding, vengeful Bond, motivated by the death of his lady, that we never got following Tracy's death in the films.
All off topic though, apologies. I was actually enjoying folks pointing out things to be positively appreciated in NSNA, so carry on.
Back to discussing the abomination that was NSNA !
( only joking I know it has a few fans )