I think the film really sags here. All the great character-oriented scenes are over with, and the rest is just a bit of badly scored ho-hum action stuff.
Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.
Largo's death doesn't make much of an impression. Because it's underwater, Brandauer doesn't get the chance to act it properly... so a trick is missed. Apparently Domino spearing Largo underwater goes right back to the original treatment by McClory, Whittingham and Fleming.
Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.
Thunderbird 2East of Cardiff, Wales.Posts: 2,817MI6 Agent
The music is an insipid retread of Jaws - without the tension.
Someone really needs to keep an eye on that bomb!
This is Thunderbird 2, how can I be of assistance?
Largo's death doesn't make much of an impression. Because it's underwater, Brandauer doesn't get the chance to act it properly... so a trick is missed. Apparently Domino spearing Largo underwater goes right back to the original treatment by McClory, Whittingham and Fleming.
I agree, but the shot of Ms Bassinger with her hair flailed out in the water and the look on her face almost makes up for it.
This is Thunderbird 2, how can I be of assistance?
I remember in 83 feeling excited at having just seen a new Connery Bond film... but also disappointed that it hadn't felt 'the same' and that the climax, in particular, was underwhelming.
In subsequent repeated viewings on home video, I sometimes started after Shrublands and stopped after Barbara Carrera's exit... but really liked most of what came in between.
Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.
I like the NSNA Connery as a kind of footnote to the DAF Connery, in the same style; whereas the TB Connery was the GF Connery out for more...
I think Brandauer gives a far more nuanced interpretation of Largo than Celi/Rietty - but Celi's Largo is iconic.
Carrera is as good as Paluzzi imho... just in a film that's not as well produced.
Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.
Thunderbird 2East of Cardiff, Wales.Posts: 2,817MI6 Agent
NSNA -
There are two Bond Films in fields near The Bond Mansion that is the House That Eon Built.
(Think the SIS Building)
One is CR-67. It has guard posts, barbed wire, claymores and a large cannon always pointing at it.
(Think Bates Motel with Bars) - To keep those responsible for its existence IN.
The residents are all tied down wearing straight jackets and doped to the gills.
The script is in a vacuum secured vault.
The other is a small sedate manor house, made of plaster and plastic panels sprayed in fake granite and sand.
It stands alone, does the job, but looks a bit odd. The residents walk into the walls and each other.
This is NSNA.
This film shows that Connery was def not past his prime as Bond. Although he has clearly slowed in pace since Dr No, he still keeps the promises in the action scenes, emotes like mad in scenes with Brandauer Carrerra and Bassinger, and the humour in the M and Q scenes is delightful. And the actors play to those strengths.
Where it falters - besides the budget is careless errors that EON normally iron out in the script stage. We all see them. Moneypenny is Dippy, the tech has dated frightfully (as has the clothes) and aspects best left in the background are front and centre (the polaris pods) while excellent aspects such as the locations and ticking clock trope are treated in a shopping list approach.
Perhaps the saddest legacy of the film though, is it shows that no matter how much effort " a competitor" puts into a Bondesque production, if the money and time is not there, it won't hold up. Kevin McClory kept bogging things with repeated attempts to redo the story. How many of us heard the tired "Have you heard the latest?" regarding Warhead 2000.
Is NSNA a bad Bond film? No not at all. But its saggy parts (Snigger snigger) mean it will always be in that field near The House Of Eon - not beside it as part of the family.
Can someone make sure that canon is still pointing at CR-67?
This is Thunderbird 2, how can I be of assistance?
I'd support the earlier suggestion of viewing OP next. It was interesting to view the TB re-make after TB... and it would be interesting again to see OP after its rival, NSNA: OP was the head-to-head movie which trumped it.
Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.
Can someone make sure that canon is still pointing at CR-67?
No way is CR67 canon. For a few fleeting minutes it vaguely resembles Fleming's story, but those minutes are completely outnumbered by farce and non sequiturs. Niven is acceptable as a retired 007, but that's about it. Oh, and the music (while completely not Bondian) is good.
Edit- Orson Welles would have been a good Le Chiffre in a more serious film
I'd support the earlier suggestion of viewing OP next. It was interesting to view the TB re-make after TB... and it would be interesting again to see OP after its rival, NSNA: OP was the head-to-head movie which trumped it.
Yes, OP would be a good choice
Thunderbird 2East of Cardiff, Wales.Posts: 2,817MI6 Agent
Can someone make sure that canon is still pointing at CR-67?
No way is CR67 canon. For a few fleeting minutes it vaguely resembles Fleming's story, but those minutes are completely outnumbered by farce and non sequiturs. Niven is acceptable as a retired 007, but that's about it. Oh, and the music (while completely not Bondian) is good.
Edit- Orson Welles would have been a good Le Chiffre in a more serious film
No no no - Thats my entire reviews point!
The canon is a weapon pointing at CR-67. Because it is NOT canon to anything resembling a proper spy film.
Thunderbird Too - re Octopussy.
This is Thunderbird 2, how can I be of assistance?
Comments
His best part IMHO was in "Top Secret", an underrated movie
Not exactly Capt Scarlet either!
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Suspending a thermonuclear bomb by a winch cable?!
Though apparently it doesn't go ping. - Pity.
"Dad? What are You doing here?!"
Someone really needs to keep an eye on that bomb!
I agree, but the shot of Ms Bassinger with her hair flailed out in the water and the look on her face almost makes up for it.
Connery isn’t better than Connery
Brandauer isn’t better than Celi
Basinger isn’t better than Auger
Carrera isn’t better than Paluzzi
Casey is better than van Nutter
Von Sydow is better than Dawson/Pohlmann
Fox isn’t bettter than Lee
Salem isn’t better than Maxwell
McCowen isn’t better than Llewelyn
Hall isn't better than Jones
Kershner isn't better than Young
and most of all
Legrand isn’t better than Barry!
In subsequent repeated viewings on home video, I sometimes started after Shrublands and stopped after Barbara Carrera's exit... but really liked most of what came in between.
Well, you certainly didn't miss much in the final 20 minutes or so...
I like the NSNA Connery as a kind of footnote to the DAF Connery, in the same style; whereas the TB Connery was the GF Connery out for more...
I think Brandauer gives a far more nuanced interpretation of Largo than Celi/Rietty - but Celi's Largo is iconic.
Carrera is as good as Paluzzi imho... just in a film that's not as well produced.
There are two Bond Films in fields near The Bond Mansion that is the House That Eon Built.
(Think the SIS Building)
One is CR-67. It has guard posts, barbed wire, claymores and a large cannon always pointing at it.
(Think Bates Motel with Bars) - To keep those responsible for its existence IN.
The residents are all tied down wearing straight jackets and doped to the gills.
The script is in a vacuum secured vault.
The other is a small sedate manor house, made of plaster and plastic panels sprayed in fake granite and sand.
It stands alone, does the job, but looks a bit odd. The residents walk into the walls and each other.
This is NSNA.
This film shows that Connery was def not past his prime as Bond. Although he has clearly slowed in pace since Dr No, he still keeps the promises in the action scenes, emotes like mad in scenes with Brandauer Carrerra and Bassinger, and the humour in the M and Q scenes is delightful. And the actors play to those strengths.
Where it falters - besides the budget is careless errors that EON normally iron out in the script stage. We all see them. Moneypenny is Dippy, the tech has dated frightfully (as has the clothes) and aspects best left in the background are front and centre (the polaris pods) while excellent aspects such as the locations and ticking clock trope are treated in a shopping list approach.
Perhaps the saddest legacy of the film though, is it shows that no matter how much effort " a competitor" puts into a Bondesque production, if the money and time is not there, it won't hold up. Kevin McClory kept bogging things with repeated attempts to redo the story. How many of us heard the tired "Have you heard the latest?" regarding Warhead 2000.
Is NSNA a bad Bond film? No not at all. But its saggy parts (Snigger snigger) mean it will always be in that field near The House Of Eon - not beside it as part of the family.
Can someone make sure that canon is still pointing at CR-67?
No way is CR67 canon. For a few fleeting minutes it vaguely resembles Fleming's story, but those minutes are completely outnumbered by farce and non sequiturs. Niven is acceptable as a retired 007, but that's about it. Oh, and the music (while completely not Bondian) is good.
Edit- Orson Welles would have been a good Le Chiffre in a more serious film
Yes, OP would be a good choice
No no no - Thats my entire reviews point!
The canon is a weapon pointing at CR-67. Because it is NOT canon to anything resembling a proper spy film.
Thunderbird Too - re Octopussy.
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Ooh I'd say he is. Celi doesn't really do anything apart from glower. Brandauer is scary and mad.
I think she gets to do more. I'd call that one a draw.
No, but they're both great.
Yep.
Only because he gets something to do I guess. Sydow's Blofeld isn't very scary.
Yeah, he goes way OTT. Not sure what the director was thinking.
Maybe, she's great though. Way better than Bliss.
Yup.
Who's that?
No, although NSNA isn't quite as boring as TB is.
Absolutely!