Thunderball Movie Review

In many circles, the greatest Bond movie of all time, and there are manny valid points behind that. It is the most financially successful Bond movie ever made (once ajustments for inflatation are compared.), it stars Connery with a wealth of gadgets, has some amazing underwater sequences, and a jet pack!

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this Bond, I have seen it many times before and will no doubt watch it alot more. From start to finish this is Bond at his best, doing what only he can do.

The film begins with the pre title sequence, with Bond and a colleague watchin a funeral of SPECTRE operative Number 6, only for Bond to discover the person is not really dead, so he goes to complete the job himself. After taking out the guy, he then escapes from the building on a jet pack, and drives off in the DB5, but not before showing off a few of its gadgets.

The title song was sang by Tom Jones, and I just thought I would let everyone into a little fact, when Tom Jones recorded the song, on the final not, he held it for so long he fainted in the recording booth, just remember that when you watching the credits role.

Bond is next seen recovering in a Health Club where unknowingly stumbles through a SPECTRE plot to steal two atomic missiles from Nato. He has a run in with Count Lippe and finds the dead Francios Derval, while the imposter takes his place on board a plane carrying the two nuclear missiles. He sabotages the oxygen of the pilots and takes over the plane, landing it in the ocean, only to be killed by Emilio Largo, SPECTRE number 2, for trying to exort more money.

SPECTRE demand £100 million in uncut diamonds or they will blow up a major city, so all 'oo' agents are called in to be briefed. Bond notices the image of Derval in the briefing and goes looking for his sister, Domino, who he discovers is Largos mistress.

Bond begins to investigate Largo. Q gives him a number of gadgets and hee goes to look at Largos ship from unwater, but is bearly killed when he is spotted. Bond and Felix Leiter discover the plane that had the bombs attached to it, and Domino helps them out to the location of the bombs.

After Miami beach is discovered to be the target of the bombs, Felix calls in help and a massive underwater fight follows. Largo escapes on his boat, with Bond and Domino. Largo and Bond fight, until Domino kills Largo with a harpoon. Bond and Domino then jump overboard before the boat crashes and explodes.

I think I have rabbited on for far to long about this film but it really is so goo, it is well laid out, planned, and executed. This is what Bond should be.

For any Bond fan, this is a must see film, for any fan of spy films in general this is also a must see movie.

My personal favourite is the underwater fight scene, I bet that was a nightmare to shoot.
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Comments

  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    My favourite Connery Bond, to be sure! -{
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • GordoLeiterGordoLeiter Posts: 462MI6 Agent
    Sean Connery gettin jiggy with the rack machine
  • PeppermillPeppermill DelftPosts: 2,860MI6 Agent
    I'm not a big fan of this movie, but I can't really tell you why... It has fantastic set pieces, a nice story, some great stunts, but IMHO it is my least favorite Connery movie besides DAF. Yes, that means I like YOLT better than this one.

    I agree it is a must see film because it was/is the biggest Bond of all time, just not one I like really much.
    1. Ohmss 2. Frwl 3. Op 4. Tswlm 5. Tld 6. Ge 7. Yolt 8. Lald 9. Cr 10. Ltk 11. Dn 12. Gf 13. Qos 14. Mr 15. Tmwtgg 16. Fyeo 17. Twine 18. Sf 19. Tb 20 Tnd 21. Spectre 22 Daf 23. Avtak 24. Dad
  • Mr BeechMr Beech Florida, USAPosts: 1,749MI6 Agent
    I love it. It reminds me of Casino Royale in the elegance and locales, along with Bond's interactions with the Bond girls. Particularly with Domino. I really enjoyed the two of them together. Certainly one of the best in the franchise.
  • BunsenPPKBunsenPPK Sydney, AustraliaPosts: 77MI6 Agent
    I'm actually reading the book of this at the moment, very good indeed. I love the movie, Largo is a great villain, sophisticated and cunning, just like in the novel. Bond girls are great and the PTS is hilarious IMO. Great Bond film, well worth a watch. :)
    "I think he got the point"
  • DTReinsmaDTReinsma Orlando, FL, USAPosts: 81MI6 Agent
    Sean Connery gettin jiggy with the rack machine

    Hahahahaha.....Picturing it again now. Love it.
  • Moore ThanMoore Than EnglandPosts: 3,173MI6 Agent
    For me, Thunderball is a good, solid, mid-ranking Bond film.

    The PTS is a particular highlight, I also enjoy the title song/sequence. Other highlights include the scene with the 00's and Bond's dance of death with Fiona Volpe. Largo is a good villain, the Bond girls are amongst the best in the series and Sean Connery gives one of his best performances as Bond. There is also some memorable dialogue. On the other hand, the film plods along for a good portion and the fight on the boat at the end of the film is spoiled by the cartoonish back projection.
    Moore Not Less 4371 posts (2002 - 2007) Moore Than (2012 - 2016)
  • moonraker84moonraker84 Posts: 48MI6 Agent
    After Diamonds Are Forever this is my least fave of the Connery bonds, after the first three which i thought were great particularly Goldfinger which is an absolute classic i was a bit dissapointed with this, it was still pretty good, just dragged in parts for me.
  • jasper_lamar_crabbjasper_lamar_crabb Posts: 169MI6 Agent
    In many circles, the greatest Bond movie of all time
    A fact that leaves those in other circles scratching their heads. Just what is it about this poorly structured and often downright boring film that some people love so much? YOLT is the weakest of the 1960s Bond films, but I'll take it over TB any day.
  • BIG TAMBIG TAM Wrexham, North Wales, UK.Posts: 773MI6 Agent
    It has a big epic feel to it. I always rank it highly because it has a good story, locations & general feel of quality. Plus Connery still appeared to be enjoying the role. I have read criticisms of its length & that Terence Young may have been the wrong choice of director. Raymond Benson reckoned Guy Hamilton might have been better with his faster pace. It's a fair point, especially given the abundance of slo-mo underwater action. But I still give it a strong thumbs up.
  • DTReinsmaDTReinsma Orlando, FL, USAPosts: 81MI6 Agent
    I think it is better than FRWL, which so many give such high praise to. I feel FRWL has a much slower pace. Thunderball is probably my favorite of the Connerys followed by GF.
  • welshboy78welshboy78 Posts: 10,320MI6 Agent
    Depending on my mood this along with three others is my fave Bond film - I love it! Everything about it! Locations, girls, plot, gadgets!
    Instagram - bondclothes007
  • Barry NelsonBarry Nelson ChicagoPosts: 1,508MI6 Agent
    Requirements in a James Bond film

    Excellent Bond - check, the best ever Sean Connery.
    Gorgeous locales - check, tropical Nassau in all its beauty.
    Attractive females - check, check, check, check. Claudine Auger, Molly Peters, Lucianna Paluzzi and Martine Beswick
    Great villain - check, Adolfo Celi as the cold blooded Largo.
    Ruthless henchman - check, although in this case, henchwoman and one of the best, Lucianna Paluzzi.
    Great score - check, John Barry with an absolutely beautiful score.
    Eroticism - check, all sorts of it, Molly Peters in the sauna, Lucianna Paluzzi biting Bond and Domino being tortured.
    Compelling plot – check, compelling and yet easy to follow.

    IMO, along with GF the best Bond ever.
  • Mr_OsatoMr_Osato Posts: 398MI6 Agent
    I love Thunderball. To me it is one of the classics: The first 6 Bond movies. It oozes 60's class and style, it has Connery in great shape, fantastic clothes, gorgeous women, great soundtrack, cool villain and fantastic plot.

    I have 1 question though: At Shrublands, Bond takes revenge on Lippe by letting him boil in the sauna. However, the next scenes is where you see Duvall getting killed in his hotelroom by Fiona and....Lippe. Later on in the movie however, you see that Lippe has severe burn wounds from Bond's revenge. This has got to be a serious goof in the movie.

    Once again, great movie. Might watch it again tonight. Simply love it.
    OHMSS, FRWL, DN, GF, CR, GE, SP, YOLT, TB, TSWLM, LALD, TLD, TND, FYEO, SF, MR, TMWTGG, TWINE, OP, AVTAK, DAF, LTK, QOS, DAD

    1. Connery 2. Craig 3. Brosnan 4. Dalton 5. Lazenby 6. Moore
  • BlackleiterBlackleiter Washington, DCPosts: 5,615MI6 Agent
    Mr_Osato wrote:
    I love Thunderball. To me it is one of the classics: The first 6 Bond movies. It oozes 60's class and style, it has Connery in great shape, fantastic clothes, gorgeous women, great soundtrack, cool villain and fantastic plot.

    I concur. Definitely one of the greats. My only criticism is one others have noted, i.e. the rather slow underwater scenes. But I love the look and feel of the movie, Connery is at his peak, and it has one of the sexiest, most attractive of all Bond Girls, Ms. Paluzzi.
    "Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley."
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    Bigger than GF, not as big as YOLT, IMO TB is THE perfect Bond movie, slow moments & bad rear projection notwithstanding. Yeah, FRWL is very 'realistic' and CR is very close to the novel (if updated) and TLD features a fantastic literary take on the hero, but TB is just the all-around best movie.
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • zaphodzaphod Posts: 1,183MI6 Agent
    Mr_Osato wrote:
    I love Thunderball. To me it is one of the classics: The first 6 Bond movies. It oozes 60's class and style, it has Connery in great shape, fantastic clothes, gorgeous women, great soundtrack, cool villain and fantastic plot.

    I concur. Definitely one of the greats. My only criticism is one others have noted, i.e. the rather slow underwater scenes. But I love the look and feel of the movie, Connery is at his peak, and it has one of the sexiest, most attractive of all Bond Girls, Ms. Paluzzi.

    Ms. Paluzzi...mmmmm a definite series highlight.She had a profound effect on the (far too )young Zaphod.
  • CmdrAtticusCmdrAtticus United StatesPosts: 1,102MI6 Agent
    Despite the public lawsuit around the original written material, it was a great asset in that Fleming and McClory, etc., came up with the plot with the idea of it being a film. It only strengthens the movie, and - eerily, predicts future terrorism (though in this case based purely on criminal power and greed minus the religious zealotry). I thought the whole concept of SPECTRE - made up of the worst elements of other criminal/spy organizations and internationalized, is still a very disturbing and creepy concept. Also, many critics found Largo a less than great villain. I just think it's sour grapes because he followed GF (even I would not want to have to follow that). For me, Largo still comes across as a real gangster and a real sadistic bastard - he's always been one of my favorites.
  • Mr_OsatoMr_Osato Posts: 398MI6 Agent
    Agree. Love Largo, a great villain. IN the book it said that Largo was always in control, no matter which situation. I felt that Adolfo Celi played his part perfectly: He was always in control, until of course the bitter end. And with his goodlooking Roman features, you can believe he is an old playboy millionaire. I thought he was a great villain, one of the best.
    OHMSS, FRWL, DN, GF, CR, GE, SP, YOLT, TB, TSWLM, LALD, TLD, TND, FYEO, SF, MR, TMWTGG, TWINE, OP, AVTAK, DAF, LTK, QOS, DAD

    1. Connery 2. Craig 3. Brosnan 4. Dalton 5. Lazenby 6. Moore
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