YOLT Close to Perfect

ZorinIndustries · July 2013

After just recently watching YOLT, I noticed that all of the elements for a great 007 film were there. Exotic locations, over-the-top villains, beautiful women, a femme fatale in Brandt, a magnificent lair, a wonderful title track, a beautiful score, the Little Nellie, a mind-blowing finale, and the list goes on.

However, there is one thing that I feel weighs this film down: Sean Connery's performance.

Blackleiter, I always used to agree with you when you didn't feel Connery was phoning it in. I never saw a problem with YOLT or DAF!

This time, I watched all the Connery films just days before YOLT and I definitely noticed a change. Sean almost gas a lack of emotion in the film. His delivery doesn't seem very passionate like it was in FRWL or GF and he just doesn't seem into the film as he did in the previous four. His voice is rather monotone and comparing to a film like GF, we know he could've done better.

YOLT has definitely moved into my top 10 Bond films, but I'm afraid to say that Connery is a main reason it's not higher. I'm about to watch DAF soon, so we'll see how I feel about his performance in that one.

What are your thoughts here on YOLT and/or Sean's performance?

hehadlotsofguts · July 2013

I think Sean was at his peak in TB acting wise. His performance in YOLT seems to be up and down. He seems really bored during the first half of the film but his performance seems to pick up during the volcano raid/when Bond is captured.

Thunderpussy · July 2013

You could say YOLT is a big budget remake of Dr No, Which they them remade again,
as TSWLM, Moonraker even DAD.

) . So the Producers must feel ( Or Felt ) it was
"Practically Perfect" in every way.

)
It's over the top fun, with some great Cinematography, score and direction. -{ , It's
not one of my top ten, but still great fun.

Higgins · July 2013

what I particularly enjoy about YOLT are the locations!

Back then Japan was more or less an isolated country - it's just begun to open.
The architecture was great and I am privileged having seen most of the japanese locations in person.

I really don't care too much about Connery's performance because everything else is just wow!

Blackleiter · July 2013

Bondtoys wrote:

what I particularly enjoy about YOLT are the locations!

Back then Japan was more or less an isolated country - it's just begun to open.
The architecture was great and I am privileged having seen most of the japanese locations in person.

I really don't care too much about Connery's performance because everything else is just wow!

Actually, Toys, I can see your point. When compared to his performances in the previous four Bond films, YOLT is clearly a more low-key effort. Not exactly phoning it in, but not really exerting himself much either. I have always felt that Connery was so comfortable in the role by the 5th film that he felt he could coast a bit. But I think it also has something to do with the nature of the film because let's face it, YOLT is the most fantastical, over-the-top Bond film up to that point in the series. The emotional stakes for the Bond character don't seem to be that high (save for Aki's death), and there really isn't that much for Connery to react to as an actor. Also, as you mentioned, YOLT is so filled with fun and entertaining elements that the performances don't seem to matter as much. Some may say that I'm just making excuses for my man Sean, and perhaps I am. But I still believe that YOLT is a terrific Bond adventure that stands the test of time. I'm glad to know there are others, such as yourself, who get a kick out of it, despite your opinion of Connery's perfromance. -{

Higgins · July 2013

-{ to that BL.

In my opinion, Connery was even more "relaxed" in DAF, I am too polite to mention NSNA.

His fatique in Yolt may have added up by the terrible hot climate in southern-Japan and the Japarazzi following him everywhere during the shooting and asking daft questions.

That said, YOLT is to me full of visual crackers - just like Moonraker some years later - hey we must disagree at least on something in this thread

Blackleiter · July 2013

Bondtoys wrote:

hey we must disagree at least on something in this thread

I agree, lest our fellow AJBers think we've lost our edge. How about this - I like NSNA!

Higgins · July 2013

Ewwwwww...

Firemass · July 2013

Blackleiter wrote:

When compared to his performances in the previous four Bond films, YOLT is clearly a more low-key effort. Not exactly phoning it in, but not really exerting himself much either. I have always felt that Connery was so comfortable in the role by the 5th film that he felt he could coast a bit. But I think it also has something to do with the nature of the film because let's face it, YOLT is the most fantastical, over-the-top Bond film up to that point in the series. ...

Very well put BL. I'm looking forward to re-watching YOLT...it's been a while.

And yes, NSNA has always been one of my favorites so no argument there either. -{

Thunderpussy · July 2013

I regard NSNA as even more boring than QOS.

Although I do love E Fox as M.

)

Charmed & Dangerous · July 2013

I think the subtle difference is that Connery just doesn't seem to be having as much fun in the role as he did in earlier films. By the time Goldfinger, he had mastered the role and relishes every scene he's in, and he's quite magnetic (or do I mean charismatic?). By the time of YOLT, he still puts in a versatile and beilevable performance, but he just looks as though he's enjoying it a bit less.

Higgins · July 2013

I realize that because of all the beautiful locations, I forgot to mention Ken Adams masterpiece: The volcano set.

I'd give a lot of money if I could see that in reality - it's simply stunning.
This and the aerial shots by J. Jordan round it well up: YOLT is a jewel!"

MooseWithFleas · July 2013

YOLT has always been a solid film in the canon for me. I love the way they used Japan throughout the film and embraced the culture. The movie throws everything at you and it all comes together well. Connery isn't as good as he was in the first four, but I never get the feeling that Connery is bored or just collecting a payday. I know he was going through a lot with the fans in Japan overstepping privacy boundaries, but I didn't see it effect his performance at any point.

chrisisall · July 2013

MooseWithFleas wrote:

Connery isn't as good as he was in the first four, but I never get the feeling that Connery is bored or just collecting a payday.

I chalk it up to Bond in the beginning of his tiring of the job. If you watch YOLT, then TLD, I think it *can* be seen as a natural transition of his character. -{

In any case, I love YOLT.

Mr_Osato · July 2013

Charmed & Dangerous wrote:

I think the subtle difference is that Connery just doesn't seem to be having as much fun in the role as he did in earlier films. By the time Goldfinger, he had mastered the role and relishes every scene he's in, and he's quite magnetic (or do I mean charismatic?). By the time of YOLT, he still puts in a versatile and beilevable performance, but he just looks as though he's enjoying it a bit less.

I think you are right on the money here. Sean is not enjoying it that much, maybe he was jetlagged?

Either way, YOLT is my guilty pleasure Bond and my most watched Bond. I love it for all its flaws and all its perfection at the same time. Sure it is very cliched about Japan and Japanese culture, but a lot of things are still there, just like the locations of the movie, which is quite surprising as you see how much Japan has changed since the movie came out 45 years ago!

It is probably the movie that made me fall in love with Japan and now I am blessed to live here. I still listen to the soundtrack very often while cycling through Tokyo or taking the subway to work. Pure magic.

CmdrAtticus · July 2013

There are some aspects of the film I enjoy, but to me it was obvious that the spectacle of TBALL was the mother that gave birth to YOLT. I really have trouble watching it now for various reasons. First, Connery to me is just acting "by the numbers", having decided that the Bond from TBALL is what the producers and audiences wanted - a smug, snobbish, know-it-all superhero who can't be defeated. To me, that was about as far away from Fleming's character as one could get. Then, they stitch together a plot which is basically just an excuse to show off the Japanese scenery, Q's gadgets, Adam's sets and the stunt sequences. It's just a "paint by the numbers" affair. I remember one critic who said it looked to much like the childrens TV series THUNDERBIRDS.

It seems that after the enormous box office success of TBALL, the producers had decided that the world being threatened and saved by Bond is what the audiences wanted, so they would have all the future films follow that line. Since Fleming's novel was so far removed from his previous novels where he had a washed up Bond being given basically a job of bartering intel with the Japanese, then finding Blofeld and exacting his revenge for killing Tracy, it didn't leave any type of framework on which EON could attach a "Bond saves the planet" plot, so they just dumped he whole thing. It actually started with Goldfinger - instead of going after a more low key realistic spy plot after FRWL - like OHMSS or LALD they decided to do the books that had the prospects of showing more spectacle. Unfortunately, this left them with the dreaded "topping the last film" curse. From then on, each one would have to be more bombastic than the last - hence, YOLT.

jeffch · July 2013

ZorinIndustries wrote:

After just recently watching YOLT, I noticed that all of the elements for a great 007 film were there. Exotic locations, over-the-top villains, beautiful women, a femme fatale in Brandt, a magnificent lair, a wonderful title track, a beautiful score, the Little Nellie, a mind-blowing finale, and the list goes on.

I think DAD is the perfect example of a film with all of the elements for a great Bond movie, yet is still horrible. Not that YOLT is horrible, but its far from perfect.

ZorinIndustries · July 2013

jeffch wrote:

ZorinIndustries wrote:

After just recently watching YOLT, I noticed that all of the elements for a great 007 film were there. Exotic locations, over-the-top villains, beautiful women, a femme fatale in Brandt, a magnificent lair, a wonderful title track, a beautiful score, the Little Nellie, a mind-blowing finale, and the list goes on.

I think DAD is the perfect example of a film with all of the elements for a great Bond movie, yet is still horrible. Not that YOLT is horrible, but its far from perfect.

Very good point! I still enjoy DAD a ton, but I do agree that it's far from perfect. However, there's something separating it from YOLT. I'm thinking that it's Lewis Gilbert.

DelicatessenInSteel · July 2013

ZorinIndustries wrote:

However, there is one thing that I feel weighs this film down: Sean Connery's performance.

This time, I watched all the Connery films just days before YOLT and I definitely noticed a change. Sean almost has a lack of emotion in the film. His delivery doesn't seem very passionate like it was in FRWL or GF and he just doesn't seem into the film as he did in the previous four. His voice is rather monotone and comparing to a film like GF, we know he could've done better.

I think what probably happened was he probably decided half way through shooting he was done with Bond, so that sort of resentment will creep into a performance. Then add to that that he would have to come back and loop (Overdub) most or all of his dialogue..thats where I can think most of the monotone and disinterest in the performance came. If you watch the LOTR making of's you see an absolutely terrible Elijah Wood performance with original sound & then you see him overdub it with a completely different take a year later & it makes a huge difference.

ZorinIndustries · July 2013

DelicatessenInSteel wrote:

ZorinIndustries wrote:

However, there is one thing that I feel weighs this film down: Sean Connery's performance.

This time, I watched all the Connery films just days before YOLT and I definitely noticed a change. Sean almost has a lack of emotion in the film. His delivery doesn't seem very passionate like it was in FRWL or GF and he just doesn't seem into the film as he did in the previous four. His voice is rather monotone and comparing to a film like GF, we know he could've done better.

I think what probably happened was he probably decided half way through shooting he was done with Bond, so that sort of resentment will creep into a performance. Then add to that that he would have to come back and loop (Overdub) most or all of his dialogue..thats where I can think most of the monotone and disinterest in the performance came. If you watch the LOTR making of's you see an absolutely terrible Elijah Wood performance with original sound & then you see him overdub it with a completely different take a year later & it makes a huge difference.

Hmm that's a good point! If I'm not mistaken, wasn't he feuding with Harry Saltzman at the time too?

DelicatessenInSteel · July 2013

ZorinIndustries wrote:

If I'm not mistaken, wasn't he feuding with Harry Saltzman at the time too?

I believe but I'm not sure that in the YOLT documentary or one of those docs maybe Everything or Nothing that Connery refused to act if Harry Saltzman was on set.

MooseWithFleas · July 2013

I remember hearing that as well DiS. Saltzman obviously did a ton for the Bond series, but it did seem that he could have a mighty temper and after so many films it just didn't mesh anymore with Connery's occasional stubbornness.

Some will reference the marriage scene as where Connery really looks bored, but it seemed to me that the scene called for that since he was dreading having an unattractive woman.

Firemass · July 2013

I watched YOLT the other night and I was enjoying it immensely up until the point that Bond turned Japanese. From here the movie takes a major nose dive as our leading Bond girl Aki is killed! Next we suffer through a boring wedding sequence where a new Bond girl is introduced only moments before the final big battle climax. Fortunately, the hollowed out volcano saves the film and ends on a strong note.

If Aki lived and Bond had not turned Japanese, YOLT would be my favorite Connery Bond. Or at least tie with Dr. No...

chrisisall · July 2013

Firemass wrote:

If Aki lived and Bond had not turned Japanese, YOLT would be my favorite Connery Bond. Or at least tie with Dr. No...

I hear ya.

Napoleon Plural · July 2013

Blackleiter wrote:

Bondtoys wrote:

what I particularly enjoy about YOLT are the locations!

Back then Japan was more or less an isolated country - it's just begun to open.
The architecture was great and I am privileged having seen most of the japanese locations in person.

I really don't care too much about Connery's performance because everything else is just wow!

Actually, Toys, I can see your point. When compared to his performances in the previous four Bond films, YOLT is clearly a more low-key effort. Not exactly phoning it in, but not really exerting himself much either. I have always felt that Connery was so comfortable in the role by the 5th film that he felt he could coast a bit. YOLT is so filled with fun and entertaining elements that the performances don't seem to matter as much.

Just wondering, BL, would you agree that LALD would have been much improved had Bond, in the later scenes, made to integrate himself with the black community by blacking up, much as Bond turns Japanese in YOLT, after all, it would be much the same, surely... {:)

chrisisall · July 2013

Napoleon Plural wrote:

Just wondering, BL, would you agree that LALD would have been much improved had Bond, in the later scenes, made to integrate himself with the black community by blacking up, much as Bond turns Japanese in YOLT, after all, it would be much the same, surely... {:)

You DID NOT just go there, seriously?

)

Colonel Shatner · August 2013

chrisisall wrote:

Firemass wrote:

If Aki lived and Bond had not turned Japanese, YOLT would be my favorite Connery Bond. Or at least tie with Dr. No...

I hear ya.

As mentioned in another thread, Aki getting accidently assassinated felt as emotionally hurtful to me as the more infamous Bond girl demises (Tracy and Vesper). And while her death scene was directed beautifully (with one of John Barry's more memorable scores) such a dramatic incident was not really referenced again for the rest of the film, with YOLT whiplashing back again into quasi-cartoonish fun.

Maybe, to flesh out Kissy more, Bond mentions Aki dying to Kissy in one of the quiet moments on the island and this leaves her distraught (being a close colleague and that she didn't know about Aki right away, because Tiger hushed it up for the sake of the operation). Also Bond is moved by the diving girl's funeral (who died when accidently stumbling upon the SPECTRE rocket base) and bleakly states that too many young women are dying.

chrisisall · August 2013

Pound for pound, YOLT is one of the most entertaining of the franchise IMO.

Blackleiter · August 2013

chrisisall wrote:

Pound for pound, YOLT is one of the most entertaining of the franchise IMO.

Agreed. Definitely top-notch as far as entertainment value.

chrisisall · August 2013

Blackleiter wrote:

chrisisall wrote:

Pound for pound, YOLT is one of the most entertaining of the franchise IMO.

Agreed. Definitely top-notch as far as entertainment value.

In fact, as pure entertainment Bond-wise, no other 'big' Bond matches it IMO. And I love TND & TSWLM. Barry & Connery have something to do with that. :007)

DelicatessenInSteel · August 2013

I don't watch YOLT too much anymore because I get distracted by the bad overdubbing just like in Thunderball...which of course doesn't bother me in the spaghetti westerns. But man when I was a kid this was the best Bond movie...and it was that weird vibe Bond used to have...that they've seem to have lost..it was exotic the incredible music that transported you and made me feel at least that I could even smell the air in Japan... I felt I was there at that preposterous wedding watching Bond trying to keep his dignity with that disguise...and I loved that great helicopter scene where Bond would air punch a thug and he would be knocked out cold. Good Times.

YOLT Close to Perfect

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