Never Say Never Again: your detailed review

chrisisall · July 2013

Ingredients:
Sean Connery looking very fit for the most part, Douglas Slocombe who photographed Indy, Irvin Kershner fresh off Empire Strikes Back & who directed Connery in the marvelous film Fine Madness, the legendary Vic Armstrong coordinating stunts, story by Fleming.
Mix:
Using sets and locations, blend the ingredients well. Add in Rowan Atkinson to taste.
Cook:
On thirty six million for six months.
Cool Down:
When done assemble the bits with a load of questionable assistant editors, and top off with Legrand's instant score mix, stir DO NOT SHAKE!

Serves millions of undemanding Bond fans.
?:)

Never Say Never Again

This movie had so many possibilities, SO much high octane talent in front of & behind the cameras... what went wrong?
Well, the screenplay by Lorenzo Semple Jr. is a possible starting point. He's best known for the Batman TV series, and while he adds a certain flair to the screenplay, he also adds camp that while not as heavy as what appeared in the earlier Moore films, was there nonetheless.
Irvin Kershner has to be one of the most overrated directors of all time. The man has no sense of pacing a film though he's great with individual scenes. The Empire Strikes Back worked in large part due to a superior screenplay & Lucas' micro-management IMO.
All the actors give it their best, but Kersh is notorious for giving his actors room to improvise, which in this case led them to meander a bit.
The editor (who's most notable work is Field of Dreams, a very slow and NON-action filled film) and his MANY assistants just dropped the ball, wanting to include too many unnecessary shots and even partial scenes to hit the desired 2 hr length. This film might have worked reasonably well at 105 minutes or so.
And Legrand, who's work mostly speaks for itself, delivers a peculiar score- some of it fine, and some of it worthy of the afore mentioned Batman TV series.

In the right frame of mind, this can be a very entertaining Bond outing. Who couldn't love the faux gyroscope/bomb in the cigar case gag? And Barbara Carrera chewing up the scenery and getting blown up for her insane vanity? Awesome.

Still, Octopussy of the same year was miles ahead IMO. Just as silly (if not more so in spots), but it delivered some fine intrigue as well, something NSNA failed totally at.

Bottom line: an unnecessary but entertaining romp due mostly to Connery; big fans of FRWL will be (and were) offended.

4 of 10

Your review?

Barbel · July 2013

...would pretty much agree with yours!

Thunderpussy · July 2013

Worst Bond film.ever. I even prefer QOS over it.

)

chrisisall · July 2013

Thunderpussy wrote:

Worst Bond film.ever. I even prefer QOS over it. )

I prefer QOS to many. QOS rocks; NSNA is on par with MR.

Barbel · July 2013

Being of an age to remember the excitement of Connery's return to the role, I was surprised to find that I preferred that year's official entry OP with Moore.

chrisisall · July 2013

Barbel wrote:

Being of an age to remember the excitement of Connery's return to the role, I was surprised to find that I preferred that year's official entry OP with Moore.

I was the age as well, but back then, I preferred NSNA, just because it was Connery. Sadly, I have pretty much forsaken the movie. I'll watch TB again in a flash, and give NSNA nary a second thought.
As far as OP goes, I mostly love it for the adventure & intrigue. It's far from a perfect Bond, but SO totally fun!!! -{

hehadlotsofguts · July 2013

Connery's energetic performance isn't enough to save this tripe. Give me TB over this anytime

Blackleiter · July 2013

NSNA is a very mixed bag for me.

Pros: Connery - I welcomed his return and I was pleased that he was fit and in fine form.
Barbara Carrera - I loved her colorful turn as Fatima Blush. The movie isn't as
interesting after she meets her demise.
Klaus Maria Brandauer - To me his quirky Largo is more entertaining than the TB
version.
Bernie Casey - My favorite of all Felix Leiters, thus my namesake and avatar.

Cons: Production - The movie doesn't have the polished, luxurious look of most of the
EON Bond films.
Direction - The action scenes, particularly the motorcycle chase, lack that certain
spark.
The Score - Dull and uninspiring, especially when compared to the music of John
Barry.

Overall I'd rank NSNA as mediocre at best, but I still prefer it to just about every one of the Roger Moore Bonds.

chrisisall · July 2013

It'll be your ass, James!

Blackleiter · July 2013

chrisisall wrote:

It'll be your ass, James!

I always chuckle at the way Casey says that line, and I think that's exactly the kind of thing Fleming's Felix would say.

chrisisall · July 2013

Casey rocked. -{

Thunderpussy · July 2013

I think with NSNA and now with The Craig Bond films, they have the right Chemistry
between Bond and Leiter. After all They are supposed to be friends, and at least with
NSNA. I could see both men having a drink and a joke when not on a mission. Where
in some of the past films, Leiter seemed like a middle aged Cop and you'd wonder
why Bond would want to spend time with the guy.

Napoleon Plural · July 2013

Coming up to its 30 years anniversary. I was in Switzerland on a school trip when the anticipation was building for this and Octopussy during the long hot summer. -{

It felt like NSNA would be something like True Lies (not that that existed then), sort of sleek, slick and modern. Ah well...

Higgins · July 2013

Blackleiter wrote:

NSNA is a very mixed bag for me.

Pros: Connery - I welcomed his return and I was pleased that he was fit and in fine form.
Barbara Carrera - I loved her colorful turn as Fatima Blush. The movie isn't as
interesting after she meets her demise.
Klaus Maria Brandauer - To me his quirky Largo is more entertaining than the TB
version.
Bernie Casey - My favorite of all Felix Leiters, thus my namesake and avatar.

Cons: Production - The movie doesn't have the polished, luxurious look of most of the
EON Bond films.
Direction - The action scenes, particularly the motorcycle chase, lack that certain
spark.
The Score - Dull and uninspiring, especially when compared to the music of John
Barry.

Overall I'd rank NSNA as mediocre at best, but I still prefer it to just about every one of the Roger Moore Bonds.

You forgot to mention the pathetic Atari battle and the crappy cruise missile sequences

Blackleiter · July 2013

Bondtoys wrote:

Blackleiter wrote:

NSNA is a very mixed bag for me.

Pros: Connery - I welcomed his return and I was pleased that he was fit and in fine form.
Barbara Carrera - I loved her colorful turn as Fatima Blush. The movie isn't as
interesting after she meets her demise.
Klaus Maria Brandauer - To me his quirky Largo is more entertaining than the TB
version.
Bernie Casey - My favorite of all Felix Leiters, thus my namesake and avatar.

Cons: Production - The movie doesn't have the polished, luxurious look of most of the
EON Bond films.
Direction - The action scenes, particularly the motorcycle chase, lack that certain
spark.
The Score - Dull and uninspiring, especially when compared to the music of John
Barry.

Overall I'd rank NSNA as mediocre at best, but I still prefer it to just about every one of the Roger Moore Bonds.

You forgot to mention the pathetic Atari battle and the crappy cruise missile sequences

Well I had to leave something for you to point out, Toys!

Thunderpussy · July 2013

I spent some time putting all my Bond films on to a tablet. There are two however I didn't bother with as I never watch.them, the two films are
CR67 and NSNA.

)

The Domino Effect · July 2013

I actually watched this again a few weeks ago when my wife said she'd never seen it. I really don't know when the last time I saw it prior to that was, but I'm guessing 20 years ago. I knew I hadn't liked it much but viewed it again with an open mind - except for the score which I remember was teeth-grindingly bad. Well, I was blown away. It was way way waaaay worse than I had remembered. There's very little about it that I like even considering that is 80s vintage and they weren't able to use the signature Bond music, phrases etc. Connery looked like he was a drag queen dressed as a man, the theme song is the worst since "The Wild Geese" and the special effects (thpethial effects?) and music were horrifically bad. My only highlights would be being able to look at Kim Bassinger for a couple of hours and Rowan Atkinson's small part.

Firemass · July 2013

geez maybe I should stop reading these reviews because I actually really enjoy NSNA ...

Willie Garvin · July 2013

Not as good as Thunderball but Connery looked great.

Napoleon Plural · July 2013

Now you're just trolling, WG! Though not as fat as in DAF, he'd lost something. His toupee looked like a toupee in every scene, he had this awful permatan, and he no longer had that alpha male air about him. He has a stately, courtly attitude towards the women, almost embarrassed. In one shot only, a press shot, he had the look of Cary Grant in his wonderful summer movies, but he even trimmed his eyebrows, which removed a big part of his appeal. I think the classic black and white shot of him released early does show him with the original eybebrows and is all the better for it.

His threads in the film are naff, dressing gowns, dungarees, bland suits. One nice light suit in Nassau when he meets Rowan Atkinson however.

Willie Garvin · July 2013

I agree.But he looks better here than he did in DAF.

Higgins · July 2013

-{ here I agree, WG.

Even Roger Bond in AVTAK looked better than Connery in DAF

Blackleiter · July 2013

Bondtoys wrote:

-{ here I agree, WG.

Even Roger Bond in AVTAK looked better than Connery in DAF

Now that's really stretching it!

chrisisall · July 2013

Every time I'd watch NSNA, I'd always have fun with it until the moment where Bond goes after Largo underwater after the cavern fight... from there to the end it seems like another half hour...

hehadlotsofguts · July 2013

I'd like to retract my last statement about NSNA being a load of tripe. The part in the casino where Bond tricks the doorman into thinking that his cigarette case is a bomb so the guy stays completely still was good, I liked the cavern fight. It's good to see Felix participating in the fighting instead of just being a man of intel. wish they'd do that often.

Charmed & Dangerous · July 2013

That cigarette case/bomb gag is the highlight of the film.

But imo Klaus Maria Brandeuer overacts like crazy and never seems menacing as a Bond villain.

It does go to prove that EON production values + familiar ingredients (music, gun barrel) + spending your big budget wisely, all add up to a classier film in Octopussy.

chrisisall · July 2013

Charmed & Dangerous wrote:

But imo Klaus Maria Brandeuer overacts like crazy and never seems menacing as a Bond villain.

It *DID* seem like one solid punch in his face would have ended the mission, eh?

)

DelicatessenInSteel · July 2013

The Domino Effect wrote:

It was way way waaaay worse than I had remembered. Connery looked like he was a drag queen dressed as a man, the theme song is the worst since "The Wild Geese" and the special effects (thpethial effects?) and music were horrifically bad.

That's about right, I remember seeing this thing when I was 12, and was wondering why the heck James Bond is wearing Blue Eyeshadow.

chrisisall · July 2013

DelicatessenInSteel wrote:

That's about right, I remember seeing this thing when I was 12, and was wondering why the heck James Bond is wearing Blue Eyeshadow.

Yeah, that annoyed the freakin' hell out of me too, in certain scenes.

MooseWithFleas · July 2013

I can only imagine being alive during the Battle of the Bonds. Were most people disappointed at the time when both came out or satisfied? In retrospect, both Octopussy and NSNA are seen pretty negatively though NSNA tends to get panned more.

There are parts I like, but then other mind-numbingly bad parts. Why o Why is Connery wearing denim overalls!!!!!

chrisisall · July 2013

MooseWithFleas wrote:

Why o Why is Connery wearing denim overalls!!!!!

To get laid.

Never Say Never Again: your detailed review

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