 "cover art shock! (Blu-ray Disc)" | 2008-07-28 |
| - Reviewed By gepflegtundschnell |
| Is this a joke? The Highest End 1080p Blu-ray version for eternity of a long row of versions of this beautiful Bond classic with a bad looking and, worse, mirror-image picture of Sean Connery on the cover?? Who decides this?? This is world cinema of global player companies, and they can't afford a graphic designer!! The only reason can be, they want the film to look "different" for the supermarket-mass-audience buyer, might work. When I remember the care that went into the THUNDERBALL Laserdisc Box in 1997 using unused but beautiful cover art. Similar treatment with the cover on the FOR YOUR EYES ONLY Blu-ray with a Roger image not from that film (too young). |
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 "One of the greatest Bond movies of them all!!" | 2008-05-22 |
| - Reviewed By smap911 |
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It's difficult to believe that this movie is almost 45 years old (counting from the year of this review)!!!
(Sir) Sean Connery made six EON production (or "official") movies with him starring as James Bond. They were: Dr. No (1962); From Russia with Love (1963); Goldfinger (1964); Thunderball (1965); You Only Live Twice (1967); and Diamonds are Forever (1971).
As can be seen from the above list, "Thunderball" is the fourth spy film of the British Bond series. As well it is the fourth to star Connery as the fictional MI6 agent Commander James Bond (code number: 007).
This movie is based on the novel of the same name as the movie by Ian Fleming (1908 to 1964).
Briefly, 007's mission (code name: Thunderball) is to find two NATO nuclear bombs stolen by SPECTRE (SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge, and Extortion) who holds the world in ransom for not destroying with these bombs a major city in either England or the U.S. The search leads Bond to the Bahamas, where he encounters Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi), the card-playing, eye-patch wearing SPECTRE #2 and a beautiful but deadly SPECTRE operative named Fiona Volpe (Luciana Paluzzi). Backed by the CIA and Largo's mistress Domino (Claudine Auger), Bond's search culminates into an underwater battle with Largo's henchmen.
The theme song is belted out by singer (Sir) Tom Jones.
This movie has all the Bond ingredients: gadgets, witty dialogue with "Bondisms" (Bond's one-liners), incredible background music, beautiful Bond girls, a memorable villain, and plenty of action. Also in the cast is Miss Moneypenny, M, Q, and Felix. Gorgeous background scenery accompanies most scenes. (This movie was made on location in Paris, the Bahamas, and London, England.)
Sean Connery brings his characteristic savoir faire to the movie and he holds it together. A. Celi as Largo is an unforgettable foil to Connery's Bond. Kudos must go to Luciana Paluzzi for playing a memorable villainess. (In fact, so memorable that she had trouble getting acting jobs after the movie's release.)
The underwater scenes are spectacular. Some say they are too long but this is untrue. They just feel long because they're underwater where the action seems to be in slow motion.
It seems to me that the entire movie was carefully constructed. For instance, the voices of A. Celi as Largo and C. Auger as Domino are actually dubbed but it's difficult to tell this.
Here's an example of witty dialogue with a Bondism:
While visiting Largo's lair, he and Bond go to so some skeet shooting (using a rifle). Largo hits a moving skeet while carefully aiming.
Bond: "Perhaps you can call [a skeet] for me."
Largo: "Of course. Pull!"
Bond: "It seems terribly difficult."
(He hits a moving skeet seemingly not aiming and with his rifle at hip level.)
Bond: "No it isn't, is it?"
When first released, this movie earned about $141 million worldwide. That's about $965 million in today's dollars making it the highest grossing Bond film so far. It won a Academy Award for Best Effects (visual).
The DVD is flawless in picture and sound quality. This movie has been digitally restored and I'm sure the picture is just as good (if not better!!) than when it was released over 45 years ago. There is also superior sound. There are two extras in the form of commentaries.
Finally, here is some information to consider. This DVD is actually the first disc of the two disc "ultimate edition." Bond fanatics might want to purchase this two disc ultimate edition since the second disc has "the best collection of special features ever assembled for Bond." (Unfortunately, the ultimate edition is no longer available but can be purchased second hand.)
In conclusion, to date this is the highest grossing Bond movie and some say the best one. I leave you with some more witty dialogue from this movie:
This dialogue occurs right before the example dialogue given above where Bond and Largo are about to do some skeet shooting. Largo is carrying a rifle for skeet shooting:
Bond: "That [rifle] looks more fitting for a women."
Largo: "Do you know much about [rifles and] guns, Mr. Bond?"
Bond: "No. I know a little about women."
(1965; 2 hr, 10 min; wide screen; 32 scenes)
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| "One of the best of the original Bonds..." | 2008-03-10 |
| - Reviewed By thuds45 |
Sean Connery's fourth outing as James Bond, 1965's "Thunderball", finds him and the franchise in high gear in a spy extravaganza filmed on location in and around beautiful Nassau, the Bahamas. The underwater film sequences were pioneering at the time and hold up pretty well today.
As the movie opens, Bond is at a health spa in England, recovering from one of his recent adventures. He can't help getting involved in another. The clues he picks up at the spa will lead him to a SPECTRE plot to steal a British bomber with two nuclear bombs aboard, stash the bomber in the ocean, and sell the devices to the highest bidder. Bond ends up in the Bahamas, where his investigation leads him to SPECTRE agent Largo (played with haughty menace by Adolfo Celi) and his beautiful mistress Domino (Claudine Auger). The movie manages two equally thrilling climaxes. One is the huge underwater fight between British and American frogmen and Largo's SPECTRE henchmen. The second is a struggle between Bond and Largo for control of Largo's escape boat as it careens toward destruction on a reef.
Luciana Paluzzi is an added bonus as a gorgeous but deadly red-headed SPECTRE agent who dogs Bond's footsteps. Their meeting in his bathtub features one of the more priceless tongue-in-cheek Bond dialogues, as she asks for something to wear and he hands her a pair of sandals.
This movie is very highly recommended as one of the best of the original Bond movies, featuring Sean Connery at his wise-cracking best as the prototypical Bond. |
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| "THE BOND FEW REMEMBER" | 2008-02-19 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1MX6D3JK6IKDW |
| Top rate Bond film, completely forgotten by many. As I've mentioned before, Connery is absolutely no match for a 2007 Matt Damon (Jason Bourne), but in 1965 he had no peer. As usual in these films, the plot is both simple and outrageous. An organized international banditry group wants to extort 1 million pounds from NATO countries. They steal a bomber with 2 armed nuclear warheads as ransom. Bond arrives both casually and late at headquarters, having nearly been already killed and having had his mandatory sexual encounters with two gorgeous underground types.(If you ever see Shirley Booth or Rose Marie in one of these films, they've accidentally wandered onto the wrong set). With time running out, again and again the enemy has a chance to put Mr. Bond away for good, but fails to do so, thus lengthehening the film, but also enabling a wild, realistic finale,accompanied by beautiful photography and a stirring musical score. Do not let inferior Bond films fool you; this production can stand tall against the best of the others. |
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 "Bigger budget does not always make a better movie" | 2008-01-25 |
| - Reviewed By nowirehangers |
| After the success of "Goldfinger", the Bond producers secured the film rights to "Thunderball" and tripled the budget. The basic plot is simple but good: Largo, working for Spectre, steals atomic missiles and demands a ransom. Unfortunately, "Thunderball" is considerably longer than the previous movies, but there's less plot. The script is dull and the direction lifeless. Most of the budget seems to have been spent on the underwater sequences. But they're not well made, only chaotic and go on for way too long. They become the anticlimax of a movie that had already lost my interest. "Thunderball" is one of the few Bond movies that manages to bore me. Not recommended. |
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| "Action Adventure at its best" | 2008-01-24 |
| - Reviewed By User: ATB5RFRMUWKZZ |
Thunderball is one of my all time favorite action adventure movies. I saw this movie when it was originally released as a young boy with my older brother at the Star Theater. It was perhaps the biggest blockbuster movie of the 1960s. It was as big a hit as Star Wars in the 1970s if not bigger. This is noteworthy because it was the fourth movie in the series. Most sequels in movie series start to loose steam. For example, Lethal Weapon 4 is not in the same league as compared to the first 2. The Bond series has great staying power and has been able to reinvent itself and stay fresh over the 21 or so installments.
I recently watched one of the original Star Trek TV series episodes from the 1960s. It really looked dated and even had a campy feeling to it. This is not true about Thunderball. The movie has aged well, though some of the special effects and some of the models used do look dated and not as realistic as current standards.
There has been a lot of debate about what Bond lead actor is the best or what the best Bond film is. As a young lad, I was fascinated by Dr. No and his steel hands. At present, From Russia With Love is my favorite Sean Connery Bond Film.
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| "Thunderball: The last truly great 007 film!" | 2007-12-02 |
| - Reviewed By tim2000@nyct.net |
One of the great things about the hobby of cinema is the ability to re-evaluate films throughout the course of one's lifetime, and to note how time and experience alters our perceptions.
I went with my parents to see Thunderball at age 11, when it premiered in `65, and remember feeling that this highly touted entry to the series didn't live up to my enjoyment of the previous three 007 pictures--particularly Goldfinger. Now, having viewed the re-mastered Thunderball DVD, I'm grateful I refrained from watching Thunderball for over thirty years, as my appreciation for this film has increased tenfold, and I could've killed the experience through over exposure.
It's true, the film is still unusually long and slow-paced, but rather than feeling bored, I luxuriated in every scene. I can't say this would hold true, if any of Connery's successors had been cast in Thunderball instead of him. His screen presence and ability to suspend our disbelief are the magic of his star-power. My only real complaint, in terms of pacing, was the climactic underwater battle: It would have been twice as exciting if it had been at least half as long, but truly amazing work none the less. I always loved the soundtrack, and it's wonderful to hear John Barry's score along with the designated action & drama once again. I look forward to listening to the Terence Young and Peter Hunt commentaries upon future viewings. |
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 "[4.5] Still remains as one of the best" | 2007-11-26 |
| - Reviewed By dominion_ruler |
Following up on arguably the most perfect Bond film ever made, "Goldfinger", Thunderball still keeps the series very strong and eventful. Thunderball is another fabulous Sean Connery classic Bond film, that can almost satisfy everyone with a little bit of everyhting in the mix. A superb villain, great locations, lots of interesting characters, cool gadgets, and a fun story are some of the great things that make up this movie.
With a viewing length of a little over 2 hours, I must admit that Thunderball was a bit slower moving than some of the earlier Bond films. As mentioned by many people, its the underwater scenes that feel quite draggy, and honestly it feels like everything slows down, ironically, since things tend to move slower in water. The climax of the film takes place underwater too, and unfortunately, is also begging to end at some point or another. But on the other hand, I thought the underwater shots were well done, and look quite clear in the new digitally remastered edition.
A few other things that bothered me in the film was the obvious poor editing, especially throughout the action sequences and when the film was sped up to give us the illusion that Largo's boat was going very fast. I guess that's 1960's work for you, but the earlier Bond films seem to have smoother action scenes. But these are just picky little things, and for the most part, I was pleased with the rest of the film.
As always with the Connery films, the story held together well and was very entertaining and well written. The large variety of charcaters helped hold the interest, and scenes with the villain "Emilio Largo" were definetly the highlights, commanding the respect as one of the better of the Bond villains. Unlike Goldfinger, Largo is a SPECTRE agent (also known as #2), and we do have the pleasure of hearing (but not yet seeing - wait till the next movie) Blofeld in the movie on a few occasions. The plot is centered around SPECTRE attempting to gain power by aquiring some atomic weapons to threaten for large sums of money. Simple plot, but like I said, it is still well done.
Fans of Bond action might be a little dissapointed with Thunderball, and what action there is, try not to focus on the editing, for that can make it even worse. For fans of everyhting else Bond, this is a definite keeper. Overall, Thunderball is still one of the better Bond films by far, and still displays Connery at his strongest.
Acting - 4.5
Action - 3.5
Characters - 4.5
Story - 4
Overall - 4.5
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| "Old School" | 2007-11-19 |
| - Reviewed By nicejeff |
| For many, the quintessential Bond & a great introduction to the series. Along with Goldfinger, Thunderball started the James Bond "phenomenon" that has helped the series survive all this time. Though it is a slight step down from the very best Bonds, it still delivers. There are some flaws in editing and pacing but it still has that classic Bond feel to it. The underwater fight, in particular, goes on just a bit long. The tone is relaxed, almost airy and Connery gives his last extremely enjoyable portrayal of James Bond & Claudine Auger is the best looking of all the Bondbabes. |
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| "Essential Bond" | 2007-09-24 |
| - Reviewed By srivers7 |
| After the phenomenal success of "Goldfinger," Bondmania reached its box-office peak with this spectacular 1965 adventure. Though the adaptation by Richard Maibaum and John Hopkins is needlessly complicated in spots, "Thunderball" has all the requisite 007 elements: Sean Connery's classic performance, solid direction from Terence Young, an impressive supporting cast, and John Barry's memorable score. The first widescreen Bond production makes the most of its Bahaman locales and John Stears' Oscar-winning visual effects. Slightly overlong, "Thunderball" is a notch below the previous 007 films, but well worth having. |
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