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Never Say Never Again

Never Say Never Again

List Price: $14.95
Your Price: $11.21
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A Worthy comeback for the actor most suited to this role
Review: It was a movie that a lot of people wish had never been made. Despite holding the rights to the novel Thunderball, in 1983 Sean Connery was divorced from the Bond film machinery that was that same year churning out the lacklustre Octopussy with Roger Moore. So it means the film is without a John Barry soundtrack, the custimary M, Q, & Moneypenny actors, and a Pinewood Set.

Having said that Connery aquits himself admirably in the role, just avoiding looking as old as Roger Moore. There was no reason Connery shouldn't have played Bond during the entire Moore Era, as this film proves. The script, with contributions from Dick Clement and Ian Le Frenais sparkles with wit and is helped by such star turns as Rowan Atkinson, Klaus Maria Von Brandauer, and Kim Basinger. Yes, the plot is the same as Thunderball, but this overlooks the fact that there is only one James Bond plot anyway.

A re-release on video' is well overdue.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Um...
Review: I have no idea why they even spent the money to shoot this film. Sean Connery is a great actor, but he was too old for this role. It's a forgettable remake of Thunderball (which was a good movie) that had me falling asleep. James Bond doesn't have grey hair. The older Sean Connery movies were the best, but you should pass this one up.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Its as good as Thunderball,maybe even better!
Review: NSNA is at the same level as any other James Bond Movie. It may be a remake,but its not a remake where you'll find them going back and doing the same thing as in Thunderball,because their still two different James Bond Movies. You'll want to add this to your James Bond Collection!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Mediocre remake of Thunderball
Review: I remember watching this film several years ago, and I detested it. Recently I viewed it again, and while I found it is somewhat entertaining, 'Thunderball', one of the best Connery films, is still far superior.

To start, Sir Sean Connery does look a bit old for the part, but still gives a fine performance. Kim Basigner is passable as Domino, and Fatima Blush ( the villainess role, played better by Lucianna Paluzzi in the original) , while somewhat overacted by Barbara Carrera, she at least manages to be memorable. One of NSNA's biggest flaws is Klaus Maria Brandaeur as SPECTRE agent Largo. He has none of the menace or charisma of Adolfo Celi in the original, and does not come off as a very convincing villain. The other chief problem is that the movie manages to be both inconsistent and overlong. The action sequences range from decent (the shark diving) to almost abysmal (Health spa, motorcycle chase). Worst of all, the spectacular, climactic underwater battle in 'Thunderball' is replaced by a boring gunfight. And for every enjoyable scene (the cigarette case gag) there is a stupid one to complement it (the childish videogame duel). I don't think it was necessarily a bad idea for the screenwriters to veer away from the traditional Bond games (cards, etc.), but a videogame! Couldn't they think of something better?!?!

Overall, NSNA is not a bad film at all, and certainly is watchable. However, the inevitable comparisons that come with remakes to their originals do weaken the film.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Sean Connery's Last Bond Film Is A Flawed Winner
Review: Holding the rights to Thunderball, Kevin McClory decided to make a new Bond Film in 1975. Amazingly enough, Sean Connery was interested in playing Bond again if he had script approval. The film originally was going to only loosely based on Thunderball, but after a few years of legal battles with EON it became simply a remake of that earlier film. Still, it is a good Bond film, even though it does have its flaws. The most obvious strength that Never Say Never Again has is Connery, Sean Connery. Even though he looked his age, he looked fit and ready for the usual Bond action. In fact, he looked like he was in better shape than he was for his last Bond film, Diamonds Are Forever, in 1971. The plot of the film very closely follows that of Thunderball, with some updating of the details and technology for 1983. Director Irvin Kershner (The Empire Strikes Back) does a fine job with the movie, and the cast gives some excellent performances (including Klaus Maria Brandauer as Largo, Barbara Carerra as Fatima Blush - her performance and character seems to be the blueprint for Xenia Onatopp from Goldeneye, Kim Basinger as Domino, Bernie Casey as Felix Leiter, and the great Max Von Sydow as Blofeld). The weaknesses of the film? It doesn't quite LOOK as spectacular as the official Bond films - it has a lower budget look to it than the EON films. Another flaw: the characters of "M" and Nigel Small-Fawcett, both of whom seem like they belong in a Bond spoof rather than the real thing. Both of them ruin their respective scenes due to the attempts at comedy by Edward Fox and Rowan Atkinson. The music is often great (some really good Jazz), but at other times seems inappropriate for particular scenes. The lack of the "James Bond Theme," also detracts a little from the film (but not much). But when you've got Sean Connery, a solid plot, and a good (overall) supporting cast, you've got a winner. NSNA could have been better, but for a Bond film outside of the official EON Productions banner Never Say Never Again acquits itself quite nicely. It's a shame that the DVD wasn't given the Bond Special Edition treatment, but it is still worth buying anyway.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Never Never Land
Review: Never Say Never Again would be a fairly solid Bond film, if it were not a remake of an earlier adventure in the series, Thunderball. After years of rejecting the idea of playing the superspy again followng Diamonds Are Forever, Sean Connery, returns to the role. He is my favorite person in the part, for sure, and he's the only reason to watch this movie.

The story takes place at a time when Bond (Connery) is called out of retirement when the SPECTRE organization concocts its latest plan for worldwide domination. The agency's number 2 operative, Largo (Klaus Maria Brandauer), has managed to steal two cruise missiles armed with nuclear warheads, and Agent Number 1, Blofeld (Max von Sydow), has threatened to explode them in areas with large populations if a huge, and almost impossible, ransom demand from the NATO countries is not paid.

Director Irvin Kershner does his best to make the adventure watchable and not seem like a remake. The casting doesn't help you forget the far superior earlier version though. Brandauer isn't a very good Largo. In their scenes together, Connnery outacts him at every turn, even though the material is at times, over the top anyway. The Bond girls in the film, Barbara Carrera as Fatima and a young Kim Basinger as Domino, are beautiful--but since we know what their characters are all about going in--everything they do is muted. The script keeps the basic story in tact but again if you are a fan of Bond Thunderball is just too much of a classic to forget. Connery keeps his wits about him and even with its problems proves he's still got it.

Not suprisingly the DVD has no extras on it. MGM, the studio that owns the Bond franchise, likes to think this film doesn't exist. To some fans it doesn't--while I wouldn't go that far (because of Connery), I will say your best bet is to watch Thunderball instead

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Ever and Anon...
Review: This 1983 remake of "Thunderball" is one of the three "orphan" films in the Bond Canon (the others being George Lazenby's fine but not wildly popular solo outing as Bond in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," and Woody Allen's hilarious Bond spoof "Casino Royale" with David Niven).

"Never Say Never Again" was not produced by the Broccoli-Salzberg Eon Productions group, and features unfamiliar actors in familiar roles. The look and feel of "Never Say Never Again" departs widely from the usual Bond formula. What this film DOES have is Sean Connery, and Connery's presence onscreen more than counterbalances the lack of familiar elements.

As in "Thunderball," SPECTRE steals nuclear warheads and threatens worldwide chaos and destruction unless their extortion demands are met. Klaus Maria Brandauer plays a hammy, smiling and sadistic Largo, and Kim Basinger plays a translucently sexy Domino. Adolfo Celi's 1965 Largo radiated more evil, but Basinger's Domino shows more comedy and depth than Claudine Auger. A wonderful character addition is Barbara Carrera as Fatima Blush, who may well be the most purely erotic of all the Bond girls.

Connery shows he is THE James Bond for all time, despite his age. He carries off his reprise with martini-dry wit and a roguish charm that none of his successors have ever matched. Watching the still dynamic middle-aged Connery, one has to question why he was ever replaced by the bland Roger Moore.

"Never Say Never Again" has a rambling plotline and some really atrocious film editing, both of which are unpleasantly distracting, but the action sequences are engaging and well-crafted.

Watching Connery enjoy his romp through the role he made famous, one has to wonder: Could he ever play the Ultimate Bond Villain?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Strangely, one of my favorites
Review: I kinow this film has not received the acclaim of other Bond films but for the life of me I don't know why not. So what if the story is borrowed from a previous film...Dirty Harry, You Got Mail, etc were all variations on a theme.

No, this was the return of the TRUE James Bond, the one and only Sean Connery. Here he is older yet wiser, not as foolhardy but still daring, and though his libido must have subsided a tad, he is still the ladies man. Kim was great as the bad guy's gal pal. Equally good was the villian himself, not as totally outlandish as some of the previous ones. Several scenes stand out....

The Tango (fantastic and it was reprised with the...) Arab auction. (What a great opportunity for Bond to make a - pardon the pun - dashing entry). Then there was the game for the world and who can forget the over the top performance by Barbara Carrerra as the sexy Fatima Blush. Where DO they come up with these names? Good plot, good characterization and good ending.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A great adaption of Thunderball
Review: I really loved this movie and I liked the way they made a modern adaption of Thunderball. Even though this movie isn't as good as Dr.No or On Her Majesty's Secret Service this is a action packed thriller the will leave you on the edge of your seat the whole time.I liked this movie because Sean Connery returned and the great stunts. I also liked this movie because it had good acting in it. The only thing bad about it is that this film is that it's Connery's seventh and final Bond film. A lot of people don't like to count this as a Bond Film but it is nevertheless. This is a great film.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: NEVER WATCH NEVER AGAIN
Review: From coming from a Big Bond fan. I live and breath Bond Movies. This would (NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN) bring all Bond movies to shame, luckily, this movie isn't considered a Bond Movie.
It's a remake, mistake, of Sean Connery's Thunderball.
Sean Connery, being one of my favorite Bonds ever, and mostly everyone elses, would have to agree how bad they made him look on here as Bond.
The movie is cheap, and boring, hardly any action to a normal Bond Movie (DR. No-Die Another Day).
Not worth getting, or even watching in any case.
Save yourself time, don't watch this one, it's not considered a Bond Movie... Wonder why....NEVER WATCH NEVER AGAIN.


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