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On Her Majesty's Secret Service

On Her Majesty's Secret Service

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Forgotten Bond Is A Real Gem!
Review: Over the years, few people seem to remember "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." One reason for that is that it didn't have a star actor playing Bond, and instead featured Australian model George Lazenby in the role, a fellow with little previous acting experience. The other is that the film didn't perform as well at the box office as the others, primarily due to Lazenby's casting. However, after thirty years it's only fair that I acknowledge something that should've been blatantly obvious back in 1969: "OHMSS" is a treasure! Not only is this among the best Bond films ever, it is the most loyal adaptation of an Ian Fleming novel, which also happens to be his best one! Granted, Lazenby had the inenviable job of being the first actor to take over Sean Connery. But the truth is, he is not bad, particularly in the action sequences, and by the time we're in the second hour, we almost forget he's even in it, which is a tribute to the film itself. It is expertly directed by Peter Hunt, and features a brilliant supporting cast who tell the story of a James Bond in love. The film also has amazing cinematography, enhancing its already beautiful locations, and features what are still the best ski sequences ever filmmed. John's Barry's score is posititvely his best in the series, and his memorable song, "We Have All The Time In The World" is the last thing that Louis Armstrong ever recorded. C'mon folks, what more could you ask for?

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: OHMSS : One of the best !
Review: NOTE: I really give it four and a half stars. Is OHMSS is theBond film in the series?;no. On my ranking list (and I do have one)OHMSS is fourth...The action is great yet the camera work is to intense. Diana Rigg is the best Bond girl, make that Bond woman, of all. This film also has the distinction of being (in my opinion) the last TRUE James Bond film...Overall, this is definitly one of the best.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This is Bond at his best! On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
Review: On Her Majesty's Secret Service is the James Bond film that everybody wants. This has what a James Bond movie is suppose to have, lots of action, supense, and drama. Number two on my list. After Dr.No, the first James Bond movie, this is my second favorite movie. To bad that George Lanzeby had such bad luck because this movie when it came out was a box office failure because of the retirement of Sean Connery as 007.

If you want to buy a James Bond movie make this one your number one on your list.

The only problem is that it wasn't recorded in Dolby Digital 5.1, instead it was recorded in Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono which sounds horrible on a Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS receiver. In that part MGM should be embrassed.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Unknown 007
Review: When Australian model George Lazenby replaced the irreplaceable Sean Connery, he was given what is one of the best, if not the best, script in any of the 007 adventures. Lazenby does a good job as the suave secret agent and his love interest, Teresa, is portrayed fabulously by Diana Rigg. For anyone who loves Bond flicks but have skipped this one because it isn't Connery, Moore, or Brosnan, you're missing out. Unlike the stereotypical Bond, Lazenby's falls in love, gets married, and then is forced into a situation due to a broken heart. I highly recommend this film.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: DVD and OHMSS...Made For Each Other!
Review: If you're a James Bond fan, and own a DVD player, I STRONGLY recommend the Special Edition DVD of 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'! This underrated and exciting 007 adventure has a history as incredible as the film itself, and the DVD lets you in on the story!

Everyone is familiar with the fact that this was the first 'Bond' filmed without Sean Connery, but were you aware that George Lazenby, his successor, had NEVER acted before? That he was first considered on the basis of a TV commercial? And that he auditioned for the role in a suit of Connery's, and with a 'Connery' haircut, in an effort to 'be' 007? These gems are revealed by Lazenby himself, as well as by Peter Hunt, the director, and many of the original crew that brought this extraordinary film together. Their insights make the film 'come alive' in a way you've never seen before!

In addition to the documentary, you also get a humorous look at Q's weapons collection, a 'voice-over' option which allows you to hear commentary during the film from Peter Hunt and other cast and crew members, and a newly-remastered widescreen print which looks even BETTER than it did in the theatres!

While OHMSS was not the box office smash the previous films had been (Connery had a very loyal following who deserted the series when he left), time has proven the film to be one of the best Bond adventures, and that Lazenby's sole outing as 007 wasn't a bad performance, after all!

Indulge yourself! Buy OHMSS, and get set for a GREAT night of adventure!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good film, but doesn't seem like a Bond movie
Review: This possibly has to be one of the most interesting of all the Bond films.

We have George Lazenby filling Bond's shoes in a film that has almost everything; action, romance, great story, twists and turns and yes, action.

I felt that the Bond series had become a bit lethargic after You Only Live Twice and this next entry certainly recharges Bond because Lazenby is quite fantastic in the action sequences, which a lot of the stunts he performed himself.

Here though we lose the sophisticated, rogue that Bond should be, and we have an emotional human-like Bond who genuinely seems vulnerable and feels pain.

It is a good film and I am sure if it was not a "Bond" film, it would have done much better at the Box Office on its initial release - that said, it has emerged as one of my favourite Bond films simply because it stands out as being so different.

I would say, positively, this must be added to your collection!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Must See for James Bond/Austin Powers fans!
Review: One of the most serious films in the serious (the other was "License to Kill"), "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," provides intriguing material. If you saw "For Your Eyes Only," (where Bond is seen visiting his late wife's grave at the opening of them ovie) and didn't know Bond was married, you must watch this film to learn the real deal behind that story. The film also illustrates the Bond - Ms. Moneypenny relationship with more depth than previous films. Aslo it is in this film where the producers of the series got the title for the most recent Bond film ("The World is Not Enough"), seeing that it is the Bond family's motto on their coat-of-arms.

If you are into the Austin Powers series this is a must see. I feel that Mike Myers used this film for most of that series inspiration. In this film we can see where Myers got the idea for Dr. Evil and Mr. Biggleswoth (Count Blofeld dresses in the same grey Nehru jacket as Dr. Evil), Frau (Blofeld's German assistant), Powers' accent (closely resembles Lazenby's more so than Connery's or Moore's) and the romance subplots common in the Powers' films (Bond is seen in this film spending quality time with his soon-to-be-wife in the same manner Powers' spent time with Vanessa and Felicity Shagwell. It is a msut see for fans of both series.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Oh How Many Scenes Stink (OHMSS)
Review: Self-titled "James Bond Purists" love to talk about how this is one of the best James Bond films. They are full of it. It's mostly unwatchable, even if it's close to the Bond of the books(it's my opinion that the two should be judged separate and distinct from one another). The direction is amateurish, having been done by someone who never held that title before or since. The falling in love sequence is pathetic and laughable, looking like it came out of Joanna Kerns or Tori Spelling made for T.V. movie. George Lazanby's performance is not underrated but awful. It makes me wonder what if the producers tabbed Dolph Lungren to succeed Roger Moore in the 1980s. So he can beat up a few guys, wow! Lazenby looks and acting skills are more appropriate to the character Peter Lupus played on the Mission Impossible T.V. show of the sixties. The "Muscle" not the "Brains". No wonder writers made Bond say so many witty one-liners in Diamonds are Forever (the followup to OHMSS): they wanted to show you that he wasn't brain dead afterall. Kojak's Blofeld is the least sophisticated and therefore least believable of the bunch - he sounds like something out of the Sopranos. And the plot - threatening germ warfare in exchange for a pardon for all past crimes? If he's free to set up a new headquarters and concoct this plan why does he need to seek a pardon? He wasn't seeking money, so obviously he had enough to stay in hiding - why draw attention to yourself? It was an effort to present a more realistic plot, but it actually works in reverse, comeing off as absurd given what we've seen out of Blofeld prior to this movie. And for God sakes, where is the chemistry between Lazenby and Rigg? They were getting married for cryin out loud! And now to show how bad this turkey is, I'll even ask a few questions (in addition to the one already asked about Blofeld's plan) like Bond purists do when trying to pick apart the more humorous (and therefore in there minds, not as good) Bond films: Why the heck doesn't Blofeld recognize Bond when they first meet? After all, they met face to face in the previous movie. I guess those phony glasees that Bond wore were from Q branch. When he captures Bond, I can understand Blofeld wanting to keep him alive, but why does he put him in a room that resembles a big closet with an easily accessible window at the top. At the end, when Blofeld gets taken off his bobsled by a tree, why does Bond assume he's dead rather than go back to make sure? You would think after the movie made so much of Bond's passion in hunting down Blofeld that he would want to be certain. The only things worthwile about this movie are the ski chase sequence and John Barry's score. Read the book, but don't waste your time watching this one - if you want to see a great serious Bond movie than check out from Russia With Love. If you want to watch a bad serious Bond movie, then get License To Kill, because it's still better than this bomb.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Review: This is the best of the James Bond series. I liked everything about this movie, the cast was perfect, Telly was awesome as Blofeld, Diana Rigg was wonderful as Tracy, and George Lazenby showed a wonderful sensitive side of James Bond, and show the fans the reason why Bond never stayed with any of the girls, he meets on his missions. The dvd was great too, I loved the interview with George Lazenby, and it is nice to know that the film makers of the movie, don't hold any hard feelings toward him, because the movie not doing very good. The reason it did not do good, was because were expecting George to be another Sean Connery. To end this review, I would love to see George Lazenby return to the series, if Judi Dench gives up playing M, George would be perfect person to replace her.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Classic Bond
Review: After watching TWINE for the 1st time, I was under the impression that it was one of the best in the Bond series. Then I bought OHMSS, and I got a true taste of what Bond adventuring is really about. I must admit I love George Lazenby as James Bond, and wish he could have gone on to make a few more films in the series. Not only does he carry the charm and charisma of Bond, his fight scenes were also realistically done and are exciting to watch- the desperation in his punches makes you feel that a real fight is going on and not a fancy cheorographed sequence. Lazenby also does a good job with the emotional aspect of the movies, something that the other Bond actors couldn't have pulled off so well, mostly because they established their images as womanzing, laid-back, and serious (Connery, Moore, Dalton). Besides all this, the movie also includes the very exciting ski chase, which will spawn many different rehashes in future Bond movies. John Barry's OHMSS title song is exciting, and Louis Armstrong's love song "We Have All the Time in the World" is a charming secondary theme for the movie. OHMSS is slightly long at 2 hrs and 22 min, but the fast pace of the film will make you forget about that. My only complaint is that the film quality of the pre-titles sequence looks dated and unremastered compared to the rest of the film. Hopefully the DVD version corrects this. All in all, highly recommended for those who want classic Bond action and not formulaic stories.


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