Rating: Summary: You Only Quit Twice Mr. Connery Review: Sean Connery's second to last performance as the legendary spy in which there was an intermission starring George Lazenby in 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' before he returned for the final 'Diamonds are Forever.' With a script by Roald Dahl (Willy Wonka; James and the Giant Peach) and under the direction of Lewis Gilbert, Bond is once again face to face with the sinister forces of SPECTER. A fun Bond with the most expensive set design for 1967. A lot of thrills and laughs to make this a pleasant viewing experience.
In this film Bond is out to stop the forces of SPECTER from starting World War III. Space capsules mysteriously disappear and both the US and the Soviets blame each other. Bond goes to Asia to find out the fate of the capsules and their astro/cosmonauts. Bond soon uncovers a sinister plot involving SPECTER and goes undercover to sneak into their mountain base. Will Bond make it in time against the evil Blofeld (Donald Pleasance) and his minions?
True, this Bond doesn't have the best script but the action sequences are fun: especially the grand finale. Donald Pleasance is excellent as the mannered but sociopathic Blofeld. The assassins in this film aren't terribly memorable nor are the Bond girls. Still, Connery's performance as Bond is consistent with the other Connery Bond films.
Rating: Summary: ..Kill Bond,Now...!!! Review: That line pretty much sums up You Only Live Twice.As delivered by Donald Plesance as Ernst Stavro Blofeld (and the inspiration to Austin Powers' Dr. Evil)It has menace, but once it's over it seems a bit hollow.
Screenplay written by Willy Wonka author, Roald Dahl(!!!),YOLT starts with the phony demise of 007 in the pre-credits, then takes him to Japan to investigate the disappearence of American and Soviet spacecrafts before both powers declare war.
A bit weaker than the monster combination of Goldfinger/Thunderball,YOLT boast many great moments (the unnessesary arial dogfight with Little Nelly, the finale in Blofeld's awesome volcanic lair), but one can't help but feel a tinge of disappointment as it seemed made on auto pilot.YOLT does feature the best ever 007 theme song.A haunting melodic ballad sung by Nancy Sinatra.
YOLT was to be the last Sean Connery Bond movie(though he would return in Diamonds Are Forever and Never Say Never Again).It also marked the end of an era in the golden age of 007 movies as the latter films of the 70's and early 80's become more tongue and cheek.It was only 20 years later in The Living Daylights that the ruthless, yet suave Bond of the novels and earlier movies would return.
Rating: Summary: 3/4 great, 1/4 too much Review: The novel "You Only Live Twice" is leaps and bounds better than the movie. Is it the best of the books? I don't know, but it is my favorite. James Bond is still morning over the loss of his wife ("On Her Majasties Secret Service" happened a year before in the book series) and is performing poorly at work. He is assigned as MI6 atteche in Japan, M's idea of exile while Bond works out his personal issues. While he's there, he meets Tiger Tanaka, Britian's head of station J (in other words, he is the CO of MI6 in Japan). If he is to get Tiger to help gather information, Bond is to do a little favor for Tiger, kille Dr. Shatterhand. It seems that the doctor is helping the Japanesse people die, whether they want to or not. While Bond goes on the mission, he finds that Shatterhand is actually Ernst Stalvo Blofeld, Bond's wife's killer. It is excellent up to that point, I found the fact that Bond and Blofeld both being in japan at the same time too much of a streach. After that, it gets too silly; Bind almost killed by sitting on a volcano, he gets blown up and shot out into the sea (think Road Runner style), he loses his memory, and then heads streight into Russia. It is just too silly. It dose real well until the lst 1/4, where it falls apart.
Rating: Summary: 3/4 great, 1/4 too much Review: The novel "You Only Live Twice" is leaps and bounds better than the movie. Is it the best of the books? I don't know, but it is my favorite. James Bond is still morning over the loss of his wife ("On Her Majasties Secret Service" happened a year before in the book series) and is performing poorly at work. He is assigned as MI6 atteche in Japan, M's idea of exile while Bond works out his personal issues. While he's there, he meets Tiger Tanaka, Britian's head of station J (in other words, he is the CO of MI6 in Japan). If he is to get Tiger to help gather information, Bond is to do a little favor for Tiger, kille Dr. Shatterhand. It seems that the doctor is helping the Japanesse people die, whether they want to or not. While Bond goes on the mission, he finds that Shatterhand is actually Ernst Stalvo Blofeld, Bond's wife's killer. It is excellent up to that point, I found the fact that Bond and Blofeld both being in japan at the same time too much of a streach. After that, it gets too silly; Bind almost killed by sitting on a volcano, he gets blown up and shot out into the sea (think Road Runner style), he loses his memory, and then heads streight into Russia. It is just too silly. It dose real well until the lst 1/4, where it falls apart.
Rating: Summary: Mediocre Review: This book was not a classic, as I had heard. I have a few warnings for those of you who would like to read this book.1. It is not as action packed as one is meant to believe. 2. The characteration is not the greatest. 3. The ending is immediate and not exciting or dramatic, let alone believable. I was highly dissapointed as I believe many others will be. It is just another spy book. A mediocre attempt on creating a milestone in the series. Trust me, read it, but if you don't, know that you won't love it.
Rating: Summary: IAN FLEMINGs Japan and the Devil Review: This is Ian Fleming's most mysterious and enigmatic James Bond novel. This is a direct follow up to "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." It starts out as a direct secret service story even though Bond is reassigned to the diplomatic section. As it progresses it becomes almost surrealistic as James Bond tracks down his arch nemesis on the island of Kyushu. This is a very well written and researched novel. The Japanese idioms and depictions of locale are exquisite. When the novel moves to Kuro Island and is on the threshold of Dr. Shaterhand's castle lair, Fleming approaches mythical horizons. I found this absorbing, haunting and prophetic novel very difficult to put down once I started reading it. You get addicted early on to such charismatic characters as Tiger Tanaka and the all too brief Dikko Henderson but it is the narrative of this epic tale that beckons the reader. The new retro-paperback cover is alluring.
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