You Only Live Twice

Rating:
Summary: Not Connery's best,but still very good.
Review: I actually give the film 4 and a half stars.It finally shows the face of villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld,who was nicely played by Donald Pleasance.It's got the usual beautiful women,lots of action,and of course the gadgets.(I especially liked Bond's helicopter "Little Nellie") The theme song,sung by Nancy Sinatra,was excellent.Overall,while not as good as From Russia With Love or Goldfinger,it's still a very good Bond film.

Rating:
Summary: You Only Live Twice- the under-rated Bond
Review: Although many say this one sucks because of its special effects, we must remember that special fx do not make movies. This one includes some good humor and cool action. If you are a true fan then you'll love this one. Otherwise you're a moron who just wants to say you're a fan.

Rating:
Summary: One of My favorite Bonds...
Review: I don't know why the bad press on this film, I thought the pre-title sequence was outstanding. The defining moment is when Bond meets Blofeld, definitely a classic moment. I thought Connery's performance was very creditable. The theme song is definitely one of the best (along with Goldfinger and TSWLM).

To all you Bond freaks (like me) Henderson got Bond's martini all wrong when he said "That was stirred, not shaken."

Also, don't you think The Spy Who Loved Me is a virtual remake of You Only Live Twice.

Rating:
Summary: Perhaps the most interesting work involving Bond
Review: People either are wild about this book or think it's very weak. This is one of those Bond novels that are simply too moody and weird to be made into a popular film, and the movie of the same title shares next to nothing with the book.

There's an advantage in reading all of Fleming's Bond novels in chronological order, because the sum is greater than the parts. They form a loose story arc detailing Bond's growth and changing world it occurs in, from the cold, ruthless, humorless spy of "Casino Royale"--in an age when the British Empire still carried some of its old weight--to the witty, sardonic and damaged agent of YOLT, in an age when British intelligence has to work around(because it's otherwise at the mercy of) the American empire.

This book has been called a an allegory of rebirth and a version of the fertility myth, and considering how weird it gets by the end those remarks are probably true. Bond begins at the most depressed, hopeless stage of his life(Let's see 'em show that in the movies!) and ends as an almost total blank slate--devoid of memory, nationality, and(for a short time) sexual prowess. In between he burns away the grief and rage caused by his wife's death by finally confronting the evil,nearly satanic Ernst Stavro Blofeld. He passes out of this book as a new man, ready to be re-molded. All this would probably distress the fans of Bond who know him more by the movies: actually it would strike anyone as weird, for while YOLT still bears some of the cloak-and-dagger, cosmopolitan sheen one finds in other Bond stories, its final chapters seem as though they occured outside of the modern world altogether and rather in a primordial fog. This contrast between the ultra-sophisticated and the earthy, spartan ways of life is present in most of Fleming's Bond stories, but it takes precedence here.

It isn't a perfect book--much of the center is taken up with a long travelogue of Japan, which is fun but a bit of a sidetrack, and results in the book being broken-backed.(It's based on Fleming's own tour of Japan, and the characters of Dikko Henderson and Tiger Tanaka are based upon the two friends who showed him around) But ultimately it's one of the most impressive Bond novels--deeply symbolic, unsettling and weird in the way Fleming's best work always is. His skill as a journalist-turned-writer is evident. The Bond novels, as opposed to most of the movies, are not simply simple entertainment--what they have to say about affluence, class, lifestyles, and the age they occured in will be of much interest as the years progress, and there's a lot to be discussed. Provided that we realize that Fleming had his predjudices and unsavory sides, the books remain rich and compelling. Unfortunately, Fleming fumbled upon finishing the story of Bond's recreation in the novel he wrote afterwards, "The Man with The Golden Gun," an unfinished, shoddy work that simply reinstates the status quo. This novel however is a testament toward all he worked for, and it seems clear to me that the ending, rather than being jarring and flaccid, is obviously what the entire book works toward, and the final chapters are among the best stuff Fleming wrote.

Rating:
Summary: good as usual, but some key elements missing!
Review: you only live twice is definitely not a disappointment as somany people here are testifying. The movie is by far the worst of the connery bonds (excluding the rather uneventful never say never again), yet it still beats the majority of the moore bonds. Connery's performance in this film, though, is rather reminiscent of the moore bond. He is less menacing and ruthless, and seems more like a bystander to the real action rather than a key character.All the Bond girls in this flick were quite satisfactory and the title song, as usual, was excellent. The locales were great and the costumes were gallant and exuberant. There are only two other areas where i haven't yet specified and it is in these two areas where I believe this bond movie really falls: plot development/script and villains.

First, as stated by the amazon.com reviewers, Roald Dahl, a master of narrative writing gives a surprisingly bland go at writing the script to this movie. The lines he gives several actors, especially donald pleasance were unnecessary and several were very weak.

Second, donald pleasance, an excellent actor of his time, really gives one of the worst performances as any bond villain ever. before bond actually confronts him toward the end of the movie, the masked villain seems rather menacing and evil. Once we meet blofeld (pleasance) face to face in his volcano lair(!) though, his character seems to fall dramatically. At least pleasance was only seen toward the end, otherwise this film could have been a huge disaster!

In conclusion, i can say that the set designs, costume designs, and gagdets (including a flying machine), were well thought out, and the movie in general was not a bad one. Buy you only live twice and see what you think! I can tell you that you won't be terribly disappointed!

Rating:
Summary: Bond films leaving the Bond books
Review: In the fifth installment of the Bond movie series the script no longer stays near to the plot of the novel. Since YOLT only In Her Majesty's Secret Service stays close to the original plot. After Goldfinger and Thunderball Bond had become an icon and certain ingredients were considered needed in a Bond film. However, this caused the plot to suffer heavily as the film makers have to make the story up from scratch with limited time on their hands. If it wasn't a Bond movie I'd have to give 2 stars only. On the plus side we have the first look at villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld. The way he was introduced in the previews movies, up until the end of YOLT, when we get to see his scarred face, is outright brilliant. Another Bond classic is Little Nellie, the one-man helicopter. Also, the Ken Adam sets are more impressive than ever, with SPECTRE's volcano lair and the japanese ninja camp. All in all, for a Bond film it's not very exciting, not that funny, but as part of the whole series it does the job.

Rating:
Summary: A GRAND FINALE TO A GREAT SERIES
Review: You Only Live Twice was Fleming's last James Bond book. The sequel to the tragic On Her Majesty's Secret Service, it begins with a depressed Bond wondering wehre his life is going after the death of his wife. M sends him to Japan on an "Impossible Mission" to lift his spirits. Here he meets the head of the Japanese Secret Service, Tiger Tanaka. Tiger gives him a chilling piece of paper, a paper containing a statement saying that a bomb will be dropped on England and Russia. In return for this, Bond has to assassinate Dr. Shatterhand, who has a garden of death that thousands of Japanese have killed themselves in. He goes to an island to prepare himself for the swim to the Doctor's castle. Here he meets Kissy Suzuki (I found the name extremely unsubtle, don't you?) and Kissy falls in love with him, something that may prove to be a "fatal attraction." Bond goes to the castle, but is captured by the doctor, who is actually Bond's mortal enemy, Blofeld. Bond does kill Blofeld, but after a fall from the castle to the water, something has happened that changed Bond's life. I'm not gonna mention it for people who haven't read this book, unlike some people (hint hint, LOL)the ending wasn't one like Thunderball, rather upbeat. It was very lowbeat and depressing, but nevertheless it promoted thought. It made me wonder what would happen to me if I was a stranger in some land and ended up like Bond, with no one to help him, and believed dead. It ends up kinda like The Twilight Zone or something, so far away from home and so helpless. You have got to read this book, it's great!

Rating:
Summary: The Weakest Bond Of All. A Big Dissapointment.
Review: You Only Live Twice is by far the worst Bond film of all. A weak story and a bland villian, Blofeld (Donald Pleasence), who is nowhere near as colorful as most Bond villians are. Although, the title song (performed by Nancy Sinatra) is one of the best. The film is a big dissapointment, and just doesn't compare to Dr. No, From Russia With Love, or Goldfinger. The film is slow at times, and seems much longer than it actually is. All in all, You Only Live Twice may be the weakest Bond film, but it is certainly worth a look.

Rating:
Summary: You only live twice
Review: Sean Connery at his best. This is the movie in which they finally show Blofeld's face. Blofeld is the evil head of spector. In my opinion this is Connery's best Bond. Thats why I gave it 5 stars

Rating:
Summary: You Only Live Twice is a classic Bond movie!
Review: You Only Live Twice is a fun and exciting movie.It has a ton of action.(the secret to an exciting bond movie!)This is a must see movie.Sean Connery gives a new look to bond. Plus, there are a lot of suprises during the movie to look out for, so watch and listen carefully.Hope you enjoy!