Stream it now Never Say Never Again 1983

 

Interesting film, Sean connery shouldn't of done this though, too old, like roger moore in a view to a kill, but this film has some action. Don't miss this one, it's quite enjoyable.

James Bond: Episode 16

Not accepted as an "official" 007 movie, Sean Connery returns to the role of James Bond in this remake of the original script of Thunderball. The situation is quite unique because nowhere before have I heard of an actor returning to the role of a remake as the same character. Cameos of the original actor have shown up in the remakes, but never re-acting the same main character.

The story is not identicle to the original. Two nuclear missles have been hijacked by Spectre. 007 is sent out to find them and save the world from mass destruction. Other than that, the story has been slightly updated and brought into the digital age. Connery is not presented as the young viral agent, but one that has aged a bit and is not afraid to show it. It's also a time when the double-0 agents are being used less and less. Possibly something to reflect that both action and agent movies had changed since the 60's.

Although this was proof that Connery was the better and more believable as the agent than Moore, the story is a bit on the dry side. Although everything is very stylish with beautiful sets, great cinematography and very current for the films time of release, it sometimes feels like they are trying too hard to bring back the feel of the 60's. Still, you can't beat Connery as the lead and a fantastic supporting cast which is among the best that has ever been seen in the series.

On a final note, I found this fun little fact on the wikipedia site: It is rumored that Sean Connery had an alternate ending to the "wink" in mind. As the characters walk down the street, a man brushes by them, causing them to double-take and look back at him. The camera angle shifts, and we see that it is Roger Moore, who turns to look at them and says "NEVER say never again!". Roger Moore and Sean Connery were good friends, and both were willing to do it, but they were never able to convince the director and producers.

While Sean Connery is back and the villian is really interesting, this poor remake of Thunderball only sinks lower as it goes. Not an official Bond film, but since it bears the name, its worthy of mentioning. Bond, James Bond.

And the title says so very much. It's difficult to compare this to the original Thunderball, since the same actor played Bond in both ... though a younger version, obviously. A curious decision, indeed, to remake, no doubt money driven. I'd always have to go w/ the younger Connery over the older, though the older has his charm (something I can certainly appreciate more as I've ages, meself). But the times were different, that's the thing, you simply cannot replicate the 60's ... from the 80's. And that is key for this viewer, dashes of nostalgia for a lost and unique era. Come to think of it, that could well be considered with the 80's from this particular point in time. Still, the 70's intervened and nothing was ever the same after that. Cursed 70's!

Far better than Octopussy, the official Bond movie released the same year. Surprisingly good and often overlooked.

This is a great Bond and is better than Diamonds Are Forever, but not as good as You Only Live Twice and other early Bond films.

An aging James Bond (Connery) is forced to return to field-agent work when SPECTRE's leader Blofeld (Von Sydow) resurfaces and steals two nuclear warheads.


Sean Connery plays an aging James Bond
in "Never Say Never Again"

"Never Say Never Again" is one of those rare times when the movie-going public actually came out ahead as a result of a legal battle between producers. This movie came about because of a settlement relating to the film rights to Ian Fleming's James Bond character, and, while it's a remake of "Thunderball" and not part of the official James Bond movie canon, it's actually a pretty good Bond film. At least if you enjoy classic Bond... if you're a fan of the Daniel Craig movies, you might not like it that much.

Connery's final performance as James Bond (a decade after he swore he'd never play the character again) isn't quite up to "Goldfinger" or "Diamonds Are Forever", but it's still quite good. The mix of humor and coldbloodness that marked Connery's Bond, however, is here in full force and it helps the film immensely.

What also helps the film is Max Von Sydow's Blofeld. It's too bad he didn't play the character in a "real" Bond movie, because he is the best Blofeld save Charles Gray.

And there's the very sexy Barbara Carerra, who plays one of the very best and sexiest femme fatales to appear in any Bond movie. She was an actress I wanted to see more of in this film, in every sense of that phrase.

For a different take on James Bond, you're better off checking out "Never Say Never Again" than those Daniel Craig films, particularly if you're an old coot who enjoyed "Goldfinger", "From Russia With Love" and "Diamonds are Forever".


Never Say Never Again
Starring: Sean Connery, Max von Sydow, Barbara Carerra, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Kim Bassinger, Bernie Casey and Alec McCowen
Director: Irvin Kershner

Stunning remake to Thunderball with the Bond genre still intact. An ageing Sean Connery leads an impressive cast including Brandauer's Largo, Sydow's Blofield and Basinger's Domino. The Blofield character could have been in the story a bit more though.

(*** 1/2):

The unofficial Bond picture and I would say it is actually better than most of the official ones. Connery is great (of course) and this is one of the more entertaining and action-packed entry with the character.

Casino Royale (2006) = Amazing
Casino Royale (1967) = Really Bad
Casino Royale (1954) = Pretty Good
Never Say Never Again = Pretty Good