25 replies to this topic

[The Mastermind]

NSNA was in 1983 not '85. Shouldn't be included anyway because it basically sucked, but okay...

[mrmoon]

[quote]White Persian (24 May, 2001 08:20 a.m.):
As for N.S.N.A., It was a better Bond film than "Moonraker" or "A.V.T.A.K

Sorry I totally disagree, Moonraker was a great film with fantastic set design, AVTAK, had a great score and the best villain in the series

[Digitarius]

I don't think the cat's got a name.
The cat enjoyed a large role in Diamonds are Forever when it kicked another cat's .

[Digitarius]

Never Say Never Again was obviously a poor Bond film, but A View To A Kill wasn't too clever either, for Stacy Sutton looked anything BUT a geologist, Bond looked like a pensioner, and the plot was tired and uninspiring. Moonraker was not amazing, but it was better than the mentioned ones above. It suffered a little after the tremendous success by its predecessor, The Spy Who Loved Me, and also other box office hits, including Star Wars.

[The Mastermind III]

Actually, it earned more TSWLM.

[Blue Eyes]

Which did Mastermind? He mentions so many films...

[White Persian]

I partially disagree with your disagreement.
Moonraker has some good moments - The precredit sequence until Jaws gets involved, the scenes at Drax's chateau, the chilling death of Corinne - but many more silly ones that undermine any suspense. Most of them involve Jaws, who is seriously misconceived in this movie. Had he been left out (along with the "Bondola" ), the film could have been much better. Sure the set design was impressive, but a *great* Bond film needs more than that going for it. I agree about AVTAK's score which, except for the cringeworthy Beach Boys bit, was one of the best of John Barry's later efforts (reminds me a lot of OHMSS, his best), and Walken is great as Zorin, but Tanya Roberts is unimpressive, the fire engine chase is silly, the Paris car chase would have decimated Parisian pedestrians ( I know 007 has a license to kill...but jeez), and worst of all, even after an eyelid tuck, Roger Moore was clearly too old for Bond.
In NSNA, Connery though aging gracefully, was still up to the task.
At least that's my reaction.

[White Persian]

Sorry, that last posting was in reply to Mr Moon on the 25th. I didn't see the second page.
I think the main problem with Moonraker is that decisions were being made by market research - "Star Wars is hot, so send Bond into space", "Ten year olds love Jaws, so bring him back and make him a goodie" etc.- instead of to make the best Bond adventure possible. Almost all the things wrong with the film seem to based on trying to please every possible type of audience, so that it ends up not hanging together as a whole.
And I still reckon NSNA is a good (though flawed) Bond film, and Klaus Maria Brandauer's Max Largo is a scarier psycho than Walken's Max Zorin.

[Digitarius]

The problem with NSNA, I feel, is that it's a remake of Thunderball, and so we'll forever be comparing the characters, storyline, and Connery as Bond. NSNA has no chance, because Thunderball is original and clearly superior.
As for Moonraker, I just think that it's silly humour instead of sheer action and suspense. Jaws, as White Persian said, was ridiculous in most part, the Bond girls, I feel, were underused, and the Bondola, although funny, was unrealistic. It is still better than AVTAK though, because that's simply ridiculous. The soundtrack behind Bond snowboarding was cringy, and the rest of the film was poor at best. Zorin was the one saving grace, but even the most unfaithful of Bond fans could point out the similarities between AVTAK and Goldfinger. I mean, Zorin=Goldfinger, Mayday=Oddjob, Silicon valley destruction=Fort Knox gold radiation, Mr. Solo death=guy falling off airship.

[Blue Eyes]

You love picking up Dave and his problems with dates don't you mastermind Well atleast I didn't create this one - but I'll fix it now. Thanks for pointing it out!!

Yes well NSNA had a few good points.... ummm.... oh the sex scenes were good and there were a few good one liners Oh and Kim Basinger.

[Digitarius]

But the movement of Connery was extremely slow, as if he needed a time machine to transport him back to his twenties.

[Jacques Nexus]

The Mastermind (09 Apr, 2001 09:27 a.m.):
NSNA was in 1983 not '85. Shouldn't be included anyway because it basically sucked, but okay...

Yeah...but what about...BARBARA CARRERA.....best Bond henchwoman ever.

[Mr Trump]

The Mastermind (09 Apr, 2001 09:27 a.m.):
NSNA was in 1983 not '85. Shouldn't be included anyway because it basically sucked, but okay...

Never say never again is'nt really counted as a Bond movie anyway because it was an unofficial movie made by a different company but I still would'nt say it sucked

[Blue Eyes]

Jacques Nexus (25 Apr, 2001 01:55 p.m.):
Yeah...but what about...BARBARA CARRERA.....best Bond henchwoman ever.

You're just thinking of the sex scenes again aren't you

[Blue Eyes]

Just in case any of you are wondering why we included NSNA and not say Casino Royale, well here's my theory:

NSNA was a serious attempt at a serious Bond series. In fact there was even going to be another sequel with Connery as Bond again but Connery refused. Later they moved un to seek out Liam Neeson - then came more legal action. MGM won this time!!

As for Casino Royal it was 100% spoof!

[Digitarius]

But still, Never Say Never Again was poor compared to any of Connery's earlier Bond movies, with the exception of probably Diamonds are Forever. He looked far too old in that movie, rather like Roger Moore in his last few outings.

[Blue Eyes]

True but at the end of the day it's still a Bond film.

[Digitarius]

But neither an official one or a good one, though.

[Mr Trump]

Blue Eyes (26 Apr, 2001 02:32 a.m.):
Just in case any of you are wondering why we included NSNA and not say Casino Royale, well here's my theory:

NSNA was a serious attempt at a serious Bond series. In fact there was even going to be another sequel with Connery as Bond again but Connery refused. Later they moved un to seek out Liam Neeson - then came more legal action. MGM won this time!!

As for Casino Royal it was 100% spoof!

Well there was actually two Casino Royale movies. The most famous one being the spoof but there was also a Tv movie made in the 50's.

[Blue Eyes]

I was aware of the TV version. But off the top of my head Bond was American and worked for the CIA. With all that and seeing it was made for TV we just refuse to even mention it around here!

[Mr Trump]

You were right not to mention it if Bond was American. Making Bond a yank is a disgrace and I didn't know that this was the case so thanks for telling me.

[White Persian]

The 50s "Casino Royale was hardly a TV movie, it was a live play, and ran well under an hour.
As for N.S.N.A., It was a better Bond film than "Moonraker" or "A.V.T.A.K.", Connery looked fitter (and more interested) than he did in "Diamonds", both Klaus-Maria Brandauer and Barbara Carrera ( and Max von Sydow in his cameo) were first rate villains, the fight with Lippe was terrific (though the urine sample payoff was a cheap gag), and Kim Basinger was a better than average Bond girl. The weak points were a lousy score, a miscast Felix (Bernie Casey was fine but they should have called him something else) and a slow climax. Still, all in all, hardly a disaster.

[Blue Eyes]

Yes you're right!! I forgot about that. I'm not racist but a black Felix just didn't work for me.

[Blue Eyes]

How was von Snydow a cameo Persian?

[White Persian]

Von Sydow's Blofeld, although he was No1, wasn't the real villain of the movie, and only had a couple of scenes.
I read once that a scene was shot with Blofeld dying after his own cat (go White Persian!) scratched him with poisoned claws.

[Blue Eyes]

That would have been an intriguing ending!! I know the cat is a white persian (hence your name) but that's not his name is it? To the best of my knowledge the cat hasn't got one!!?!?