58 replies to this topic

[Bryce (003)]

Yup...20 years ago today, Sean Connery finally returned as 007 in Never Say Never Again...and he still looked great.

I clearly remember standing in line wondering how this Thunderball remake would work. It worked enough and Sean proved he was still 007.

Man, I feel old;)

Cheers to NSNA!!!!!!!

[zencat]

20 years ago today...

[Turn]

Well, I wasn't there 20 years ago today, I actually went to a high school football game that night. I was there 20 years ago tomorrow at the Regent Theater in Springfield, Ohio where I watched the film twice. What a great year that was to be Bond fan.

[Loomis]

Originally posted by Turn

What a great year that was to be Bond fan.

Yes. We had the long-awaited return of the one and only true James Bond 007, in a film that was extremely entertaining. Shame about the dreadful Moore outing that year, though.

[Bryce (003)]

Hey two Bond films in one year...I couldn't complain. I rather liked Octopussy and still do.

[zencat]

I was going to school up in Palo Alto at the time (Menlo College)... I drove down to L.A. in the old "SAAB 007", rented a limo for me and my girlfriend (who's now married with kids, thank you), and we saw NSNA at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood on opening night. I remember thinking it had its moments, but it was no Octopussy.

[Genrewriter]

I remember watching this film at a friend's house every time I went over there. It's definitely a fun movie.

Great image, zencat. I actually used to print off old ads from microfiche slides at my local library when I was a kid.

[Tanger]

Interesting, that 'Inventive, Imaginative, Tension filled Fun' quote is on the back of the DVD box. It doesn't say who said it though which is a bit odd. At least I know where it came from now.

[Xenobia]

Unfortunately gents, I was too young to remember the advertising for either film. (And note to Bryce you are old! )

Having now seen both, I have to tell to you, nothing beats the real deal. NSNA was a fun film, but SC was definately the best thing about it. Some of the supporting characters (who shall remain nameless because I know other people love them), were just good awful, as was the music.

Octupussy on the other hand continued the trend set by FYEO with Bond attracted to, and responding to, an older woman, more his peer than a damsel in distress. We also had a wonderful theme song in "All Time High" and very good action sequences. Yes, the clown moment was a bit of a problem, but a minor one at that.

Happy anniversary NSNA.

-- Xenobia

[CommanderBond]

3 cheers for NSNA..

[DLibrasnow]

I love NSNA and I remember the year 1983 as a great year to be a James Bond fan. I think the supporting cast in NSNA is simply amazing (especially Barbara Carrera's deliciously evil portrayal of Fatima Blush)...The dialogue was also probably the best of any Bond movie....
Overall far better than OP.

[Turn]

Originally posted by zencat
I remember thinking it had its moments, but it was no Octopussy.

I'll second you on that one.

[Loomis]

Originally posted by DLibrasnow

I love NSNA ... Overall far better than OP.  

Agreed. I've never liked OCTOPUSSY - for me, just about the only interesting thing about it is that it has (I believe) the oldest Bond girl of the series, in the lovely shape of the then 38-year-old Maud Adams.

I'd love to see NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN given the proper treatment on DVD. A no-holds-barred "making of" documentary and an equally frank commentary featuring Connery, Kevin McClory and others would be riveting. Won't ever happen, though.

[Bond111]

This movie, while it doesn't contain the same spirit as the official Bonds, is still very good. It has taken a lot of bashings over the years, but I will always stand by my opinion. It's great to see Mr. Connery in that ol' tux once again.

Happy Anniversary NSNA!

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by Loomis

I'd love to see NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN given the proper treatment on DVD. A no-holds-barred "making of" documentary and an equally frank commentary featuring Connery, Kevin McClory and others would be riveting. Won't ever happen, though.

I second that Loomis. I would love to hear what Connery and McClory would have to say about the Broccoli clan. Since neither Connery or McClory are particularly friendly with EON I am sure I would find their comments interesting!

[Genrewriter]

That would be very interesting to see and hear. I'm all for giving the special edition treatment to it.

[BONDFINESSE 007]

well i cant wish this movie a happy anniversary because i dont recognize it as a bond film, only those in the eon series, so to you who like it i wish you a happy anniversary instead

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by BONDFINESSE 007
well i cant wish this movie a happy anniversary because i dont recognize it as a bond film, only those in the eon series, so to you who like it i wish you a happy anniversary instead

That's just silly 'finesse....
It's a lot better than some of the EON movies and certainly better than anything EON have put out since GoldenEye

[BondNumber7]

Originally posted by DLibrasnow


That's just silly 'finesse....
It's a lot better than some of the EON movies and certainly better than anything EON have put out since GoldenEye

I agree, but I didn't buy the film on DVD because of the flaw with missing minutes during the casino section. I hope there are corrected copies out there. My parents took me to see NSNA when I was 8 years old, but they never took me to Octopussy. My dad was never a real Bond fan, but he loved Thunderball as a kid and wanted to see Connery doing his thing one last time. I still have a problem trying to explain to him that it's not an official film and is a remake of Thunderball. But I would like to see the film again if only corrected copies were out there which I heard they were. I find the film to be very much a Bond picture, and would not hesitate to include it in my collection or to see it as part of the franchise.

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by BondNumber7


I agree, but I didn't buy the film on DVD because of the flaw with missing minutes during the casino section. I hope there are corrected copies out there.

There are.

MGM realized the error shortly after the first run and then all subsequent runs of the DVD contained the complete, unedited version of the movie.

The correct unedited versions are identifiable by the two or three *'s on the top security seal after the title of the movie. The way of identifying the correct version was widely publicized on sites such as dvdfile and thedigitalbits when the DVD was originally released.

I have the correct one at home alongside all the other 21 007 movies (including the spoof "Casino Royale").

[Bryce (003)]

Originally posted by Xenobia
(And note to Bryce you are old! )

Ouch...

Actually Xen, women grow old...Men become distinguished....

[Loomis]

Originally posted by DLibrasnow

I second that Loomis. I would love to hear what Connery and McClory would have to say about the Broccoli clan. Since neither Connery or McClory are particularly friendly with EON I am sure I would find their comments interesting!

You know, I'm surprised that McClory hasn't brought out a book about his various Bond experiences. It would be fascinating to read a "from the horse's mouth" account of all the trials and tribulations regarding THUNDERBALL, NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN, and the various failed attempts to launch a rival Bond series.

Mind you, I expect that the only thing stopping McClory from writing such a book would be a legally-binding agreement he was forced to make at some point.

[zencat]

Originally posted by Bryce (003)


Ouch...

Actually Xen, women grow old...Men become distinguished....

Gotta back up my brother here. It all gets better with age.

[Bryce (003)]

Thanks Zencat;)

Like fine wine, good scotch and better champagne.

...I prefer the '67 myself

Moneypenny...Help us out here, will you?

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by Loomis


You know, I'm surprised that McClory hasn't brought out a book about his various Bond experiences. It would be fascinating to read a "from the horse's mouth" account of all the trials and tribulations regarding THUNDERBALL, NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN, and the various failed attempts to launch a rival Bond series.

Mind you, I expect that the only thing stopping McClory from writing such a book would be a legally-binding agreement he was forced to make at some point.

I always thought that Steven Jay Rubin gave a good account of the back story to the TB trial in his book "The James Bond Films: A Behind the Scenes History" as well as providing a look at some of those failed scripts that McClory wrote with Fleming and Whittingham.
I'll try and get the relevent pages scanned at some point.

[Bryce (003)]

I've actually got an November '76 draft of NSNA by McClory, Connery and Len Deighton titled "James Bond of the Secret Service".

[DLibrasnow]

Any chance you could scan that Bryce??? I would love to read it....

[Xenobia]

Originally posted by Bryce (003)


Ouch...

Actually Xen, women grow old...Men become distinguished....

Actually Charlie, women mature and mellow like a fine wine.

Men....well men....

They get old.

-- Xen

[Xenobia]

Originally posted by Bryce (003)
Thanks Zencat;)

Like fine wine, good scotch and better champagne.

...I prefer the '67 myself

Moneypenny...Help us out here, will you?

Toss her a Milano and she might.

But really Penny, you know these two as well as I do. Do Bryce and Zencat strike you as the maturing type?

-- Xen

[Blox]

Loomis "You know, I'm surprised that McClory hasn't brought out a book about his various Bond experiences. It would be fascinating to read a "from the horse's mouth" account of all the trials and tribulations regarding THUNDERBALL, NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN, and the various failed attempts to launch a rival Bond series.


...Hi Loomis. You might find some info at his site: http://www.spectreorganisation.com/

Cheers,

Blox