322 replies to this topic

[Mr. Blofeld]

90% of the time TB is my favourite Bond movie (Some days FRWL or CR is my favourite).

As someone else said it's a great film in it's own right not just because it's a Bond movie.

There's so much I like about this movie I could go on forever.

So I guess it's easier to begin with naming the only thing that I don't love about it.

The jetpack, I just think it's looks so silly when he takes off, sorry Q

Some say Moore was the king of one-liners.

This is easily the Bond film with the best written and delivered one-liners.

And the films keeps a perfect balance between them and the serious parts.

The plot is great and haven't dated a bit (Dr No is great but the plot is a bit silly today for an example)

The film got so many memoreable characters.

Fiona, Domino, Largo, Blofeld etc..

Sooo many scenes that are pure greatness, my favourite is probably the Casino one with Largo.

I think it was a positive thing that Connery had grew a bit tired of the role as Bond. He acts with more confidence and feels very relaxed in his acting.

Ok I should stop now

"Well, when one has little time, one sort of has to be obvious..."

[DR76]

A big favorite of mine. Although the underwater battle between Largo's men and the U.S. Navy divers were something of a bore. John Barry's score didn't help.

your musical taste continues to disappoint

So do yours.

[deth]

A big favorite of mine. Although the underwater battle between Largo's men and the U.S. Navy divers were something of a bore. John Barry's score didn't help.

your musical taste continues to disappoint

So do yours.

perfect.

[MarkA]

Thunderball, what a glorious Technicolor widescreen 60's confection it is. Wrapped up with Connery's best performance as Bond, Claudine Auger the sexiest Bond girl, and Ted Moore's wonderful colour saturated cinematography. Topped by Barry's lush and moody score. Near perfection.
I first saw it in a double bill with Goldfinger mid '68 and have always from the get-go considered it a better film. I remember at the time really wishing I could get a orange wet suit for my 'Action Man'. But the best memory I have of Thunderball is seeing it at the National Film Theatre in 1990 and going for a meal after with Terence Young and Molly Peters. Wonderful times.

[Aris007]

"Now move!" The best anger scene of Bond in one of the best Bond films. The underwater scenes are long and boring, though!

[MarkA]

The underwater scenes are long and boring, though!

Totally disagree they are a thing of lyrical beauty

[Red Barchetta]

M: I've assigned you to Station "C" Canada.

Bond: Sir, I'd respectfully request that you change my assignment to Nassau.

M: Is there any other reason, besides your enthusiasm for water sports?

[chriso]

Thunderball IS one of my favourite Bond movies, here are some reasons:


First I like the Gunbarrel and the Pre-title sequence with his jetpack and the best Bond car ever, the DB5.

Sean Connery's Bond

The exotic locations and breathtaking underater scenes

All Villians and Henchmen

The perfect soundtrack

[Mr. Blofeld]

M: I've assigned you to Station "C" Canada.

Bond: Sir, I'd respectfully request that you change my assignment to Nassau.

M: Is there any other reason, besides your enthusiasm for water sports?

M seems peculiarly light-hearted and supportive of Bond in this film, especially when played against most of the other '60s Bonds.

[DaveBond21]

M: I've assigned you to Station "C" Canada.

Bond: Sir, I'd respectfully request that you change my assignment to Nassau.

M: Is there any other reason, besides your enthusiasm for water sports?

M seems peculiarly light-hearted and supportive of Bond in this film, especially when played against most of the other '60s Bonds.

M is supportive of Bond in the office scene about changing his assignment to Nassau:-

"If 007 says he saw Derval last night at Shrublands and he was dead, that's enough for me to initiate enquiries..."

[Eddie Burns]

One other thing....

Isn't Domino THE most interesting Bond girl ever? Sure, she's not as well acted as Tracy or Vesper or memorable as Honey or Pussy, but she is the quintessential Bond girl.

I also feel the chemistry between her and Connery worked in this movie. Their flirting from the get go, as well as one of the best scenes in the history of the franchise (IMHO), the beach scene where Bond reveals all. I like how she immediately assumed he was dumping her and tried to save face almost suddenly. I also liked how Bond put on the sunglasses so we couldn't see his eyes while he told her about her brother. Anyone who tells me Connery can't act...I laugh! He was appropriately cold and forceful in this scene, and despite not seeing his eyes...the rest of his face gave away what he was really feeling. This scene really could have been a disaster but instead it really drives home the last bit of the movie.

These scenes, though being few and far between, are what define Bond for me. Craig, Moore, Lazenby, Connery and Dalton could pull them off. Pierce, unfortunately, never raised them above B-movie standards. There was too much vanity in his performances, never really immersing himself in the scene, instead being too self-conscious about the emotions he was conveying. Connery nails it throughout the movie.

The only thing missing in this movie are a few more Largo/Bond scenes and a proper conclusion between Bond and Domino. I liked the end, but felt it was rushed. Contrast with FRWL, where it could have ended after Klebb dies, but instead we get a satisfying conclusion.

[Odd Job]

Thunderball, what a great film! It's always vying with FRWL as my second favourite Connery Bond (nothing will ever beat GF). It has great action, exotic locations, very beautiful women and great villains. One more thing, if you have ever been in a boring, seemingly never-ending meeting, where one person seems to be going on and on about nothing in particular, wouldn't it be great to have one of those 'chairs' from the SPECTRE boardroom!!

[Fiona Volpe lover]

TB has always been one of the favourites. YOLT is probably my favourite Bond movie for entertainment, but I do think TB is probably a better film generally. I'm one of those weirdos who thinks GF was artistically a considerable notch down from FRWL [in fact I'd rank it Connery's third worst Bond film], but TB raised the series back up again. It betters GF in plot, action, characterisation [I can't understand how some critics say the gedgets and action in TB diminished the people, that's nonsense!], girls, villains, music except maybe the title song, spectacle, dialogue, and has Connery's best performance as Bond. He keeps the coolness and confidence of his performance in GF but brings back some of the edge of his appearances in DN and FRWL. The while film gets that balance just right.

I even love the two things most people complain about. Firstly, the leisurely pace. It allows one to soak in the beautiful locations and enjoy the great dialogue while helping the epic feel of the movie. Secondly, the underwater sequences, which I think are great coupled with Barry's music. The climactic battle never fails to astound me-they would never attempt somthing like that now, at least not without buckets of CGI.

I watched Thunderball last night [four or five months before a new Bond film comes out I tend to watch through all the movies again] and it gets better every time. I suppose the only major flaw that still remains is the obviousness of the speeded up boat at the end!

Edited by Fiona Volpe lover, 16 July 2008 - 10:25 AM.

[Mr. Blofeld]

The only thing missing in this movie are a few more Largo/Bond scenes and a proper conclusion between Bond and Domino. I liked the end, but felt it was rushed. Contrast with FRWL, where it could have ended after Klebb dies, but instead we get a satisfying conclusion.

Anyone else think that, after the Disco Volante blows up, there should be a quick scene at SPECTRE headquarters? It's just to show Blofeld as being defeated, but also sets up the next film (whether it be OHMSS or YOLT). Anyone else think so?

[dodge]

It's become one of my faves since signing on board here. My main hurdle to overcome was the protracted underwater fight scene. In previous viewings, the fantasy had been disrupted for me--a masked, or snorkeled, Bond is a bland sight indeed. But, moved to revisit, two things happened:
1) I was stunned by how fresh and terrific the rest of the film still seems.
2) I enjoyed the underwater fight scene as first-rate choreography--with Homeric ingenuity in the gory ways in which the baddies bite it.

I now rate it higher than GF. And if they could have found a way to have Bond cure a lesbian with a hard roll in the hay, I'd go so far as to rank the best Bond ever made.

[Publius]

The only thing missing in this movie are a few more Largo/Bond scenes and a proper conclusion between Bond and Domino. I liked the end, but felt it was rushed. Contrast with FRWL, where it could have ended after Klebb dies, but instead we get a satisfying conclusion.

I think it would have at least been cooler if they played the Thunderball theme instead of the Bond theme as Bond and Domino were carried away. Fits the moment better. Isn't there an alternate ending of that floating around somewhere?

Also, have them exchange a word or two. Hell, maybe even a look. Instead, Bond just readies them to be taken up as Domino looks on like a schoolgirl.

[Judo chop]

I even love the two things most people complain about. Firstly, the leisurely pace. It allows one to soak in the beautiful locations and enjoy the great dialogue while helping the epic feel of the movie. Secondly, the underwater sequences, which I think are great coupled with Barry's music. The climactic battle never fails to astound me-they would never attempt somthing like that now, at least not without buckets of CGI.

Thank you.

[DaveBond21]

I watched Thunderball last night [four or five months before a new Bond film comes out I tend to watch through all the movies again]

I recommend that we all do this before QoS comes out.

[Sbott]

ALways been my number 1 Bond film for a whole host of reasons, most of which have been mentioned.
Recently though i bought a large LCD screen and the first thing shown on it was TB and the underwater fight scene was just wonderful, i just wanted to dive in. I remember watching those scene's as a kid in absolute awe and falling for the Bond films in a big way. They sure don't make sequences like that anymore.

[dogmanstar]

I love TB. Whatever holes there are in plot and editing are well made up for in the look of the film. I think both Hunt and Young were at their peaks in the Bond corpus in TB. Just a beautiful film.

[Turn]

Anyone else think that, after the Disco Volante blows up, there should be a quick scene at SPECTRE headquarters? It's just to show Blofeld as being defeated, but also sets up the next film (whether it be OHMSS or YOLT). Anyone else think so?

Yeah, that would have been nice. John Brosnan in his book James Bond in the Cinema said one of the lost opportunities when Bond first meets Blofeld in YOLT is him flying into a rage and punching Bond saying "This is for Dr. No and this is for Largo and this is for..."

There was actually supposed to be a scene at the end of the film where SPECTRE frogmen open up the ransom at the end of the film and it's booby trapped and explodes.

[HildebrandRarity]

Anyone else think that, after the Disco Volante blows up, there should be a quick scene at SPECTRE headquarters? It's just to show Blofeld as being defeated, but also sets up the next film (whether it be OHMSS or YOLT). Anyone else think so?

No.

How would they know that instant that the Disco has blown up? It's not as if there's a satellite camera looking down on the boat (like it somehow seems to on the Intruder rocket out there in space in the next installment. )

The defeat would have been monitored - and fully discounted by Blofeld - well before...at the point at which the US Navy sends in its aquaparas and their war ships start blasting away. It was game over as soon as Bond was rescued by Lieter and the CIA found out the target.

...the underwater fight scene was just wonderful, i just wanted to dive in. I remember watching those scene's as a kid in absolute awe and falling for the Bond films in a big way. They sure don't make sequences like that anymore.

Same.

[Publius]

Recently though i bought a large LCD screen and the first thing shown on it was TB and the underwater fight scene was just wonderful, i just wanted to dive in. I remember watching those scene's as a kid in absolute awe and falling for the Bond films in a big way. They sure don't make sequences like that anymore.

I've only seen it on VHS, fullscreen, on a moderately sized TV. Something tells me it'd be even higher on my list of favorites if I could see it top quality, widescreen, on a big screen TV (or even better, in a movie theater).

[Judo chop]

Recently though i bought a large LCD screen and the first thing shown on it was TB and the underwater fight scene was just wonderful, i just wanted to dive in. I remember watching those scene's as a kid in absolute awe and falling for the Bond films in a big way. They sure don't make sequences like that anymore.

I've only seen it on VHS, fullscreen, on a moderately sized TV. Something tells me it'd be even higher on my list of favorites if I could see it top quality, widescreen, on a big screen TV (or even better, in a movie theater).

Yes, Pub. Please, please, please get yourself a decent audio/visual Thunderball experience. (Save the pan and scan experience for Broz’s films where it doesn’t matter so much.)

[Publius]

Yes, Pub. Please, please, please get yourself a decent audio/visual Thunderball experience. (Save the pan and scan experience for Broz’s films where it doesn’t matter so much.)

I know, it's a crime, but with the exception of the Dalton films and CR, I've only seen the Bond films (heck, most movies) that way. And even with those three, it hasn't been on a big screen.

Between becoming a true Bond fan only in the last three years and having a shoestring entertainment budget, it's taking me a while to build up a complete DVD collection and get a worthy TV. For what it's worth, the next ones I get will be the 60s Bonds. I'll probably take my time with the rest.

[Judo chop]

For what it's worth, the next ones I get will be the 60s Bonds. I'll probably take my time with the rest.

A wise decision. Settle for nothing less than the Ultimate Edition DVDs. You will be amazed at what they’ve done with the films in terms of transfer quality and source print clean-up. Especially the earlier ones where there was much room for improvement indeed.

Keep me posted! I’m starting feel a little vicarious excitement creeping in!

[Publius]

A wise decision. Settle for nothing less than the Ultimate Edition DVDs. You will be amazed at what they’ve done with the films in terms of transfer quality and source print clean-up. Especially the earlier ones where there was much room for improvement indeed.

I know LTK alone left me breathless (well, compared to what I was used to), so I can only imagine. I have worries about some, like OHMSS, which I heard weren't done right. Any insight on that?

And to keep this thread somewhat on-topic, do the underwater scenes in Thunderball "lag" any less when you can appreciate them as they were meant to be seen? Is the jetpack helmet any more tolerable? Who really killed J.R.?

[RJJB]

The underwater scenes are fantastic when you see them the way they are meant to be seen--on a theater sized screen. When I saw TB in 1965, I was mesmerized the entire time. The entire scene of the Vulcan sinking on the ocean floor and being camouflaged by the SPECTRE frogmen was great. Because of the great camera work, you felt as though you were right there. There is one scene in which one of the frogmen skims fro the top of the screen to the bottom, towing a net. It was well done, a complete invasion of the scene.

No defense for the jetpack (and the helmet) though. It was thrown into the movie, was a novelty then, but doesn't stand the test of time. Its use was a case of "let's do it because we can" that became more and more prevalent on the series.

[Judo chop]

Is the jetpack helmet any more tolerable?

It's even wider in widescreen.

Sorry.

[Mr. Blofeld]

Recently though i bought a large LCD screen and the first thing shown on it was TB and the underwater fight scene was just wonderful, i just wanted to dive in. I remember watching those scene's as a kid in absolute awe and falling for the Bond films in a big way. They sure don't make sequences like that anymore.

I've only seen it on VHS, fullscreen, on a moderately sized TV. Something tells me it'd be even higher on my list of favorites if I could see it top quality, widescreen, on a big screen TV (or even better, in a movie theater).

Yes, Pub. Please, please, please get yourself a decent audio/visual Thunderball experience. (Save the pan and scan experience for Broz’s films where it doesn’t matter so much.)

I agree; when I first got the chance to test my uncle's friggin' huge LCD widescreen TV, I brought over Thunderball. At first, I was a bit worried due to the MGM lion being scrunched up, but my anxiety turned to all-out joy when Connery's gunbarrel came on and filled up the entire screen.

...

Squeee!