322 replies to this topic

[ForMathis]

Thunderball is a bloody masterpiece in my opinion, I wish the dialog in the new films had the wit of the stuff in TB - they should use this movie as inspiration for non-main character Bond girls.

[sharpshooter]

Thunderball is a bloody masterpiece in my opinion, I wish the dialog in the new films had the wit of the stuff in TB

The dialogue is brilliant, really sharp and witty. Connery gets his best lines here.

[007.5]

Thunderball does contain one of the funniest pieces of dialogue in the Bond series:

Minister: I thought your man, 007 was on something.
M: So did I.
Minister: False alarm?
M: Afraid so.
Minister: He obviously has a highly developed sense of, shall we say, drama?
M: If 007 thought he was onto something -
Minister: It's a great pity he didn't make sure before he started to shout the odds.

[Mister E]

Thunderball is a bloody masterpiece in my opinion, I wish the dialog in the new films had the wit of the stuff in TB

The dialogue is brilliant, really sharp and witty. Connery gets his best lines here.

I agree. The film has the best dialogue in a Bond film ever and also just in terms of class it's number one. Terrance Young was clearly a huge influence on James Bond and the level of sophistication in THUNDERBALL was never captured as well after he left.

[double o ego]

It's so nice to see others sharing my exacts eniments. Now that I've seen every Bond film made to date, TB is still my favourite. Connery was at his best, the dialogue was the best and the music, oh the music. John Barry is a poetic maestro.

[Bonita]

Any of you seen the new Casino Royale DVD / Blu-ray? The special features are awash with Thunderball material from the Bahamas. There's some home movies from the set and lots of material about the novel, film and it's link to Diane Hartford's cameo in Casino.

Thoughts?

Keep dancing...

[double o ego]

Yeah, I bought the new CR delux edition and they had some great material about the Bahamas and TB.

[ChrissBond007]

I like Thunderball, but it's my least favourite Bondfilm of the 1960's. I really disliked it when I was watching it for the first time, I was really bored by the underwater scenes. Now, I like the movie a lot, a great peformance by Sean Connery and cool athmosphere. Of course the underwater scenes could have been shorter, but they look good. I still have some problems with the movie, but it's still a entertaining one.

Edited by ChrissBond007, 03 November 2008 - 03:58 PM.

[ForMathis]

Thunderball is a bloody masterpiece in my opinion, I wish the dialog in the new films had the wit of the stuff in TB

The dialogue is brilliant, really sharp and witty. Connery gets his best lines here.

I agree. The film has the best dialogue in a Bond film ever and also just in terms of class it's number one. Terrance Young was clearly a huge influence on James Bond and the level of sophistication in THUNDERBALL was never captured as well after he left.

Here Here

[jamiah]

Thunderball is definitely one of my favorites. Much better than the water-logged remake? The jet-pack, the underwater battles, everything. John Barry is by far the best composer of Bond music. As for the ABC treatments of the movies, I remember wanting to stay up past my bedtime to watch them... sometimes succeeding, most of the time not.

Check out my blog:

http://jamiahsh.tangents.org
I have a few Bond posts within. And don't be afraid to comment.

[Ultraussie (Jordan.adams)]

Personally I didnt like this movie, it was BORING for me.

[StrangleTheCat]

This was one of the coolest and best scripted Bond films ever made and Connery IMO was in his prime. However some of the editing could have been improved upon.

[Ultraussie (Jordan.adams)]

This was one of the coolest and best scripted Bond films ever made and Connery IMO was in his prime. However some of the editing could have been improved upon.

You have no taste.
Their was absolute no action in it, and even its excuiantingly long climax (underwater speargun fight) sempt even more boring than listening to Tom Jones sing until he passes out.

[DamnCoffee]

I watched Thunderball last week, cracking good movie aswell. One of Connery's best. Just behind From Russia With Love.

[CaptainPower]

Great review, Gravity's Silhouette. ITA. I also like the fact that Largo is no armchair general villain and fights alongside his men.

Thunderball represents first generation EON in its prime.

Thanks. There's a great scene right after the PTS, when Blofeld electrocutes one of his agents and Largo looks dismissively at it, returns to his notes, and carries on as if nothing unusual had happened. Together, the voice dubbing actor and Celi's looks and body language make a potent combination in the same spirit and style of David Prowse and James Earl Jones pulling off Darth Vader.

Some of you all might be too young to remember when ABC started airing the Bond series back in the late 70's and early 80's. Back then The Sunday Night Movie was one of the most coveted spots on any network's lineup. It was an *event*, as most people had neither cable nor beta/vhs. For a long time I didn't really understand what was meant by "Edited for Television", so I never knew that there was a PTS before Goldfinger, or a scene in Thunderball where Bond uses mink gloves on Nurse Fearing. ABC would edit out the entire 'I feel like an animal in a cage' love scene between Bond and Volpe, not to mention half the fight sequence at the Chateau, where Bond takes the poker and tries to strangle Colonel Bouvard. It's great to have these films on DVD and Blue-Ray now and be able to see them in all their unedited glory. I was even a bit surprised at how violent some of Thunderball was, particularly with the underwater battle between SPECTRE and the American forces....I'm talking multiple spear guns into the gut, spear guns through the eye, spear guns through the elbow....ABC also used to edit out the part where Largo tortured Domino.

Another interesting thing is the measurements of the women back then. Honey Ryder...Domino....they'd be considered heavy by today's standards, but they were beautiful and curvaceous and sexy back then (and still are today). How'd we get to the point where stick thin models like Kate Moss somehow became the ideal? Were there even any eating disorders back in the 60's? These women all looked healthy and beautiful, and didn't seem to be trying to fit into a size zero.

I find that fascinating actually. We complain about films being edited today, but compare even edited-down TV versions of say films like "Die Hard 3" to any of the Bone films and there is no comparison. "Thunderball" would be considered extremely tame these days.

[Mr. Blofeld]

Just started reading Thunderball the novel; for every other Bond book I've read so far, I've pictured Lazenby, but Bond's sour mood in the health clinic immediately had me picturing Connery, which is a first!

[BoogieBond]

Just started reading Thunderball the novel; Bond's sour mood in the health clinic immediately had me picturing Connery, which is a first!

Yeah, Thunderball is the one obvious novel that just seems to fit Connery for me. Agreed

[Mr. Blofeld]

Just started reading Thunderball the novel; Bond's sour mood in the health clinic immediately had me picturing Connery, which is a first!

Yeah, Thunderball is the one obvious novel that just seems to fit Connery for me. Agreed

Rather ironic, considering the novel came out before Connery was cast for the role...

[vednam]

I LOVE Domino. Claudine Auger is just stunning.

[sharpshooter]

I LOVE Domino. Claudine Auger is just stunning.

Bingo.

[Aris007]

Thunderball was, is and will always be one of Bond's classic movies. This film reminds us why we became Bond fans.

[FlemingBond]

Interesting the ABC broadcasts are brought up. I remember them, but i didn't get to watch them much because of my age. Back then movies on tv were such a big deal. i can remember Goldfinger coming on, and it would start with the Title sequence. They'd run those movies ususally 9-11:30 on sunday night. I was shocked several years ago when i read all that they cut out.
As for Thunderball it's just a classy movie to me. Domino is gorgeous, Fiona Volpe is the best Villainous, the music is excellent. The card game is great, and i love Bond's dialogue with Domino afterwards. There's one little shot as Largo's boat pulls away, Bond watches intently, and there's Felix with his shades on . So cool.
I actually think the movie might be a little better than the novel. Domino seems a little more innocent in the movie too.

[Dr.Mirakle32]

While it has its moments, THUNDERBALL is one of my least favorite Bond films.

[Mr. Blofeld]

What's with all the haters?

[sark]

Thunderball, I think, more than any other film, makes me want to be James Bond.

[Mister E]

Thunderball, I think, more than any other film, makes me want to be James Bond.

Hell, I want to be Largo too ! The guy is just beyound cool. He is truly the "evil" James Bond.

[Dr.Mirakle32]

I dunno; in Thunderball, the toupee was getting more obvious, and Connery seemed to be getting a little more bored.

[sark]

I dunno; in Thunderball, the toupee was getting more obvious, and Connery seemed to be getting a little more bored.

I never noticed either.

[Mr. Blofeld]

I would think that applies more to YOLT and DAF, but, hey; to each their own...

[Dr.Mirakle32]

I would think that applies more to YOLT and DAF, but, hey; to each their own...

It does; but Thunderball is the begining of the road to those (okay, so maybe Goldfinger is when it comes to the toupee department.)