38 replies to this topic

[O.H.M.S.S.]

Which would you say is the better one of Sean Connery's two non-60's Bond films? Although I like Diamonds Are Forever, it has this Las Vegas kitsch all over it, which is a pity. Never Say Never Again, in fact is a good movie in my opinion. I enjoy the performances of the whole cast, I like the music (strange but true), the direction, the cinematography, production design. Of course it has its flaws (for instance, no gunbarrel in a Bond movie?!) but I still like it.

[Major Tallon]

I'm unconcerned about such trappings as the gunbarrel, the Bond theme, the Moneypenny scene, and the puns. For me, a Bond film is judged by the story and by the portrayals of Bond, the villain, and the girl.

I initially enjoyed DAF, but it's been sinking like a stone in my esteem for quite a while now. It's just too silly. NSNA is not without plot flaws, some of which are jarring, but it retains the essence of Fleming's Thunderball and features strong portrayals by Connery, Brandauer, and Basinger, each better than the corresponding performance in DAF. Though not Fleming's character, Bernie Casey is a far more appealing Leiter than Norman Burton, and Barbara Carrera steals every scene she's in.

Plus, we're better off watching a tango with Domino than a cha-cha with a circus elephant.

NSNA for me.

[Conlazmoodalbrocra]

Diamonds Are Forever - I refuse to watch Never Say Never Again

[Mr. Arlington Beech]

DAF could be kitsh (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), but NSNA has that awful aesthetic from the eighties,with much more obviousness than any EON production from that decade, which is IMO worse that any cheesiness derived from a Las Vegas setting. And we have to remind that there're also other locations- albeit minors- like Amsterdam, which aren't that cheap looking.

[singleentendre]

I refuse to watch Never Say Never Again

You're missing something surprisingly good! I remember when I first watched it. My friend (also a hardcore Bond fan) had to convince me to and I was so unenthusiastic about it. My mental picture was a too-old Connery running around in an imitation Bond flick.

But then I watched, and I was hooked. In my opinion, NSNA is ten times what Thunderball and Connery delivers a truly great performance in it. M and Q are well-casted and the one liners are some of the funniest in a Connery flick. Definitely worth seeing.

Edited by singleentendre, 26 April 2009 - 11:31 PM.

[Conlazmoodalbrocra]

I refuse to watch Never Say Never Again

You're missing something surprisingly good! I remember when I first watched it. My friend (also a hardcore Bond fan) had to convince me to and I was so unenthusiastic about it. My mental picture was a too-old Connery running around in an imitation Bond flick.

But then I watched, and I was hooked. In my opinion, NSNA is ten times what Thunderball and Connery delivers a truly great performance in it. M and Q are well-casted and the one liners are some of the funniest in a Connery flick. Definitely worth seeing.

I've seen it three or four times...and I despise it.

[singleentendre]

Ah, OK. I thought you meant you had never seen it.

[dogmanstar]

NSNA--it at least tries to be faithful to the source material. The cast is better too.

[Sniperscope]

NSNA is one of my favourite Bond films of the late 70s/80s.
It's got a great opener that's one of the betteraction sequences in the series - it's really quite brutal with Connery even giving "tha heed"at one stage! Connery's seems to have a little more of the old spark about him, there's a fun interpretation of M by Edward Fox, a very slimy performance by Brandauer and the sexiest most deranged Bond girl / villain in the whole series: Barbara Carrera as Fatima Blush!!! WoW WoW!
Sure it's got some silly moments but they all have, the pace is a little languid at times, but it's no more dated or worse than many other Bonds of the period. More importantly it completely avoids most of the OTT silliness of DAF which I find completely unwatchable after the first 30 minutes or so...

Edited by Sniperscope, 27 April 2009 - 01:00 AM.

[Mr. Blofeld]

NSNA, because it doesn't look nearly as cheap as DAF...

[OmarB]

DAF, because NSNA could only be worse if directed by Uwe Boll.

[sharpshooter]

Diamonds Are Forever.

[Cruiserweight]

DAF

[The Ghost Who Walks]

I can enjoy DAF if I'm in the mood, but elevator fight aside, it's a film derived of tension, excitement and nerve of any kind. It feels almost like watching the David Niven starring Casino Royale at times, with Blofeld in drag and all kinds of ridicilous scenes. You halfway expect Austin Powers to pop up in a cameo. Plus, the "grand finale" at the oil rig is easily the dullest of the series.

NSNA is enjoyable in many ways, and has that great fight scene with Bond and the "indefeatable" assassin. It's flawed, with an awful score and a script which can't decide if it wants to be campy or serious, but I still rather like it.

None of the films are exactly classics, though. DAF also looses points in my book for the lack of George Lazenby. I can't stop thinking about how much better the film would have been with him starring and Peter Hunt directing a better script.

[Mr. Arlington Beech]

NSNA, because it doesn't look nearly as cheap as DAF...

I know this could be subjective, but... there's nothing cheaper than a very eighties looking movie (particularly, when it's a remake of a stylish sixties film like TB)!!

P.S: Yes, I'm very anti eighties, and pro sixties. Also, I don't have anything against the seventies.

Edited by Mr. Arlington Beech, 27 April 2009 - 07:16 AM.

[H.M.S Ark Royal]

Diamonds Are Forever - I refuse to watch Never Say Never Again

I'm sure you saw it...
Anyway NSNA is far better !

[sharpshooter]

Anyway NSNA is far better !

It's not in terms of music and production design.

[Mr_Wint]

Easily, DAF.

DAF also looses points in my book for the lack of George Lazenby. I can't stop thinking about how much better the film would have been with him starring and Peter Hunt directing a better script.

How is that relevant to this comparison between DAF and NSNA? Can you stop thinking about how much better NSNA would've been with Terence Young and a "better" script?

DAF is probably the ONLY film in the series who has to compete with a film that wasn't even made. Strange.

[Pete]

NSNA! Simples! And the fan edit really brings it to life.

I've never bee a fan of DAF although I did give it a look the other day when it was on Sky but it still didn't do anything for me.

[The Ghost Who Walks]

Easily, DAF.

DAF also looses points in my book for the lack of George Lazenby. I can't stop thinking about how much better the film would have been with him starring and Peter Hunt directing a better script.

How is that relevant to this comparison between DAF and NSNA?

Yeah, I might have gotten a bit carried away there.

I do think NSNA is a worthier swansong. Connery looks better, fitter and seems to enjoy himself more, (though he gives a decent performance in DAF too) despite his reported problems with the production.

The film also has a better Bond girl than DAF. Tiffany Case is one of the weakest leading ladies in the series, IMO.

[Baines]

Anyway NSNA is far better !

It's not in terms of music and production design.

Production design ? There's production design in DAF ?
Agree about the music.

[double o ego]

DAF isn't perfect and I think in terms of overall silliness the film outdoes the majority of the Moore era but there are many hilarious parts that sae the film from being a disaster. Lets face it, it is what it is. Expecting something along the lines of the first 5 Bond films would have been much more appreciated but I think, the '71 film is the start of the comedic era and the film excells in that regard.

[sharpshooter]

Anyway NSNA is far better !

It's not in terms of music and production design.

Production design ? There's production design in DAF ?

Notably Ken Adam's design for Willard Whyte's penthouse.

[tim partridge]

Hamilton may have reduced Bond to a pale imitation of the Bond wannabes of the time (most notably Flint and Get Smart), but even on his worst day here he runs circles around Irvin Kirschner's flaccid film. DAF is still a great Bond film when it's not ashamed of being a Bond film.

Kirschner begins his film with an expensive aerial jungle shot. Hamilton begins his with a cheap, Eastern paper wall. Guess which sequence is head and tails the more engaging?

NSNA doesn't look or sound like a Bond film, the support cast are completely unlikable (aside from the pleasing riot that is Barbara Carrera), it's unfunny and it's boring.

The special effects in both films are well below par, but notice how the satellite scene from DAF is still awe inspiringly thrilling despite the poor visuals, while the rocket scene from NSNA just looks like a more boring version of Firefox.

The most obvious nail in the coffin is that NSNA doesn't have Bambi or Thumper in it.

[The Dove]

Put me down for Diamonds Are Forever over NSNA as well... (I'll watch a few minutes here and there of NSNA whenever its on TV, but I refuse to purchase it...why pay for a cheap imitation remake of the classic Thunderball?) Not to say Diamonds doesn't have it's flaws, but still I rather do enjoy it as a lighter Bond whenever I need a break from the more harder edged films.

[The Insider]

DAF is not a Bond film. It's a spoof ! NSNA is a good remake of Thunderball. Sean is in a better shape than in DAF !!

Edited by The Insider, 28 April 2009 - 12:14 PM.

[The Dove]

I'll pretend that I didn't just read your post, The Insider.. Anyways, give me Jill St. John anyday over Kim Basinger...(blech..I've never liked Kim Basinger..)

[s.a.s. Malko]

I like them both, but DAF didn´t age that well except the cool PTS and the great fight in the lift. So Tiffany Case is still on of my favorite Bond-Girls, Sean really looked in better shape and more interested in NSNA. BTW, does anyone know when the NSNA Collectors Edition is released in Europe?

[Judo chop]

The difference is the same between a hangover and depression.

[H.M.S Ark Royal]

I like them both, but DAF didn´t age that well except the cool PTS and the great fight in the lift. So Tiffany Case is still on of my favorite Bond-Girls, Sean really looked in better shape and more interested in NSNA. BTW, does anyone know when the NSNA Collectors Edition is released in Europe?

Hi Malko Linge !

There's only one edition of NSNA : http://www.amazon.fr...y/dp/B00004WEJZ