51 replies to this topic

[Neil S. Bulk]

A strong 9/10 for me. One of my favorites, and it can easily stand along side the three previous films. When I saw this in New York, it was the only one of the 6 Connery films to show that day that sold out.

Neil

[Kingdom Come]

I haven't read most of these replys but I rate Thunferball 2/10 - one of the worst of the series, that even Terrance Young practically disowned it. Dubbing the worst of the series and boy that's saying something. Terrible editing. The look of the film is terrible considering Ted Moore as cameraman. Barry's score is the weakest hes ever written for Bond. The end scene underwater is very confusing and devoid of suspense. This film ties with FRWL as the 2 films of the series that the 'women' make zero contribution to our memories of Bond 'girls'. Why they didn't go again with Guy Hamilton?

[BONDFINESSE 007]

thunderball to me was connerys worst bond film....it put and puts me to sleep, even to this day, i have to give it a 3

[Turn]

Originally posted by Kingdom Come
This film ties with FRWL as the 2 films of the series that the 'women' make zero contribution to our memories of Bond 'girls'. Why they didn't go again with Guy Hamilton?

Speak for yourself on the first part. Domino is the hottest Bond girl of all IMO in terms of overall beauty. And Tatiana in that choker is another unforgettable image. If you mean they didn't contribute anything besides looks, remember that both saved Bond in the end of their respective films.

On the second item, I think Hamilton did want to return, but opted out during preproduction. If his other three movies are any indication of what he would have done to TB, good riddance.

[Kingdom Come]

Turn I did speak for myself! When any1 be it a fan/television programme shows clips/interviews past Bond 'girls' this film Thunderball hardly gets a look in. Domino? Who's she? lol I'm not talking about 'beauty' I'm talking about memorable. I see you don't rate Hamilton very high. Goldfinger?

[JimmyBond]

I think Goldfinger is overrated, don't get me wrong, its a fine Bond film, but nowhere near the best of the series. Whenever I read about how it's so "great" I just roll my eyes. Goldfinger was the movie that gave birth to the OTT Bond film. Such practices in excess like Moonraker and Diamonds Are Forever might never have been made if it werent for Goldfinger (no, thats not a compliment).

[Doubleshot]

You don't see Tatiana Romanova or Domino Derval mentioned a lot because the actresses who played them are very hard to get to sit down for an interview now. Luckily, Daniella Bianchi answered some questions for John Cork for the From Russia With Love DVD, but I have never seen an interview with Claudine Auger. Notice how the documentaries or TV specials that focus on the Bond girls usually only focus on the ones they can get interviews with.. not the ones that were the most memorable. I would hardly call Tiffany Case or Holly Goodhead memorable Bond girls, but Jill St. John and Lois Chiles pop up quite often in these shows because they are the easiest to get hold of.

[Genrewriter]

I love Thunderball, I rank it as Connery's second best and around fourth or fifth out of the twenty official films. The story is terrific and Connery delivers his best, coolest performance as Bond. Largo is a great, formidable villain and Domino is red hot. John Barry delivers one of his best scores and even though the underwater scenes slow the film down a bit in parts, the rest of the film is well paced enough to compensate for them.

[The Dove]

Thunderball in my opinion is Connery's best Bond film after You Only Live Twice. I would rate it 9 out of 10. There are a few things about it (i.e. the editing mistakes ) which prevented me from giving it 10 out of 10. The horrible way the film sped up at the end where the Disco Volante is about to crash, bond's face mask going from a blue one to a black one he got off a dead baddie and the next scene shows him with his original blue one again. Also, there is the scene where Felix has a pair of shorts on then they switch to a pair of sweat pants and then back to his shorts. However, I loved everything else in the film. Great villians, great girls and great score.

[SPECTRE No. 7]

"Great villians, great girls and great score."

That says it very well. Adolfo Celi is great (as is that entire SPECTRE scene in Paris). The girls are all fantastic, despite the fact that Molly Peters seems to speak through her teeth and Claudine Auger (who is truly beautiful) cant act her way out of a paper bag. Fiona, however, is fabulous (as is Martine Beswick in her limited screen time). Ken Adam once agin proves he is THE Bond set designer (bring him back) and the cinematography is lush and colorful. But...
those underwater scenes go on forever and badly detract from the pacing of the film. The editing is substandard in a lot of places. Connery is OK (you can tell he's bored), but compared to the Rik van Nutter, he seems like Laurence Olivier. So overall, maybe a 6.5 for Thunderball.

[CommanderBond]

7.5

[jwheels]

7/10. It is good, but I the underwater scenes become too long and drawn out.

[DLibrasnow]

It's a decent first effort at making a James Bond movie by Kevin McClory (who was the producer of Thunderball).

[BONDFINESSE 007]

this movie is the best sleeping pill i have ever taken

[DLibrasnow]

Not as much so though 'finesse as the last two Brosnan entries.

[BONDFINESSE 007]

Originally posted by DLibrasnow
Not as much so though 'finesse as the last two Brosnan entries.

well i will give you 1 out of the last 2;)

[DLibrasnow]

Yeah The World is not Enough is the worst movie ever made -- doh :eek:

[Moore Not Less]

I have always regarded Thunderball as a good solid Bond film. The highlights for me include the pre-title sequence, the title sequence and title song, the briefing of the 00 agents, biker chick Fiona Volpe disposes of Count Lippe, the casino scene, Volpe takes Bond for a quick drive, and the dance of death between Bond and Volpe.

The underwater sequences although beautifully filmed are too long and make the film drag at times. There are also scenes where the action is unnaturally speeded up such as the fight between Bond and Jacques Bouvar.

Emilio Largo is a strong villain and he is ably backed up by Fiona Volpe. Domino is one of my favourite Bond women. A solid performance by Sean Connery as Bond. Overall, 7/10

[Qwerty]

Thunderball is a fine film, Emilio Largo and Domino Derval are prime canditates as some of the best in their respected categories of Bond villains and Bond girls. The title song and score are great and Rik Van Nutter is one of the best Felix Leiters in the series. Fiona Volpe is just screaming with sex and sadism, which makes her one of my all time favorite Bond characters. In the end, Thunderball scores very nicely with a 9/10.

[Tarl_Cabot]

10/10. It's the first Bond I saw. It's also part of Connery's 10/10 trilogy: FRWL, GF and TB.

[Brian Flagg]

"Thunderball" has always been my favorite, so I'm giving it a perfect 10. Love everything about it. I am surprised that so many people dislike the underwater sequences! They were what originally got me loving this one (as a 9 year-old; perhaps I've never grown up!) and I find the climactic battle with the frogmen and Disco Volante fight fast and furious and well-done overall. John Barry's score is wonderful, I particularly liked the slowed-down rendition of the "007" theme as the fight underwater is happening, made me feel like I was underwater myself. "Thunderball" for me seems to be the height of "Bond-mania" and the epic-size quality of the film just does it for me every time.

Edited by Brian Flagg, 01 February 2004 - 01:27 AM.

[Agent 76]

Not my favourite but I'll give it:
7.5/10

Edited by Agent76, 01 February 2004 - 01:56 AM.