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Never Say Never Again..."Yes, But My Martini's Still Dry"

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  • RevelatorRevelator
    Posts: 2,914
    Thunderfinger wrote: »
    It's one of the daftest things in the film. The idea of Bond playing a video game is dumb enough in itself, and then they present something as ludicrous as that on top.

    I don't think it's entirely daft. In 1983 video games were still something of a novelty, and
    some casinos might have displayed them as such. A video game like Domination, which is more elaborate than an arcade game of that time, would have been something of a rich man's toy. And as a matter of fact, Largo designed the game himself and it aptly reflects his personality, with its take-over-the-world theme and sadistic penalty for losers. So it's plausible that Largo would set this up in the casino he frequents and invite Bond to play.

    A game of chance between Bond and the villain is a hallmark of the Bond novels and films, and I don't see any reason why a video game wouldn't serve as well as cards or golf. Now if Bond and Largo had been playing Pac Man in a pool hall, I would have been upset. But they are playing a very Bondian game in a casino. You could even call it Flemingian, considering the levels of pain meted out to the loser, and Bond, true to Flemingian form, proves himself capable of taking extreme pain and then beating the villain at his own game.
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    It’s a kitsch, but given the fact it is so bizarre I can sort of give it pass. There are much worse elements, such as Atkinson, gurning his face off like some coked up buffoon. Get out of here.
  • GetafixGetafix
    Posts: 11,425
    what came first NSNA or the Barclaycard ads?
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    Posts: 9,019
    I thought (or maybe think) that the video game sequence was a stroke of genius. If one accepts (as everyone did at the time) NSNA as purely a spoof of the official movies, the video game sequence makes fun of the repetitive, often nonsensical casino scenes of the EoN films by replacing them with the (admittedly idiotic) video game. It's one of the definite assets of NSNA, along with the tango scene ("Your brother's dead. Keep dancing."). Close to priceless, and probably unparalleled in the EoN movies.
  • mattjoesmattjoes Julie T. and the M.G.'s
    Posts: 7,020
    Revelator wrote: »
    Thunderfinger wrote: »
    It's one of the daftest things in the film. The idea of Bond playing a video game is dumb enough in itself, and then they present something as ludicrous as that on top.

    I don't think it's entirely daft. In 1983 video games were still something of a novelty, and
    some casinos might have displayed them as such. A video game like Domination, which is more elaborate than an arcade game of that time, would have been something of a rich man's toy. And as a matter of fact, Largo designed the game himself and it aptly reflects his personality, with its take-over-the-world theme and sadistic penalty for losers. So it's plausible that Largo would set this up in the casino he frequents and invite Bond to play.

    A game of chance between Bond and the villain is a hallmark of the Bond novels and films, and I don't see any reason why a video game wouldn't serve as well as cards or golf. Now if Bond and Largo had been playing Pac Man in a pool hall, I would have been upset. But they are playing a very Bondian game in a casino. You could even call it Flemingian, considering the levels of pain meted out to the loser, and Bond, true to Flemingian form, proves himself capable of taking extreme pain and then beating the villain at his own game.
    I agree with all this. I also like the contrast between the old-fashioned look of the place and the modernity of the video game.
  • SeanCraigSeanCraig Germany
    edited May 2018 Posts: 732
    I was not aware of the "spoof" character of the movie when I first saw it in 1986. I watched the Bond movies when they premiered in (mostly) chronological order and starting 1984 ... and Thunderball originally aired in may 1985. I had most recently seen YOLT in march 1986 when the next one they aired was NSNA in September 1986! That was kind of strange ... because it was the very same story than TB again ... to me just one more movie was between them :-D Of course Connery was significally older so it was clear the movies were shown kinda out of sequence but I had no knowledge of it back then and I first had to do some research.

    It was so strange to me why they dropped the gunbarrel (only to see it again in october 1986 ... but a different actor played Bond which confused me even more - LOL. Plus the new actor had the very same german voice than Connery - I liked that though). The whole movie felt so much less true to the movies I had just seen so far.

    It took a while and some research (hey - no internet back then :-)) what that was all about. The change of actors, the correct chronological order (I realized they aired FRWL before DN back then ... dunno why) and that there was another new actor (Roger Moore) coming next, once DAF was about to be aired (they did air it in may 1987 then) since this one originally was Connery's last.

    Anyway - back then NSNA was very obscure to me (I still had a poster of it in my room and I kept it there and was accompanied by the one from TLD, soon). Today I still and very much like Connery in it but I can't stand the music and at a whole I greatly prefer Thunderball.

    But the computer game I liked a lot ... it was well made (for the time) and it kinda fits Brandauers take on the Largo character.
  • barryt007barryt007
    Posts: 19,339
    Getafix wrote: »
    what came first NSNA or the Barclaycard ads?

    NSNA was first.
  • GetafixGetafix
    Posts: 11,425
    so NSNA actually gave birth to Johnnie English. who'd have thought it
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    Getafix wrote: »
    so NSNA actually gave birth to Johnnie English. who'd have thought it

    No, the Barclaycard ad is the origin. Nothing to do with NSNA.
  • GetafixGetafix
    Posts: 11,425
    but the Barclaycard ad must have been inspired by Atkinsons role in NSNA
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    Getafix wrote: »
    but the Barclaycard ad must have been inspired by Atkinsons role in NSNA

    Nah, watch Small-Fawcett, then watch the Barclaycard ads. Totally different characters.
  • GetafixGetafix
    Posts: 11,425
    apart from it being Atkinson playing a MI6 character. surely not pure coincidence
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    Getafix wrote: »
    apart from it being Atkinson playing a MI6 character. surely not pure coincidence

    He’s playing a shit MI7 Spy in the Barclaycard ads who tries to appear ‘cool’. In NSNA he’s just a bumbling suit from the Foreign Office.
  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    Murdock wrote: »
    I did a rescore of the bike chase using music from Agent Under Fire. Enjoy. :-bd

    Nice job!
    Escalus5 wrote: »
    SeanCraig wrote: »
    But for Connery himself for me his performance in NSNA ranks above DAF and YOLT.

    I honestly think NSNA has Connery's most relaxed and charming performance as Bond. It's a lighter interpretation of the character (somewhat similar to Moore's, and possibly even influenced by it), but one that I find appealing.

    One of the things I like about Connery's performance here is that he's essentially a 007 who has mellowed a bit with age. Probably due to the fact he's been teaching rather than doing. Once back in the field, though he is in his element, thriving on danger. It's one of my favorite performances from a Bond actor.

    Excellent job, @Murdock! That AUF music really fits the tone of that chase.

    @ToTheRight: I'll have to watch NSNA with that in mind! If DAF had not directly followed OHMSS, it may have been neat to see Connery pull off a similar portrayal in it since he was slightly getting along in years by 1971.
  • GetafixGetafix
    Posts: 11,425
    Sean arguably looks better in NSNA than DAF
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,355
    Benny wrote: »
    Birdleson wrote: »
    Why do we have two active NSNA threads going simultaneously? I may consolidate them if I can figure out how. @Benny ? How?

    Sorry @Birdleson we can't merge two threads together. (Be good if we could)
    The only option would be too close one.

    I've just managed to do it and conversation wise it mucks things up a little.

    Better than nothing though and now too late!
  • ThrasosThrasos
    Posts: 1,469
    I don't know if you've seen this interview with the lovely Barbara Carrera, who also has a charming accent (she was born in Nicaragua). I just watched it and enjoyed hearing her talk about her acting in NSNA, one of her scenes in particular, and working with director Irvin Kirschner. I found this because I just watched The Empire Strikes Back, which he also directed, and was checking out interviews with him.
  • RoadphillRoadphill United Kingdom
    Posts: 984
    I dislike it immensely. I will concede, however, the Martini line is one of the dryest (pun intended) and funny lines in the series.
  • Mathis1Mathis1
    Posts: 7,407
    NSNA was on TV last night. I dipped in and out of it. It has good scenes, and Connery slips easily back into the role. But Barbara Carrera steals the film for me! Great performance and she looks fabulous in an array of costumes ( Nurse included, ahem!!)
  • LeonardPineLeonardPine The Bar on the Beach
    Posts: 3,996
    Mathis1 wrote: »
    NSNA was on TV last night. I dipped in and out of it. It has good scenes, and Connery slips easily back into the role. But Barbara Carrera steals the film for me! Great performance and she looks fabulous in an array of costumes ( Nurse included, ahem!!)

    I enjoy it whenever i watch it. It's a very easy and fun Bond film and i'm glad it exists.

    Carrera is definitely the best thing in it. (Klaus Maria Brandauer a close second) She really does exude psychosis! She also has great chemistry with Connery.
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    edited September 2020 Posts: 7,108
    LeonardPine wrote: »
    Mathis1 wrote: »
    NSNA was on TV last night. I dipped in and out of it. It has good scenes, and Connery slips easily back into the role. But Barbara Carrera steals the film for me! Great performance and she looks fabulous in an array of costumes ( Nurse included, ahem!!)

    I enjoy it whenever i watch it. It's a very easy and fun Bond film and i'm glad it exists.

    Carrera is definitely the best thing in it. (Klaus Maria Brandauer a close second) She really does exude psychosis! She also has great chemistry with Connery.

    Just rewatched it myself. In all honesty, I really liked it. Love the location work in France, love the motorcycle chase, love the Tears of Allah set, the Slocombe cinematography is very good in places, Ricou Browning returns for the underwater stuff too, but most of all I adore the entire cast.

    Sean is the best 'elderly' Bond one can imagine and it's great to see him return to have so much fun with the character. Brandauer and von Sydow are amazing actors and are great to have in a Bond film. I'd even say Brandauer is one of my favourite villains in the series. Barbara Carrera is hilariously crazy, I also like that M and Q are no copies of the EON actors and Fox and McCowen do their own thing with these roles. Additionally, Bernie Casey is my favourite Leiter.

    I get that the score isn't very Bondian, but I liked some of the jazzy stuff nonetheless.

  • ColonelSunColonelSun
    Posts: 1,490


    Just rewatched it myself. In all honesty, I really liked it. Love the location work in France, love the motorcycle chase, love the Tears of Allah set, the Slocombe cinematography is very good in places, Ricou Browning returns for the underwater stuff too, but most of all I adore the entire cast.

    Sean is the best 'elderly' Bond one can imagine and it's great to see him return to have so much fun with the character. Brandauer and von Sydow are amazing actors and are great to have in a Bond film. I'd even say Brandauer is one of my favourite villains in the series. Barbara Carrera is hilariously crazy, I also like that M and Q are no copies of the EON actors and Fox and McCowen do their own thing with these roles. Additionally, Bernie Casey is my favourite Leiter.

    I get that the score isn't very Bondian, but I liked some of the jazzy stuff nonetheless.



    I'm also a fan of the film. I enjoy it far more than OP and AVTAK. Connery is on great form. And, although not in Barry's class, the Legrand jazz score is cool in its own way. Thx for sharing the score.

  • LeonardPineLeonardPine The Bar on the Beach
    Posts: 3,996
    GoldenGun wrote: »
    LeonardPine wrote: »
    Mathis1 wrote: »
    NSNA was on TV last night. I dipped in and out of it. It has good scenes, and Connery slips easily back into the role. But Barbara Carrera steals the film for me! Great performance and she looks fabulous in an array of costumes ( Nurse included, ahem!!)

    I enjoy it whenever i watch it. It's a very easy and fun Bond film and i'm glad it exists.

    Carrera is definitely the best thing in it. (Klaus Maria Brandauer a close second) She really does exude psychosis! She also has great chemistry with Connery.

    Just rewatched it myself. In all honesty, I really liked it. Love the location work in France, love the motorcycle chase, love the Tears of Allah set, the Slocombe cinematography is very good in places, Ricou Browning returns for the underwater stuff too, but most of all I adore the entire cast.

    Sean is the best 'elderly' Bond one can imagine and it's great to see him return to have so much fun with the character. Brandauer and von Sydow are amazing actors and are great to have in a Bond film. I'd even say Brandauer is one of my favourite villains in the series. Barbara Carrera is hilariously crazy, I also like that M and Q are no copies of the EON actors and Fox and McCowen do their own thing with these roles. Additionally, Bernie Casey is my favourite Leiter.

    I get that the score isn't very Bondian, but I liked some of the jazzy stuff nonetheless.


    I like some of the score, but i think Legrand was the wrong choice of composer for an action film.

    My favourite bit of music in the film isn't actually on the soundtrack recording! It's when Bond and Domino are being chased around the fort on horseback.

    If anyone has a link to a recording of it i would appreciate it...!
  • CatchingBulletsCatchingBullets facebook.com/catchingbullets
    Posts: 292
    'This is a Bond not past his prime but enjoying the last act of it.'

    THE IMITATION BULLET - Catching Connery’s comeback folly NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN...

    https://markoconnell.co.uk/the-imitation-bullet-catching-connerys-return-folly-never-say-never-again/
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,343
    I always think it's a weird choice to move the action from the Bahamas to the French Riveria, because they don't really contrast onscreen and you could be forgiven for not really noticing that Bond has travelled halfway around the world. I get that obviously they need to be by the sea because of the whole yacht thing, but the Eon Bond films use and contrast their locations better.
  • ColonelSunColonelSun
    Posts: 1,490
    mtm wrote: »
    I always think it's a weird choice to move the action from the Bahamas to the French Riveria, because they don't really contrast onscreen and you could be forgiven for not really noticing that Bond has travelled halfway around the world. I get that obviously they need to be by the sea because of the whole yacht thing, but the Eon Bond films use and contrast their locations better.

    That's an interesting point. As I say, I really like NSNA, but the excuse to go to the Bahamas is very loose in terms of narrative, however my favourite section of the film is the French Riveria stuff, for me the best and classiest scenes in the film. No Bond other than Connery could pull off a tango and look so graceful and cool.

  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    CatchingBullets wrote: »
    'This is a Bond not past his prime but enjoying the last act of it.'

    THE IMITATION BULLET - Catching Connery’s comeback folly NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN...

    https://markoconnell.co.uk/the-imitation-bullet-catching-connerys-return-folly-never-say-never-again/

    Good review. Never heard of the ditched pre title sequence before. Would like to know more about that.
  • Mathis1Mathis1
    Posts: 7,407
    LeonardPine wrote: »
    GoldenGun wrote: »
    LeonardPine wrote: »
    Mathis1 wrote: »
    NSNA was on TV last night. I dipped in and out of it. It has good scenes, and Connery slips easily back into the role. But Barbara Carrera steals the film for me! Great performance and she looks fabulous in an array of costumes ( Nurse included, ahem!!)

    I enjoy it whenever i watch it. It's a very easy and fun Bond film and i'm glad it exists.

    Carrera is definitely the best thing in it. (Klaus Maria Brandauer a close second) She really does exude psychosis! She also has great chemistry with Connery.

    Just rewatched it myself. In all honesty, I really liked it. Love the location work in France, love the motorcycle chase, love the Tears of Allah set, the Slocombe cinematography is very good in places, Ricou Browning returns for the underwater stuff too, but most of all I adore the entire cast.

    Sean is the best 'elderly' Bond one can imagine and it's great to see him return to have so much fun with the character. Brandauer and von Sydow are amazing actors and are great to have in a Bond film. I'd even say Brandauer is one of my favourite villains in the series. Barbara Carrera is hilariously crazy, I also like that M and Q are no copies of the EON actors and Fox and McCowen do their own thing with these roles. Additionally, Bernie Casey is my favourite Leiter.

    I get that the score isn't very Bondian, but I liked some of the jazzy stuff nonetheless.


    I like some of the score, but i think Legrand was the wrong choice of composer for an action film.

    My favourite bit of music in the film isn't actually on the soundtrack recording! It's when Bond and Domino are being chased around the fort on horseback.

    If anyone has a link to a recording of it i would appreciate it...!

    The score is one of the weakest aspects of the film. There is just no punch to it!
    Would have been interested to hear what original choice James Horner would have done with it!
    And the theme song is dire!
  • LeonardPineLeonardPine The Bar on the Beach
    Posts: 3,996
    Mathis1 wrote: »
    LeonardPine wrote: »
    GoldenGun wrote: »
    LeonardPine wrote: »
    Mathis1 wrote: »
    NSNA was on TV last night. I dipped in and out of it. It has good scenes, and Connery slips easily back into the role. But Barbara Carrera steals the film for me! Great performance and she looks fabulous in an array of costumes ( Nurse included, ahem!!)

    I enjoy it whenever i watch it. It's a very easy and fun Bond film and i'm glad it exists.

    Carrera is definitely the best thing in it. (Klaus Maria Brandauer a close second) She really does exude psychosis! She also has great chemistry with Connery.

    Just rewatched it myself. In all honesty, I really liked it. Love the location work in France, love the motorcycle chase, love the Tears of Allah set, the Slocombe cinematography is very good in places, Ricou Browning returns for the underwater stuff too, but most of all I adore the entire cast.

    Sean is the best 'elderly' Bond one can imagine and it's great to see him return to have so much fun with the character. Brandauer and von Sydow are amazing actors and are great to have in a Bond film. I'd even say Brandauer is one of my favourite villains in the series. Barbara Carrera is hilariously crazy, I also like that M and Q are no copies of the EON actors and Fox and McCowen do their own thing with these roles. Additionally, Bernie Casey is my favourite Leiter.

    I get that the score isn't very Bondian, but I liked some of the jazzy stuff nonetheless.


    I like some of the score, but i think Legrand was the wrong choice of composer for an action film.

    My favourite bit of music in the film isn't actually on the soundtrack recording! It's when Bond and Domino are being chased around the fort on horseback.

    If anyone has a link to a recording of it i would appreciate it...!

    The score is one of the weakest aspects of the film. There is just no punch to it!
    Would have been interested to hear what original choice James Horner would have done with it!
    And the theme song is dire!

    James Horner would have been a dream composer for NSNA !

    I know they couldn't use the Bond theme but i bet Horner would have come up with some belting themes!
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,343
    He was in his fun young exuberant period at that point too.
    Goldsmith would've been great too.
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