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"And the kitchen sink": Let's discuss... Thunderball (1965)/ Poll

St_GeorgeSt_George Shuttling Drax's lovelies to the space doughnut - happy 40th, MR!
edited August 2011 in Bond Movies Posts: 1,699
<img src="http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh215/george-in-the-smoke/banner_tb.jpg"/>;




Honerly-dokerly, peeps, our latest thread dedicated to discussing an individual Bond film is concerned with looking at all-things Thunderball.

Yup, the fourth 007 blockbuster - and it certainly was a blockbuster too, selling more tickets than any other Bond adventure. It has a lot to boast: fantastically fanciable girls, beautiful, glamorous locations and a fine, fine score from John Barry. And yet, for me, TB lacks punch; the plot ensures there's a genuine urgent-as-the-plague threat against Britain, but unless you knew you wouldn't be able to tell, with Conners contiously sauntering about like a lazy panther and the film's pace at times almost in reverse. The action sequences are a little lacklustre too really, but the humour is often spot-on and the overall effect, unquestionably, is rompishly and luxuriantly entertaining. So certainly not the best, but far, far from the worst.

Don't forget to vote in the poll too, guys... :)

Comments

  • JBFan626JBFan626
    edited April 2011 Posts: 1,497
    Quoting St_George: and the overall effect, unquestionably, is rompishly and luxuriantly
    entertaining. So certainly not the best, but far, far from the worst...
    Have to agree with you St. George. Thunderball succeeds in it's style which ultimately trumphs its shortcomings it may have in substance. It's basically one giant Bond fantasy land: beautiful woman--including a femme fatale, gorgeous locations, drinks, casinos, fast cars, Connery in his prime, Spectre and hidden Blofeld, killer sharks, lushly orchestrated John Barry score, Terrenc Young, etc., etc., etc. TB passes the quintessential Bond checklist with flying colors. I'm not sure if it lacks punch per se. The film is all about feel and atmosphere, much in the way FRWL had this to tremendous effect. I do get the feeling of a grave international threat in the meeting of spies, simply by the set piece alone. The McClory/Fleming/Whittingham basic story is excellent--having a NATO officer steal the Nukes and then be killed, but who happens to be the brother of the main villains mistress. However, the film doesn't dig deep enough into this story. A lot of the story becomes following Bond simply trying to infiltrate the Disco Volante. There isn't the complexity and depth of something like FRWL. Not a major concern, because most of the Bond series does play it simple for the most part. Also, the Bond women in this are merely eye candy. Claudine Auger is a total dream girl, but her character isn't very convincing and her chemistry with Connery is a little flat. But my gosh is she gorgeous. Also as I've said i past posts, I wish Fiona Volpe's character lasted a little longer, she's the perfect femme fatale, and the movie suffers to a degree not having her presence in the second half. All these things however, I would usually hold against a film: a rather simple plot, average acting and character development, aren't of much concern in TB. You get everything you could possibly want in a Bond film. As a Bond "experience"; TB is superb.
  • RogueThunderballRogueThunderball
    Posts: 306
    Quoting JBFan626: As a Bond "experience"; TB is superb.
    To me it is one of a couple perfect Bond films. Without a doubt 10/10!
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    edited April 2011 Posts: 11,189
    I enjoy Thunderball, it's great fun but I don't think it's one of the very best. The look, characters and basic story all work but it seems like they were simply trying to outdo GF in terms of spectacle and action rather than create a solid film on its own.

    I've never been particularly fond of the rocket pack sequence for instance. It feels like it's taken straight out of a comic strip and screams to the kids "Look up in the sky. Is it a bird? is it a plane? no its James Bond and his new rocket pack." It's gimicky with a capital G - and I normally don't mind a few gadgets.

    There is also one fairly obvious plot hole, what happened to the short bloke at the end when Bond and Domino were rescued?

    Still, overall a fun 2 hours of escapism but it feels a little inferior compared to the first 3 IMO.

    7/10
  • The_ReaperThe_Reaper
    Posts: 1,092
    Didn't we already talk about this in another thread?
  • PrinceKamalKhanPrinceKamalKhan Monsoon Palace, Udaipur
    Posts: 3,262
    Quoting The_Reaper:
    Didn't we already talk about this in another thread?

    Yes.

    http://www.mi6community.com/index.php?p=/discussion/118/dont-worry-ill-tell-the-chef-thunderball-appreciation.#Item_12
    Quoting JBFan626: You get everything you could possibly want in a Bond film. As a Bond
    "experience"; TB is superb.
    I like your way with words, JBFan626.

    Here's a well made fan tribute to TB



    I give the film a solid 10/10.

  • 001001
    Posts: 1,575
    Superb is the word.10/10 for me.
  • St_GeorgeSt_George Shuttling Drax's lovelies to the space doughnut - happy 40th, MR!
    Posts: 1,699
    Quoting PrinceKamalKhan:
    Quoting The_Reaper:
    Didn't we already talk about this in another thread?
    Yes.
    http://www.mi6community.com/index.php?p=/discussion/118/dont-worry-ill-tell-the-chef-thunderball-appreciation.#Item_12
    That thread primarily invites appreciation of TB, guys, not all-round discussion - inlcuding criticism... ;)
  • The_ReaperThe_Reaper
    Posts: 1,092
    Ah. I have no issue with this, TB rules. Just curious.
  • Jazz007Jazz007 Minnesota
    edited May 2011 Posts: 257
    TB packs a huge punch for me; its high style and atmosphere resonates to the core, Connery does not miss a mark, Barry's score is unforgettable, and I'm just going to have to disagree on principle regarding the action scenes and "substance"....

    The action scenes, for me, are some of the finest action scenes in the series; the film is not as action-packed as other films of the franchise, its story and characters still take precedence in my view and the film has a cooler pace, taking time to enjoy its scenery and mystery.

    Still, the action scenes that exist in the film are spectacular. Bond's fight with Bouvar remains one of the finest one-on-one fight scenes of the series, for example. Also, while the underwater photography is brilliant all-around, especially brilliant is the climactic underwater battle which I argue has aged very well as an exciting - but brutal - underwater struggle.

    I think TB does well on the substance score as well. There is a lot of character-telling moments for Bond throughout the film, a lot of badassery and humor but also a lot of compassion and mistakes as well. Domino too is one of the more dimensional Bond Girls of the series, I would argue, for the way that she has to grapple with her trapped situation with Largo, her affection for Bond, the loss of her brother - and she gets tortured in a way that has no equal in the series.... then she actually dispatches the Bond Villain herself, saving Bond. Kind of interesting within the context of the rest of the Bond films.

    One of my favorite scenes of the film explores both Bond and Domino in a quick breath during their short dance....

    Domino: [speaking of her brother] He's a wonderful person. The trouble is, I never meet anyone like him.
    Bond: Only men like Largo and myself.
    Domino: You are not like Largo.
    Bond: Really? Why do you say that?
    Domino: The way you... hold me.

    It's a very short and subtle scene, but I believe that it is also a very deep one. I think that it can be misconstrued as a, for the lack of a better term, one of those "the Bond Girl fawns all over Bond" scenes but careful attention reveals something else: Bond is very quick to lump his own name alongside of the villain. Bond knows he is as violent and cold as the villains, he is just on the right side, and does not think too much of himself. But Domino sees things differently - and Bond has to ask why. Domino sees Bond's good side right away, just by the way he holds her. It is a great little scene, I think.

    Well, I would wrap things up with a concluding sentence about how I think TB is one of the best films of the series and that I gave it a 10 on this particular discussion thread.... but I figure all that is apparent.
  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    I watched Thunderball on Friday, and I was really pleased this time around. Everything worked for it: the locations, the world-threatening plot, the villains, Connery as 007, the music, and the action! It's a packed movie that gets a top ten spot for sure.
  • SJK91SJK91
    Posts: 1,310
    Thunderball sits at 6 on my Bond list....it seems that Thunderball is the film that close to all Bond fans can agree on: it is a very solid film. Sean Connery is also at his best here.

    8.5/10
  • DoubleOhhSevenDoubleOhhSeven
    Posts: 1,778
    TB is definatly a disappointment for me coming off of one hell of a trio in DN, FRWL, and GF. All were pure Bond and had Connery in his prime. TB is where the Connery films began lacking the same punch in my view.
  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    Thunderball sits at 6 on my Bond list....it seems that Thunderball is the film that close to all Bond fans can agree on: it is a very solid film. Sean Connery is also at his best here.

    8.5/10
    Agreed. Most fans' reviews tend to be the same positive response when it comes to Thunderball.
  • Baltimore_007Baltimore_007
    Posts: 5,634
    just going over old ground except to say if others enjoyed this particular Connery feature then more power to them

    Haven't seen it from start to finish for eons, if it comes on TV then if there's nothing else on or I'm at a particular loose end I may tune in just to see some bits here and there but for as long as I can remember it's never been a favorite and some bits especially in the second half drag on and you wonder if there will ever be an end

    Adolfo Celi was a poor villain and never really appeared menacing at any stage.

    The pre credits sequence with Bond on a rocket pack sailing through the air seemed a bit far fetched, and this was just 1965 @-)
  • barryt007barryt007
    edited August 2011 Posts: 19,339
    9/10 for me.
    It sits proudly at #3 on my list at the moment.
    The PTS for TB is one of my favourites and Bond at his most brutal.
    As for Adolfo Celi as Largo,i thought he was brilliant in the role and brought a cool calm menace to it.
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    Posts: 11,189
    TB seems to be among a handful of Bond films that really divide fans. Personally having recently seen it again I really enjoy it. I don't think Adolfo Celi is as menacing as Joseph Wiseman, Robert Shaw, Lotte Lenya (?), Harold Sakata or as unique as Gert Frobe but he serves his purpose. As for Fiona Voulpe - phoarr! ;)
  • zebrafishzebrafish <°)))< in Octopussy's garden in the shade
    edited August 2011 Posts: 4,347
    I really like TB a lot, the only hitch I have with it is the terrible blue-screen effect when the Disco Volante takes course onto the rocks. The timing is terribly off (the rocks are so close that they should instantly crash) and the overall look is awfully unreal.
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    TB is epic in every conceivable way. 10/10
  • DiscoVolanteDiscoVolante Stockholm, Sweden
    Posts: 1,347
    I've always enjoyed TB. Sure, I find the underwater fighting sequence overlong and boring, but it's an exciting and beautiful Bond movie overall. Domino's black & white bikini is the nicest clothing of the whole series, and Disco Volante is a darn fine yacht ;)
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    No other Bond girl has the ridiculously excessively epic sex appeal that Fiona Volpe has.
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