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Comments
Exactly! Thunderball is golden as is, and there's no need for a re-make.
I just can't get past the part with the pee, and the "sex scenes". I have issues with finding Connery a sex-symbol in the first place, and it's even harder to do when he's old and out of shape... it's just NOT something I want to think of when I think of James Bond...
That's probably the best way to look at NSNA.
Agreed.
Agreed on both counts. At the very least, they should've changed the name of Brandauer's and Miss Basinger's characters. If TB didn't exist in reality, then I'd probably be fonder of NSNA than I am. The 1983 "non-official" Bond film is as good as most of the output from the Miccoli era. However, TB does exist and is my favorite Bond film. If I ever want to watch its story, I stick with the EON original with John Barry's music, Terence Young's direction, Tom Jones' anthem to Bond-style theme song, Connery at the top of his form in his most super-confident Bond performance, Claudine Auger as Domino, Adolfo Celi as Largo, and best of all, Luciana Paluzzi as Volpe.
First off, I can't get past the fact that NSNA is TB Redux - so with that firmly in mind, I am already in comparison mode, which immediately takes me out of the movie..
I thought Kershner's direction was decent/solid at times... but this film has such a bizarre pace to it, that it really builds up no momentum - it just kind putts along like a car stuck in first gear...
not to mention some elements in this film outstay their welcome... the fight with henchman in the rehab clinic was absurdly silly at times, and just seemed to drag on, and on.... and on................. annnd on....
Fatima Blush was another one who about halfway through her screen time I found annoying to watch and listen to - not to mention before killing Bond, she wants him to write a statement saying she was the best?... wow - issues girl, issues lol..... she is inferior in every aspect to role played by Luciana Paluzzi in Thunderball - EVERY aspect... and it's a shame, because I wanted to like her character, and at the start I did - but they really turned up the annoyance factor on her in her final scenes on screen...
(i gotta go somewhere, will write more when i return)
I rewatched thunderball not long ago and yeah, maybe there was no need for a remake. But I think the remake turned out good, and was just as good as the original
its just a shame that they didnt get to make Warhead 2000 with Dalton..
Ok it's not official Bond, same as with Casino Royale 67 and doesn't pretend to be
I haven't seen this in ages, but highlights for me are the fight at the health farm, the video game with Max Largo and well I'm struggling now, the rescue of Domino at the end. It simply can't compare to the original Thunderball epic and I simply don't get the same enjoyment from it, it has a good opening though
It took nearly as much as Octopussy that year at the box offices oddly enough
Now off subject:
As for the whole Serra being more traditional Bond music, absolute tosh. As already mentioned, Bond films are all about big, brass, action themes, instantly recognisable and rememberable themes, none of which appear in GE and the reason that the GE score fits the film perfectly is because that is the familiarity for which your used to watching the film and have nothing to compare against.
I have no favourite composers
I like Barry (obviously, who doesn't) but I'm not limited to that.
I like some of Arnolds work (Surrender/Vespa), some not so (overuse of synthesized
Bond Theme).
Kamen grew on me in time (after I forgot about Die Hard and Leathal Weapon)
Conti good and bad (always thinking of Rocky when listening doesnt help)
Martin very good.
Hamlish pretty poor IMO Bond77 apart.
Norman, well only the Bond theme saves DN and enough of that argument.
Serra, well there are a couple of nice themes but in general garbage.
One things certain, if Newman's score for Skyfall is nearer in tone to Arnold than to Serra then the majority of Bond fans (sorry DaltonCraig007) will be happy, but personally I hope he creates his own tone, version of the Bond Theme and creates something memorable for the right reasons.
Oh, now back on subject, I then hope he re-scores NSNA (joking).
I never really liked it before which is the reason i never owned it but i brought it for a couple of quid and i was pleasently surprised. I still prefer all the EON ones but i did enjoy it, i liked Connery's performance and like some others have said he looked in better shape than in DAF. i liked the supporting cast too, i liked Largo,Blofeld,Domino and Fatima Blush but M, Q and Moneypenny were poor man versions IMO. And felix i thought was pretty forgettable too.
The action was done pretty well, especially the bike chase and the fight with the late great Pat Roach. there was flaws like the effects were pretty poor and the climax was a bit flat IMO but i enjoyed watching it, and am glad i brought it.
Also like others have mentioned EON may of taken some tips from this like the laser in the watch, the explosive in a pen and Fatima Blush maybe helped inspire Xenia Onatopp.
I agree. There is much to like about it. It's almost a spoof in a way, but one done with very good taste and a high spirit of fun, with its tongue firmly in cheek. It doesn't take itself seriously at all and that plays in its favor. And unlike YOLT (and even DAF), it's so apparent that Connery is having blast, and that only helps it. Many great lines as well.
Ray Galton and Alan Simpson are responsible for the classics Hancock's Half Hour and Steptoe And Son, and therefore should be worshipped at every available opportunity.
My memories of it are quite vague. I rewatched the "shark attack" scene online before I dove down to the Tears of Allah wreck in the Bahamas (still recognizable despite the wheelhouse being gone) but that was the only scene. From what I can remember we were really impressed with the videogame scene - at the time it was so cool that they were modernizing the world that the characters lived in so that it was recognizable to us. To see Connery as Bond playing a video game seemed the height of coolness to us in '83! I also remember that Barbara Carrerra seemed WAY sexier than the Bond girls in the "real" films. But the lack of traditional elements was a bit of a downer even though we were expecting it; also the humour and tone seemed a little off. But the greatest thing was to see Connery as Bond again. His presence, his effortless charisma, the fact that he looked better than he did in DAF (!) - all that made us so incredibly happy.
As I said, those were my thoughts as a Connery-worshipping 14 year-old Bond fan in '83. It will be interesting to view the film now!
How might I have guessed that? Hahahaha, just playing with you, no harm done!
Yeah, I actually had the NSNA theme song stuck in my head hours after I had watched it back in May. I didn't mind though, it's not a half-bad theme when you really listen to it. I also agree with you that the whole video game "World Domination" scene was quite stupid and unnecessary. I never liked it to begin with, it felt really out of character for 007 and honestly is really cheesy now looking back on it.
Sorry about that - my aged brain sometimes doesn't function as it should! Thanks for correcting me, I shall now stand in the corner of the room facing inward with my Dunce cap on!