Thunderball (1965)

Released (US): December 29, 1965
Genre: Action/Adventure
Length: 130 Min.
Director: Terence Young
Writer: Richard Maibaum, and John Hopkins
Major Cast Members:
       Sean Connery - James Bond
       Claudine Auger - Dominique ‘Domino’ Derval
       Adolfo Celi - Emilio Largo (SPECTRE #2)
       Luciana Paluzzi - Fiona Volpe
       Rik Van Nutter - Felix Leiter
Awards:
       Academy Award - Best Effects, Special Visual Effects
       Laurel Award - Best Action Drama
       Laurel Award - Best Action Performance (Sean Connery)
Budget: $5,600,000
Box Office: $141,200,000 (worldwide)

Plot Overview: In an effort to scam the US and Great Britain out of 1,000,000 pounds in diamonds, SPECTRE returns in the fourth installment of the James Bond series by stealing two nuclear warheads from a NATO plane and threatens to bomb a major city in one of the two countries. Everything revolves around the island of Jamaica, as James Bond, along with CIA agent Felix Leiter, attempt to secure the bombs and avoid disaster.

Did you know?: Thunderball was originally going to be called James Bond: Secret Agent and be the first 007 movie made. However, for some unknown reason, tehe film was never finished and Dr. No took its place.

Review: SPECTRE returns for the fourth installment of the Bond series, and this time, they are hatching the biggest plan of all. Coincidentally, this is, without a doubt, the flashiest movie of the first four Bond movies, with some fancy gadgets and a ridiculous action scene or two.

This is starting to become standard, but, once again, the acting was very good in Thunderball. Connery was classic Bond, Claudine Auger was stunning in her role as Domino, and Adolfo Celi (as Largo) was probably the best villain yet. His perfect white hair and eyepatch fit in perfectly with his part, and plays his part to near perfection.

The script is very good as well. Plenty of action and suspense, and the movie itself has some character development as well. Unfortunately, there are some points in the film that bog the rest of it down.

First off, we start to see the gadgets becoming more and more initrcate, fancy, and out there. Bonds’ rocket pack at the beginning of the film, for example. Another far-fetched gadget isn’t Bonds’, but the villains’ boat actually splits in two at one point (not because of a bomb, just because it can). While not nearly as out there as some of the gadgets in the more modern films, they are definitely beginning to evolve from simplistic, efficient tools, to being somewhat ridiculous. Also, the underwater fight scene at the end of the film is way out there. Exciting? Sure, but the viewer can’t help but look at it and almost laugh because of how far-fetched it is. It is a shame, really, because the rest of the movie is excellent and this outlandish sequence kinda ruins it.

However, do not let that ten minute sequence keep you away from this otherwise great movie. With great acting, exciting plot line, cool fight scenes, and beautiful Bond Girls, Thunderball is a must see.

Final Grade: B+

Other Reviews:
DVDTown: “If it doesn’t live up to its illustrious predecessors…well, it still has Connery, and that’s a plus in anybody’s book.”

Reel Views: “Thunderball is classic 007 — not the best picture in the long-running series, to be sure, but a more-than-worthwhile diversion for the action-loving escapist in us all.”

DVDVerdict: “A must for any fan of the James Bond series!”

Filmcritic.com: “It’s too long and doesn’t make any sense at times, but it’s a real jaw-dropper (especially for 1965).”

EFilm Critic: “…Thunderball smells of three things: franchise, formula and staleness.”

TVGuide: “With Thunderball, the wildly popular Bond series started to slip, substituting gadgets and gimmicks for story and character development.”

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