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Visitors Review

FilmFanInTheHouse 2013-05-14 16:38:13

Grampa Bond comes out of retirement

Never Say Never Again was the second unofficial 007 film to be made,with this one competing with Octopussy. The biggest problem about thisfilm is having an ageing Sean Connery. He is just too old to convincethe audience he is Bond, especially with the grey hair. His voicedoesn't help either.Its also too hard to try and forget about the other Bond films at thesame time. Their version of Moneypenny is too similar to Lois Maxwell,whilst M and Q are the complete opposites. In this Bond world, Q Brachlooks like a junkyard and all the 00s have been retired.The music is OK for what's it's supposed to be, but don't expect anyBond sounds. Overall, the film becomes a just normal action feel, whichfeels as if they a basing it on Bond. You can reach the end or give upwhilst watching it, it really depends on how you feel.

2013-05-14 04:11:36

farewell to the original Bond

I have mixed emotions towards this film. It is quite unique as it is not really part of the Bond series, yet it still is. It was produced by the company that had the copyright of the script but not the movie series so it lacks the traditional Bond theme and it was released the same year as Octapussy and they competed against each other.This was also Connery's last perfomance as James Bond and lathough he is nowhere close to his originla 60's perfomances he is way better than Roger Moore. The script is a remake of Thunderball but not as good as the original and it does have some flat points.If one judges this film with today's standarts then the film is quite weak- however if you judge it with the rivals of its time then this film does have merit. Klaus Maria Brandauer is a wondeful villain but on the other hand Kim Basinger perfomance is rather poor.All in all this film is worth seeing if you are a Bond fun but do not have high expectations and that way you will enjoy it

Noel Bailey 2013-05-08 10:21:44

Connery isn't Bond.....Bond IS Connery!

Agreed, NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN wasn't vintage Bond and why McGlory stuck withthat God-awful theme song - I can't begin to imagine? but still, itsteamrolls the original THUNDERBALL which was by far the weakest of theseries. It was incidentally the fact that McGlory held the rights toTHUNDERBALL that he was able to make this film at all. Even Connery himself,later describing the film as "a toilet" is not enough to dismiss it out ofsight. To those who complain that he was "too old" for the part and that hehad "had his bite of the cherry," let me just say this. Even if Connery wereto resurrect the role in 2005 in a crumpled t-shirt and walking frame - hewould STILL blow Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and Timothy Dalton out of thewater. You know something else? it'd be the biggest film of 2005? I wouldhappily pay $500 in advance to attend the world premiere! (which could ONLYbe held at the Empire Theater in Leicester Square, London)This film had a lot to offer, even apart from Connery's welcome return.A superb villainess in Fatima Blush (what a name huh?). The "WorldDomination" game sequence, heaps of slick one-liners and plenty of action.Sure, Q was sorely missed - live with it!

2013-05-07 18:39:25

Not Bond

I pretty much agree with everyone else about this movie....but did you know that this is NOT an OFFICIAL James Bond movie? It is not part of the series. Need proof? Just search for any James Bond CD's in the Music section of Amazon.com and look through the playlists of the Theme Song CD's. Never Say Never Again is not on any of the lists. That's why this movie seems like a duplicate. It is a cheap knock-off of Thunderball.

2013-04-26 11:29:38

Missing Footage? You Can Get it Replaced.

This review is from: Never Say Never Again (DVD) As some of the reviews here note, there is a large piece of missing footage on this DVD between chapters 19 & 20 (when the disc changes layers). Is yours missing footage? Here's how to check. Start at chapter 19 and follow Bond as he gate crashes the Casino and sticks the bouncer in the closet. If your DVD jumps from Bond leaving the bouncer in the closet with the "bomb" in his hand (Bond says,"Good boy"), to a scene inside the casino where Bond, Domino, and Largo enter the private game room (Largo saying, "These are my friends..."), then you've got a dud. What you should have seen is Bond going from the bouncer in the closet -- to a shot of Bond through the casino door peep hole -- he enters casino -- sticks gun in ice bucket -- enters video game room -- meets Domino ("My name is Bond, James Bond") -- meets Largo, etc. If yours is defective (and many of them where) the good news is you can return it and get a replacement DVD by calling MGMÕs customer service dept at 1-877-MGM-4YOU (or emailing them at 4you@mgm.com) and following their instructions. I did this and I now have a new, complete NSNA DVD.

emfern13 2013-04-25 22:36:10

Really Bad!!!!!!!!!

This is the worst James Bond movie ever. Its a good thing this is not anofficial entry in the James Bond Series. This is a remake of Thunderball,which I never saw, but I really want to. This is truly a horrible Bondmovie, Sean Connery was like over 50 when this came out. I bet this is anawful remake. It fails on both levels: Remake and BondMovie.

2013-04-24 18:05:02

I Never want to see "Never Say Never Again" again.

From the dreadful opening, showing Sean Connery's age, to the lack of gunbarrel intro, THIS IS NOT BOND. There is a reason that this is not considered to be an actual 007 film, and the abscence of Bond's theme music shows it. This is more like a B-reel to Thunderball (using old character names, plots and locations). Very weak.

Brian T. Whitlock 2013-04-24 01:19:04

Not an original series, but at least the original Bond is back!

Though this version of the 007 saga isn't original, the fun faction is.In "Never Say Never Again", James Bond(Sean Connery) is fighting notonly SPECTRE, but red tape that the organization is being held by. Hisskills seems flawless, but his boss is the biggest blow-hard ever seen.He helps the sister(Kim Basinger) of an Air Force soldier who's beingthe pawn of SPECTRE's scheme. His service of SPECTRE was short when theimplanted a code in his right eye. After he's done getting thewarheads, he is eliminated by Fatima Blush(Barbara Carrera). She's onemean demon! It's a crying shame that his boss is cutting out all the"00"'s. Why was he the boss from the beginning? He's nothing but abureaucratic jerk. When Bond and Felix Leiter(Bernie Casey) go to theBahamas that's when all the fun begin. The only original star in themovie is Connery, and others like Max Von Sydow as Blofeld , KlausMaria Brandauer as Largo, and even Rowan Atkinson whose character isnothing like "Mr. Bean". Not a bad movie, it's too bad it wasn't a trueBond film. But anything with Sean Connery is great! 3 out of 5 stars!

jeffans-1 2013-04-19 16:56:13

don't be so sure to call man with the golden gun the worst!

If I could give this a negative score I would.Where to start? Well first of all, none of the original 007 characters(Desmond Llewelyn, etc etc) were in this movie. We settled for scrubsubstitutes who cant hold a candle to the original actors. This wholemovie was a bunch of nobodies other than Connery and baysinger.Secondly, if you are going to make a bond movie without them, at leastgive it an original script! We all know what Thunderball is about (andfrankly, if you are going to do a remake of a bond movie, you can do alot better than thunderball!). The villain was absolutely weak. If youtry to compare him to zorin, khan, drax, Stromberg, then you are nuts.His henchman (or in this case, henchwoman) carrera was decent butnowhere in the same galaxy as jaws, mayday, or Gobinda. And that cheesyvideo game they played, that was such a copycat of octopussy where bondplayed kamal khan in backgammon and surprised the villain in a winnertake all match (this movie was both filmed and released afteroctopussy). I don't even know how bond could have figured out how toplay it in 2 minutes.But the worst part of all? After watching this stinker for over 90minutes, I would pray it would end, that this joke of a movie wouldend, but it goes on for over 2 hours!!! It's a small wonder octopussydestroyed this at the box office. Octopussy is in my opinion the 2ndbest bond movie ever (Connery, Moore, Dalton, brosnan, or anybody else)behind only view to a kill. THis one? Its at the other end of thespectrum, the worst one ever, even worse than Man with golden Gun.Don't waste your time or money on this garbage. Connery should havestuck to his word!!! What a sad way to go out as bond for him.

Eric-62-2 2013-04-19 07:22:30

Inferior Remake

The only thing "Never Say Never Again" proved in my mind, is that in 1983Roger Moore knew how to play 007 better than Sean Connery. Moore's Bondfilm of that year, "Octopussy" is the best of his six as 007, whileConnery's one shot return for a rival company is a tedious affairindeed.Most of it really isn't Connery's fault. He's handicapped by the fact thathe's working for a second-rate production company that has absolutely noflair for the sense of style and fun that have always been the distinctivemark of the Broccoli produced Bonds, be they Connery or Moore. IrvinKershner shows no sense of showing off the glamor and exotic aspects of thelocales in his direction, while Lorenzo Semple's script, despite being freeof the camp he put into "King Kong" and "Batman" has way too many plot holesthat can't be dismissed lightly (how in the world does SPECTRE get Bomb #1underneath the White House?) Michel Legrand's score is a disaster and goesto show once again (as the Broccoli Bonds discovered) that if you don't haveJohn Barry or emulate his style, you might as well forgetit.And the rest of the cast? Klaus Maria Brandauer is a bore, lacking all theformidable presence that Adolfo Celi had in the same role in "Thunderball"(a far superior film). And on top of that, the final payoff between Bondand Largo ends very unmemorably since both are concealed in diving suits andwe don't even see their faces at the moment of climax.NSNA is for Bond completists only. If you just want one title to watch on arainy afternoon, don't pick this one.

skybaby29 2013-04-18 13:20:57

Incredibly under rated film, let alone forgotten Bond movie.

Yes, let's get this out of the way before we begin:*This is the one that Sean Connery returned to in 1983 after the stintwe had of Roger Moore.*It's Connery's last film.*And YES it's a (kind of) remake of Thunderball, but more of a filminspired by it.If all you Bond purists out there think I'm gonna get controversial,you're right. Bond is one of the greatest movie series ever, but thatdoesn't mean that a series should go on forever. This, I think, is oneof two films where they could've done themselves a huge favour and endedthe Bond saga. Not offended yet? Then I'll continue...Hey, if you're thinking I'm indifferent about Bond flicks, you're wrong.I grew up with my Mum being OBSESSED with them. Any spare moment, Bondand his antics would be on the TV. Bond rules, and 'Never Say NeverAgain' (directed by Irvin 'Empire Strikes Back' Kershner) is one of thebest. It may not be 'Goldfinger' or 'From Russia...' and may not havebeen done by the same production house as all the others (which I hearis why they refuse to accept it was ever made!?), but still stands headand shoulders above the recent Brosnan outings... (if you haven't spatat the screen, read on).CHARACTERIZATION!!!!! Something so many blockbuster films forget aboutthese days, but something which is essential to telling a good story.'Never' played a superb hand by treating 007 like he had been ageingsince 'Dr. No'. He's 'getting on a bit' and so has to do things like goto a health farm - a direct order from 'M' (!). Yeah, if you haven'tseen this film, I won't give too much away with the plot becauseA) Loads happensand B) Obviously, I want YOU to see it for yourselves.Don't be put off by my 'old Bond' revelation, Connery still get plentyof superb set pieces to charge, swim, punch, speed, smash, and snog hisway through. The man is a legend, and this film is one of his mostenjoyable outings as Bond. High tech gadgets galore, some greatvillains, and an excellent supporting cast (including a fantastic cameoby Rowan Atkinson) lift this movie high above audienceexpectation.This could've been the last Bond film ever, and it would've been a partyto remember. Playing the secret agent as someone nearing retirement wasrefreshing stroke of genius - the last scene wraps things up perfectlyfor the series.......but still we had more, and then more, and more still, and one moreMoore. Still, if you fancy finding out what "Fatima Blush" is all about,get this film. Then you can at least pretend 007 spent his last momentsas a wisecracking secret agent, in the arms of Kim Basinger, andsmirking at Mr. Bean.(P.S. * That other film that I think could've finished it all off? Thegritty 'License to Kill'

BumpyRide 2013-04-17 14:10:16

Please Don't

Connery climbs aboard the Moore buffoon train in this stinker of amovie. Tossing away everything that made Bond successful in the firstplace, this movie further degrades the Bond character throwing him intothe category of Inspector Gadget. Get Smart this ain't. There is nostyle here, only second rate actors performing on cheap sets. It's ashame that Connery couldn't lend an element of class here but itdoesn't come across. Everything here reeks of mediocrity, includingConnery's bad toupee. Perhaps if I was snowed in and given the choicebetween watching "Never Say Never Again" and "Howard The Duck" I wouldchoose the former. If you want the real James Bond, pick up any IanFlemming novel.

DKOSTY 2013-04-15 20:48:18

Connery Revisits Bond

It took Sean Connery coming out of retirement to make this film outsideof the usual Bond production company. It is a very thinly disguisedremake of Thunderball. The main plot is exactly the same as the 1960'sfilm.The differences- are the opening sequence which is really quite strong.It ties in with the rest of the film as it is used as an excuse to sendBond to a health farm. That part is unlike the 1960's film whoseopening had little to do with the film but did present the first jetpack sequence on film.A big difference is the look & feel of this film. As it is not theusual production company, none of the regulars from the series are init. Connery is much older & it shows. The most ridiculous part is theelectronic game sequence of world domination between Bond & the badguy. If this sequence we dropped from the movie, it would be no greatloss to me.If your a real Connery fan, or want to waste a little time on a rainyday, this film will do that for you. This will never be a classic filmthat would challenge Goldfinger, but is an interesting diversion.

MrVB 2013-04-15 13:48:08

Bond at it's best

My, my. People are SO anal retentive. Let's see...This film wasn'tproduced by United Artists so it couldn't possibly be a REAL James Bondmovie. Yeah, sure, and Microsoft is evil unlikeIBM, Exxon and Citibank who don't really just want to make money; TheyREALLY want to be your friends.Everyone in this film seems to having a good time and that's one of themainreasons I enjoyed it so much. Finally, a Bond movie where all the womenareGORGEOUS (Barbara Carrera, Kim Bassinger, Valerie Leon, Lucy Hornack), thejokes are actually funny, the stunts are well staged and the plot is asconfusing, long drawn out and non-sensical as all the other Bondfilms.ALL James Bond films are too long as the only segments that the publicREALLY wants to see are the girls (almost always disappointing in myopinion), the gadgets and the chases.Please don't complain about the acting, script, plot development, music,etc... All of these elements are by the numbers in all Bond movies. Thegist is how serious the film takes itself and if the pretentiousness isoverwhelming.I have seen all the Bond movies waiting for some of the budget to go intothe plot and script and have been consistently disappointed for the last30years. If you want to see a GREAT spy film, see True Lies.I apologize for my seemingly tangential comments but they still make moresense than the average Bond film.The bottom line is that Bond aficionados may not enjoy this movie butotherswill.

Stanley Barr 2013-03-24 19:47:38

Licence to "Bomb"...Big Time.

How could the producers do this to such a brilliant actor as Sean Connery. The movie seems to be like an overblown comedy at times, and merely gives usthe simple lesson that Connery should have said no to even doing this awfulpicture. No wonder Roger Moore's regular Bond beat this one out intheaters.

2013-03-24 10:51:46

Never say never again

Though the movie was a spinoff of Thunderball, it was a fun adventurous story and it was nice to see Sean Connery back as Bond. Very good cast as well. I rate it higher than Thunderball.

2013-03-22 16:42:07

Connery's back!

Enough with the crappy Roger Moore, the REAL James Bond is back in this 1983 Bond release. Even though its an unoffcial James Bond film it still has great action-sequences, awesome badguys and hot girls. Yes, Sean Connery does look kinda old but who gives a ****! This still rocks! Add this to your James Bond collection today!

qormi 2013-03-22 12:24:50

Never Ever Have I Seen Such Crap

This film followed the same plot as "Thunderball", so it was basicallya remake. The opening sequence was ludicrous, as James Bond wasrevealed to have been training for a commando raid instead of actuallyaccomplishing one. The entire movie, when compared with "Thunderball",seemed very cheesy in every regard. "Thunderball" was possibly the bestBond flick . It seemed to have a big budget, was very well cast, andwas well-paced. "Never Say Never Again" was lacking in each of theseaspects. Even James Bond's jet pack seemed like a bargain basementmodel when compared to the one he wore in "Thunderball", filmed nearlytwenty years earlier.This film was a horrible mess from beginning to end. Connery at 52looked and acted like a man of 75. Kim Bassinger seemed to be onantidepressants; very heavily medicated. Barbara Carrera seemed to havezero sex appeal - just a big-mouthed, crabby slut. The part where the"Flying Saucer" (what a dumb name for a yacht, compared to the "DiscoVolante" of "Thunderball) took off from the Caribbean to the MiddleEast was so dumb. Bond using a wristwatch laser to free himself fromhandcuffs was so juvenile. Above all, hot young women swooning overseventyish-looking Connery was ridiculous. Yeah, I could see them beinghot for him in 1965 when he was a stud, but he looks like the type ofold geezer none of these women would even notice. The soundtrack sounded like music from a fashion show, rather than theJames Bond themes we're used to. I will say that Bernie Casey was goodas Felix Leiter. I will forever wonder how a James Bond flick could besuch a laughably hideous piece of trash.

2013-03-19 07:52:39

Yeah Baby

Yeah baby, this shagidelic film of 80`s is absolutely fantasic, it`s Sean Connery`s best performance as James Bond and his final!God blind me, if you compared this film with some of Moore`s films, I`d bet you`d see that this film is more Bondish than those were.Of course, somethings in Thunderball were a bit better, like Largo having the eye patch, and SPECTE HQ seeme a bit better, but still....this epic is a great one!

2013-03-18 10:54:45

Good remake and a welcome return for Connery

I know many fellow Bond fans disagree, but I always thought "Thunderball" was the weakest of Connery's Bond movies. So, it was the perfect candidate for a remake, and for copyright reasons, that's just what Never Say Never Again is. And it's a welcome return for Connery as Bond. Being made by different producers, the movie doesn't have the classic gun barrel sequence or the Maurice Binder opening credits, but it still feels like a bona fide James Bond movie, much thanks to great locations, fun gadgets and Klaus Maria Brandauer's great villain. My main problem with Thunderball is the sleep inducing underwater sequences. Even though this movie is just as long as Thunderball, the underwater sequences are shorter, and there's more excitement before the climactic scenes (I actually enjoyed the admittedly very dated video game scene). So I'm going to be blasphemous and say I actually enjoy this movie more than Thunderball. It's a fun movie, and a must see for all Bond fans.