Thunderball (1965)

Wonderful character development!

Too many fans seem to be blown away

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

This is the fourth entry in the James Bond series, and this timearound Bond once again finds himself squaring off against international criminal organization S.P.E.C.T.R.E.- specifically their member Emilio Largo- an eye patch wearing nut job who drops enemies and ineffectual henchman into a tank full of hungry sharks. Largo has hijacked a NATO nuclear bomber and hidden the bombs in the ocean depths. He gives the British government one week to pay him a ransom of 1,000,000 pounds or else he'll launch the weapons. Well, it doesn't take long before Bonds sets of for Nassau to foil this diabolical plot, and he's get a few beautiful woman to accompany him along the way. This is a fun one. It's Connery (once again), and, while he's not as strong as he was in the previous two entries, he's still quite strong here, and very comfortable with the role. It's a solid film, but maybe one of my least favorite of the Connery era. It's not a bad movie, just not quite as exciting as some of the others. It's a bit goofy, but I think it really only adds to the charm. Plus, we get some great underwater scenes, and those are quite well done, especially for the time period. Those are some of the best parts, but the cinematography in general is quite good, and there's some okay land sequences as well. With a decent title theme from Tom Jones, a fine score in general, and an entertaining title sequence, this is a really fun movie, and a decent entry in the long running series. Give it a go.

T H U N D E R B A L L (1965) is 'B L U N D E R B A L L'Sean Connery as 'James Bond' with codename '007' was out again, at it again in 'Thunderball' directed by Terrence Young.Let me say this now, 'Thunderball' is more like a blunderball! Its a terrible, terrible film! Terrence must have been really young to have made this crap! The only decent thing, logical thing, sensible, exciting and entertaining 'thing' in this film is the sequence in which SPECTRE members steal Nukes from a downed RAF's Vulcan bombers. It was nice see that and that sequence only. Apart from that, everything else sucked! And I mean everything. From timelines, continuity, editing, screenplay, direction, everything sucked in every possible way.Throughout watching the film, I kept thinking how and what a let down this film is keeping in mind the amazing nukes-stealing sequence in the beginning, I think I am now going to support and love SPECTRE and not MI6. SPECTRE chaps are awesome and intelligent and their plans are simple, efficient and amazing. On the contrary, MI6 chaps' James Bond is a buffoon who is just hanging out with girls at any and every opportunity.Think about it, he actually didn't do anything in the film. He happened to be their at the spa-hospital facility in the beginning where he sees the RAF pilot, the real one and the fake one! Imagine he wasn't their wasting time, he probably wouldn't have been aware of it and this film wouldn't be possible. 'Right' things were just happening at the 'Right Times' for the Bond. He goes scuba diving in the beginning and the girl he is chasing happens to get stuck and he happens to be there to help her out! What rubbish!Bond is carrying a mini 'Radioactive' homing-device capsule which apparently would work only if swallowed! NONSENSE!He is given an underwater grenade which he uses to blast 3 baddies! But why were the baddies chasing him at that moment in the climax, when what they really wanted to do was to escape with the nukes. Bond had entered an underwater cave or some sunk ship, the baddies could have easily escaped! But no! They decided to chase him so that it woud lead to a situation where Bond could use the 'underwater grenade'! What nonsense!!And then there was the utterly boring and pointless 'Mardi Gras' sequence! Let just say it sucked too! Terrible, terrible film! CRAP FILM!BAKWAS FILM!TATTI FILM!My ratings: 3/10 *** TOTALLY AVOIDABLE!!!!

I stole my title from another reviewer. I braved a harsh winter night in downtown Minneapolis to see this movie. We were all Bond fans in those days. We had seen the previous three movies and were thrilled that a fourth was on its way. Unfortunately, after Dr. No, From Russia with Love, and Goldfinger, we wanted something that would top all of them. It doesn't work. There is something missing here, a kind of spark that even the great Sean Connery can't provide. This all takes place in underwater settings and I have found that this creates a weakness. Of course, there is a Bond girl and a serious villain, but that's where it all stops.

This fourth outing by Sean Connery is still a formidable Bond film in the franchise. It doesn't have the most memorable or the most iconic moments compared the the previous ones but it does get the job done. The whole villain having a shark tank or swimming pool for people that crosses his path thing did stand out though. And also the scene with the electrocution chair for one of the members in SPECTRE. This film is entertaining in a lot of areas, while incorporating quite a bit of action sequences into the equation. I wouldn't be shocked if James Cameron directed this installment because the main set pieces and where most of the action and investigation takes place is under water. There is even a battle sequence at the end with bunch of harpoons that is done quite well despite the cinematography being quite choppy and all over the place. I will admit it's pretty much outdated when it comes to today's standards. I also think quite a bit of movies and video games that came after this borrowed certain elements when it comes to going on missions underwater and such. It even has the hottest and most attractive Bond girl in the franchise, Domino played by Claudine Auger.7.4/10